Joe Fasula Gerrity’s The Fresh Grocer

Joseph F. Fasula is the Co-owner of Gerrity’s The Fresh Grocer, employing over 1,200 in 10 different locations. He is also the owner of Gerrity’s Ace Hardware, employing over 100 in four locations. The Fasula Family has owned and operated Gerrity’s since 1974. Gerrity’s was founded in 1895 by William Gerrity.

Joseph is a graduate of the University of Scranton and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. His wife is Sandra Fasula and they are the parents of Greg 31, Joseph 20, Isabella 16. They also have a 6 month old grandson.

“I am fortunate to have had several outstanding mentors in my life, including my mother and father, my Uncle Carmen, and many of the management personnel at Gerrity's who have instilled in me a strong moral compass. I have learned that openness and candor are always the best practice. People may not like to hear bad news, but they always appreciate that they can rely on you to give them the truth. Building long-lasting trust with the people in your life and with your customers is a priceless commodity.

The Pandemic

Through the pandemic experience, I have learned that everyone is capable of incredible resilience, patience, and, when they know they are appreciated, tremendous dedication. Short of the military and the medical industry, supermarket workers have been through the most trying experiences imaginable. From genuine terror of an infectious disease to customers who made 16-year-old cashiers cry because we had to limit the amount of toilet paper they could purchase, our employees endured the brunt of the pandemic, yet they persevered. I would like people to imagine what the world would be like today if the food industry workers had stopped coming to work in

April of 2020. We can never forget what they did to carry our country. We have done our best to recognize their contributions and to show our appreciation and we continue to look for opportunities to remind them of how "essential" they are.

Changeover in branding:

While there is no doubt it has made us stronger, there is no question that the transition was messy. Our philosophies, staff and recipes have stayed the same, but all of the technology that underpins our business has changed. There was a huge learning curve for our team, and there is still more to learn, but there is a big payoff for our employees and customers. It has made us better, and as we continue to implement the new systems at our disposal, we will continue to improve. We now have lower prices, more variety, and more items on sale than ever before.

On Fatherhood

I have always known that there is no greater responsibility in a man's life than to raise his children. Success is not defined by wealth but by morality, drive, work ethic and ultimately how we raise our children. I have been blessed with three outstanding kids and now a wonderful 6-month-old grandson. They are the reason for everything I do, from how I run my business to how I conduct my life. I feel it is my role as their father to provide love, support, accountability, advice and education. They continue to surprise, delight and impress me.

Our holidays always revolve around food. It gives us the opportunity to spend quality time with our family and reflect on the joys of fatherhood. Father's Day is a family favorite because I usually spend part of the day smoking or grilling. Ace Hardware stores are famous for their grill selection, and our supermarkets are known for their meats, which is great because I love to grill! I have a Traeger Pellet Grill and a Big Green Egg, and I love to experiment on both.” H

In recognition of