FRED RUIZ NAMED TOTORTILLA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
15th person to be named to the TIA Hall of Fame since its inception in 2000

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Fred Ruiz, co-founder and Chairman/CEO of Ruiz Foods, will be inducted into the Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) Hall of Fame during the 2005 annual meeting scheduled at the Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX on Saturday, November 12, 2005.

Ruiz Foods, the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the United States, is ranked 3rd among the Top 10 U.S. Hispanic-owned manufacturing firms and 2nd among the Top 10 U.S. Hispanic-owned food manufacturing companies, according to the June, 2005 issue of Hispanic Business.

Nominees to the TIA Hall of Fame may be a producer or supplier, have a minimum of 10 years of service in the industry and should have made positive contributions to the industry such as:  technical innovations, recognized industry leadership, business success within the industry, positive influence to the industry or significant innovations in creating products, equipment or ingredients.  Fred’s father, Louis, was inducted into the TIA Hall of Fame in 2004.

Ruiz Foods began in 1964, when Fred and his father, Louis, decided to make and sell frozen Mexican food.  Father and son worked hard … very hard.  The business grew … from the original small factory in Tulare, California to the current 350,000 square foot facility in Dinuba, California. To meet the growing need for capacity, Ruiz opened a satellite manufacturing facility in Tulare, California and is in the final stages of renovating a 265,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and distribution warehouse in Denison, Texas.  Corporate offices will remain in Dinuba, California.

Ruiz Foods makes all of the flour tortillas (over 1 billion per year) and corn tortillas (over 85 million per year) used to manufacture each of its burritos, taquitos, enchiladas, cruncheros, quesadillas, tornados, etc.  By producing each flour and corn tortilla in their own on-site bakery, Ruiz Foods can assure their customers and consumers a freshly baked tortilla – enhancing the flavor and wholesomeness of each product. In fact, the high-speed tortilla lines are continuously monitored for dough consistency and product weight.  This reflects their commitment to prepare truly authentic-tasting Mexican food that has been passed down in the Ruiz family for generations.

“As a family-owned and family-operated business, it stands to reason that I have the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my father,” comments Kim Ruiz Beck, elder daughter and Vice-Chairman of Ruiz Foods.  “I cannot begin to share how much he has taught me …not only about the various aspects of business but about the importance of caring and respecting our Team Members, our vendors and suppliers, our customers and our community.  Just like my Grandpa Louie, Dad taught us the importance of our family’s commitment to quality.  As a mom, I understand how critical that commitment really is and how important it is for our products to reflect our high standards of quality … each and every time.”

Ruiz Foods currently employs over 2000 people with the heart of the manufacturing process consisting of line after line of Team Members who that take a lot of pride and care in preparing each product to meet exact specifications of quality, consistency, weight and size.

“As a co-founder and the Chairman and CEO of Ruiz Foods,” comments Bryce Ruiz, Executive Vice President, “my dad has contributed greatly to the introduction, growth and future of the tortilla industry.  His dedication to quality, his commitment to customers and his willingness to work hard have all contributed to the popularity and, therefore, consistent double-digit growth of the Mexican food industry as a whole.  An innovator … entrepreneur … industry leader … he deserves credit and recognition for his positive influence on the tortilla industry, his business success within the industry, and his recognized industry leadership.”

Ruiz Foods is dedicated to premium quality, authentically prepared frozen Mexican foods selling to all channels of distribution:  retail, convenience store, clubs, vending, national accounts and foodservice.  The signature brand is El Monterey.  Ruiz is the market leader within the frozen Mexican food category and manufactures the #1 Brand of frozen Mexican food in the United States. ##