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Two Chicago Local Food Advocates Hailed as Leaders in Sustainability
- Bob Benenson
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Congratulations to Alex Frantz of Midwest Foods and Jodi Fyfe of Paramount Group
It is always great to see participants in our local food community get acknowledged for the important work they do. It's a real pleasure when the honorees are folks that I know and respect for their work.
So I'm was happy to see, and I'm happy to share, that two longtime acquaintances — Alex Frantz, director of local and sustainability for Midwest Foods (a broad-scale distributor with a strong emphasis on local sourcing), and Jodi Fyfe, founder and CEO of The Paramount Group foodservice company — were named Notable Leaders in Sustainability by Crain's Chicago Business.
Here is how Crain's describes Alex:
Scope of work: Frantz leads local sourcing and sustainability initiatives at Midwest Foods, connecting farms with chefs and institutions to strengthen a values-driven food system. She oversees programs in supply chain development, waste reduction and responsible sourcing.
Biggest professional win: She expanded Midwest Foods’ local sourcing program, helping growers increase revenue, adopt sustainable practices and access new markets through strategic partnerships.
Other contributions: Frantz serves as vice chair of Green City Market and co-chairs the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative Steering Council and the Food Loss & Waste Working Group of the International Fresh Produce Association Sustainability Council.
And Jodi...
Scope of work: Fyfe founded The Paramount Group and leads four hospitality brands — Paramount Events, Eden, Fuelgood and Lake Street Staffing — employing more than 500 people across catering, restaurants and staffing services.
Biggest professional win: She opened The Paramount Group’s 40,000-square-foot Avondale campus and Eden restaurant in 2022, featuring a greenhouse that offsets 13,500 pounds of carbon dioxide and supplies herbs and produce for operations.
Other contributions: Fyfe serves on the boards of Green City Market and The Evolved Network, sits on the Illinois Restaurant Association’s advisory council and founded Tickled Pink, a nonprofit supporting women through philanthropy.
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While I was preparing for this article, I received Jodi's email announcement of Tickled Pink's upcoming annual fundraising event to support women facing ovarian and breast cancer. The event, detailed below, is scheduled for February 27 at Bloom Events, located at 3801 N. Elston in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood:
Twenty-one years ago, I started Tickled Pink as a tribute to my cousin Carrie who passed away from breast cancer at just 35. Her strength inspired a movement that began with a small fundraiser—and has now raised over $3 million to support women facing breast and ovarian cancer.
Today, Tickled Pink has evolved into a powerful force for good. We're proud to partner with Chicago Foundation for Women for the second year in a row. Helping fund programs that provide safety, healthcare access, and economic opportunity for women and gender-expansive people across our city.
Tickets are officially live for Tickled Pink 2026, happening February 27 at Bloom Events. With chef tastings, music, dancing, casino games, tattoos, permanent bracelets, tarot readings, and more—this is more than a party. It’s a celebration of life, legacy, and community. Come party for a purpose.
Every dollar raised through Tickled Pink's 21st Anniversary will support CFW and empower women in the Chicago area.