The Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Board of Directors and Members honored Fred Ruiz during a reception and dinner held at the Four Season’s Hotel prior to the 2008 FMI Show held in Las Vegas, NV.  Over 50 leaders of the supermarket industry and their spouses attended the dinner.  Fred Ruiz is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ruiz Foods, Inc.

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Ruiz was recognized for his extraordinary achievements and for Ruiz Foods’ decades of supporting FMI as both an exhibitor and host to three Board dinners. Tim Hammonds, President and CEO of FMI, and Steven C. Smith CEO of privately held and family-owned grocery store chain KVAT and the FMI Chairman, presented Ruiz with a congratulatory plaque.  Ruiz was honored for his company’s humble beginnings and for the years when he would attend the FMI convention with a simple card-table promoting his El Monterey brand products. 

This official recognition for years of leadership and industry citizenship was attended by members of the third Ruiz generation – Kim Ruiz Beck, Vice Chairman, and Bryce Ruiz, President and COO.  Fred Ruiz expressed his gratitude to FMI and to the retailers for their business as he spoke about the future of Ruiz Foods and the transition to the next generation.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in research, education, industry relations and public affairs on behalf of its 1,500 member companies — food retailers and wholesalers — in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores with a combined annual sales volume of $680 billion — three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 companies from more than 50 countries.

Ruiz Foods is a privately owned corporation with corporate offices in Dinuba, CA.  Third generation Kim Ruiz Beck, the elder daughter of Chairman and CEO Fred Ruiz, is Vice Chairman.  Bryce Ruiz, the elder son, is President and COO.

Ruiz Foods is dedicated to premium quality, authentically prepared frozen Mexican foods selling to all channels of distribution:  retail, convenience store, clubs, vending, industrial and foodservice.  The signature brand is El Monterey®. Ruiz is the market leader within the frozen Mexican food category, manufactures the #1 Brand of frozen Mexican food in the U.S. and employs over 2,500 Team Members in three facilities located in the United States.  ##