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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nationwide distribution of Pink Chips is not the first time John Doherty, also known as J, and Gerald Piro, also known as G, have teamed up.
Since the beginning of the year, the Eastchester residents, who have been friends since middle school, are now known as J & G Distributions, Inc. The pair have contracted with the Pink Snack and Beverage Company to distribute their products nationwide.
Pink Snack Company was created by Damon Greco, of Collegeville, Pa. According to Doherty, Greco started the company in tribute to his mom, Nancy Ann, who died of Inflammatory Breast Cancer after a long battle against the disease. Greco made a commitment to the National Breast Cancer Coalition to donate 70 percent of the net proceeds of the company to help find a cure for the disease.
But Piro said that Greco had this great idea, commitment and really good chips but did not have the background to get them on store shelves.
When they all met through mutual friends, Piro took his experience in sales and distribution from companies like Bachman Pretzels, and the NY Daily News, and Doherty took his experience as a former director of the Empire State Senior Games, and helped launch the new products.
I know the distribution business, I have been working at it for my whole life, said Piro. Then when I saw that the product would benefit breast cancer, I wanted to be a part of that.
The chips, which come in three flavors; sour cream and onion, classic and barbecue, can be found in four states at dozens of delis, cafeterias, gas stations and schools.
Doherty, who still lives in Eastchester, said there are at least eight locations in town where the chips are sold.
Piro and Greco have been working as a team since ninth grade. We became friends in ninth grade and we did what kids did in those days, hung out at the local pizza place and played basketball at the park on Marbledale Road, said Piro.
After high school, Piro went on to work in the distribution industry, but Doherty attended Concordia College in Tuckahoe, and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft held that year.
He was a pitcher for the Tigers, beginning in 1992, for four years before moving on to the Boston Red Sox. Five years later, his professional baseball career ended due to an injury.
I was away a lot during those years, but we always kept in touch and would get together when I came home to visit, Doherty said.
Doherty is currently a member of the Eastchester School Foundation and a board member for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
Piro, who lives in Tuckahoe, said the friendship has now moved on to the next generation, with his son, a 10th grader at Eastchester High School, getting together with Dohertys daughter, who will attend the high school in the fall.
For now, the team has their sights set on a new venture, one that needs lots of time, attention and hopefully community support.
Our objective is to deliver the Pink Chips snack product line nationwide to raise awareness and funds to help fight breast cancer, Doherty said.
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