Michael Muzyk Honored by New York City Mayor and New York Produce Show

Michael Muzyk, the longtime president of Baldor Specialty Foods and food distribution icon who retired at the end of 2023, was presented with a citation that honored his “dedication, generosity and indomitable spirit” on behalf of New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, minutes before Muzyk participated in the ribbon-cutting opening the 2023 New York Produce Show, Dec. 6, at the Javits Center in NYC.

The New York Produce Show also honored Muzyk with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The mayor’s proclamation, delivered by Charles Blackstone, from the Food Policy Office, recounted Muzyk’s nearly 30-year career. This spanned from joining Baldor as a sales representative in 1996 employing his Culinary Institute of America-trained chef skills to serve as a bridge between the company and its culinary clients, and his company’s involvement in helping the city recover from major events such as 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy, to keeping the Baldor trucks running after the passing of the company’s founder and chief executive, Kevin Murphy, in 2013.

As he starts a well-earned retirement, Muzyk leaves Baldor as a company that sells more than 5,000 SKUs, and services more than 400 routes for 12,000-plus customers from Maine to Virginia. “Retirement is a time to reflect, and this industry, these people have impacted my life. As a company I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” says Muzyk.