In 1985, California was changing and the founding Tapia brothers, Raul, Ramon, and Francisco, set forth to create a different kind of company – a company that anticipated the needs and expectations of the evolving food service industry. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the much-anticipated Immigration Reform and Control Act. This reform awoke and empowered the entrepreneurial spirit of many
Mexican Immigrants working in the kitchens of restaurants, inspiring them to embark on their very own American Dreams as restaurant proprietors. Soon, many would find themselves the owners and operators of their very own establishments and as Latino influences grew, so did the Tapia Brothers Company. Customers as Family: the Key to Everyones’ Success! However, amidst all the exciting growth at the time came numerous challenges. Pre-existing food service distributors faced considerable obstacles in fulfilling the needs of the new restaurants that were emerging throughout the region. This created a void and opportunity that Tapia Brothers Company readily stepped in to fill. Tapia Brothers Company understood the importance of relating genuinely and effectively communicating with its growing number of customers. Even more, they understood that by empowering one another, all parties ultimately prosper. To this day, Tapia Brothers still relate to and treat their customers like family; this is the key to everyones’ success and always will be. By valuing customer relationships over profits, Tapia Brothers Company has forever redefined the food service experience. Since the brothers’ humble beginnings operating out of a small warehouse space in Southern California, Tapia Brothers Company has successfully emerged as an industry leader within the Hispanic segment and beyond. With over 3,500 customers in seven of the western states serviced through its four distribution centers, Tapia Brothers Company is continuing its modest yet steadfast expansion while reliably fulfilling the growing needs and expectations of its clientele. Through cherishing and abiding by the very principles that have made all their accomplishments possible, the company strives to instill, promote, and live by a service that its customers have come to both rely upon and trust. Almost Three Decades Later and Counting! With a growing family and almost 30 years of success behind them, the brothers reflect, “We started as a small produce company selling product out of the back of a pick-up catering to privately owned independent restaurants and cafes. Today we are recognized as a full service broadliner carrying over 9,000 items and have expanded our clientele to include multi-unit chain accounts and government institutions. We pride ourselves on having never lost sight of the importance and value of personal service. While huge broadliners keep buying out other family distributors, we keep family as the cornerstone to our success. Family transcends the name, because to the Tapia Brothers family, the customers are our family, and not a number. You can be assured that when you call us, there is a voice on the other line and not a ‘sell’ to push you to order online. We are that company that you can rely on. We are Tapia Brothers, the brothers you can trust.”
