2020 Northgate Gonzalez Markets ROY

THE SHELBY REPORT OF THE WEST 2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Northgate González Market rooted in hard work, dream of better life

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

Northgate González Market has its roots in hard work and humility.

Miguel González emigrated from Jalostotitlán, a town in Jalisco, Mexico, to the United States in the early 1960s after his small shoe shop had burned down and he realized he had to make a move to support his large family. He returned home every year until 1976, when he brought his wife, Teresa, and whole family to join him and some of their older children.

“When we went to the consul in Guadalajara in Mexico, and we got our papers, the consul asked my dad, ‘Hey, Miguel…how are you going to support them in the States? And he said, ‘With my bare hands,’” said Victor Manuel González, the seventh of the 13 children. “They told him, ‘You’re a good man, Miguel. Welcome to America.’”

When they got to the U.S., one of the González’s longtime friends, Polo Perez, sold Miguel their first house. He used to work for Miguel in Mexico at his shoe store. But in the U.S., he was working as a real estate broker. And he loaned Miguel some money for the down payment.

“I think it was from heaven this individual who sold my dad the house – he’s the one that sold my dad the business as well.

And he actually loaned him money again to buy a little store,” Victor said.

“Basically, what he said to my dad is, ‘I have this business, you have of a lot of kids, I know you’re a hard worker, and you will make it work.’ And my dad was saying, ‘Well, I know shoes, but I don’t know anything about grocery stores.’”

Miguel González II, the third oldest child, also looks back on their late father’s journey with faith.

“I don’t know how God helped us to go through all of that because we had no money,” he said. “But the community knew about us, and they were supporting us. Even the priests at church were telling the people to support us, as a family that was trying to get a better life in the U.S.”

And working for a better life was ingrained in the children, too. Marco Antonio González, the third youngest, worked hard for the success of his family’s business to achieve his American dream of being together.

“I always thought in my head, I work hard because I don’t want my family to separate again,” Marco said.

José de Jesús González, the second youngest, didn’t have many expectations for the U.S. because he was young. The one thought he had, though, was “we were going to be together,” he said.

Please see page 22

Teresa and Miguel González

‘Really grateful of this country – it is the true land of opportunities’

2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Acclimating to U.S.

For Jesús, one of the siblings who still had some school to finish up in the states, it wasn’t easy.

“When we got here, I didn’t even know how to say ‘thank you,’” he said. “I mean, we didn’t know anything [in English].

After finishing high school, Jesús pursued an education for a few semesters at Cerritos College, his interest in electronics and building things, like radios.

“I missed a lot of classes because I had to go help my dad at to the store,” he said. “So, I ended up saying, you know what, this is not for me. I’ll just continue to work at the store.”

Growing a business

Victor sees the difference between the work environment in Mexico and the U.S.

“In Mexico, it was more flexible in terms of, work is important but it’s not as important as what it is here,” he said. “Working over here is a different ballgame. You have to perform, and you have to do what you have to do.

“And here, the demand is that you have to perform and outperform what you do, which I think is great. If you’re doing something, you want that to be the best.”

And striving to be the best is something that their father, Miguel González, instilled in them – no matter where his business was located or who he was serving.

Victor recalls his dad working three jobs – one of which was his shoe store – at one time to support the family when they were living in Mexico.

“He was very proud of his products. His shoes – he would like for them to last years. Where my uncle – he had another shoe store,” he said. “He would’ve wanted that your shoes only last few for a couple of months so he can sell you the new ones. But my dad was proud of saying that these shoes will last you for years.”

Once in the U.S., though, “starting from zero,” took a lot of hard work, Marco said.

Miguel added, “It was kind of hard because we were saving 90 percent of the profits so we could grow. I saw the need…there was 13 of us, plus my dad and my mom. And one store – it was not going to be enough to produce for us, so it was a need to grow in all areas.”

And that’s exactly what they did – worked hard, saved and grew to provide for the

“Now we have 41 stores and growing, and we have 53 third-generation family members, with more than 36 of them working at Northgate Market. And I even have a grandson

Please see page 24

(Left to right) Oscar, Victor, Teresa, Estela, Hector and José de Jesús González.

Teresa González

Customer with Teresa González.

Northgate Market and Gonzalez Family, Congratulations on

40 years!

What a tremendous accomplishment that is. We feel honored and privileged to have been with you every step of the way from the beginning. In talking with people who helped build the first Northgate stores to others who helped with the gardening and landscaping in the early days, it is evident that Northgate has been a pillar in the Anaheim community since Day 1. That influence has only spread and touched more lives over the past 40 years throughout Southern California. We appreciate you allowing us to join you for this ride. Here’s to 40 more years and many more memories.

Cheers!

already working good at the company, so thank God we have a company that is going to grow and stay for a long time,” Miguel said.

Today, the González’s grandchildren are being mentored to take over the business when the time comes. They’re a part of different committees within the company, meeting often with each other.

“I’m always really grateful of this country – it is the true land of opportunities,” Miguel said. “You do your part, and this great country is going to do the other part to give you the opportunity to grow and fulfill your dreams.

“Thank God we were able to get into 2020 with 40 years of God allowing us to serve our community…we are part of that community that we serve – we know what they want, how they think, what excites them.”

Today, a large part of the family business is being authentic. And in the eyes of Oscar González, the youngest, that authenticity is rooted in appreciation for the Hispanic culture – one of the aspects that has made them so successful.

“I really believe that our go-to-market philosophy needs to be that… as Mexican food becomes more relevant to all ethnicities – and it’s really become general market – our opportunity is to go deeper with authenticity,” he said. “And so, that has to be our competitive advantage and that needs to be our differentiation point.

“Anybody sells tortillas. Anybody sells carnitas. But with the flavor and the authenticity that we bring, we will continue to dig deep to be able to be recognized really as the authority on quality, authentic Mexican food. That’s where we have to excel.”

Teresa González with some of her children and grandchildren.

◀ Marco González and meat associate.

▼ José de Jesús González at Store 1.

Conversación with/con Hector González

When did you start working in the family business, and what were your responsibilities?

I was 20 years old when I started working at the store. And for responsibility, I did everything in the store. The meat department was what I worked in the most.

Right now, I’m in charge of the tortillerías in the stores.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

Yes, my wife is Delia González. We have five kids – three sons and two daughters. All five of them work in the company doing different things.

Our youngest son has worked in the meat department and the front end of stores and is currently in college at Cal Poly.

I’m very proud of all of them. They have worked so much with the company.

Who is your mentor?

There have been many, but to be honest, I believe that everyone was a mentor in one way or another.

Without ego, I believe that all of us are the leaders of this company.

What’s your favorite thing about the company?

What I like most is the respect of my brothers that we all have for each other. I believe that it’s one of values that we continue to grow.

¿Cuándo empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar y cuáles eran tus responsabilidades?

Tenía 20 años cuando empecé con la tienda. Y por la responsabilidad, hice todo en la tienda. La carnicería era en lo que más trabajaba.

Ahora mismo, estoy a cargo de las tortillerías en las tiendas.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Sí, mi esposa es Delia González. Tenemos cinco hijos: tres niños y dos niñas. Los cinco trabajan en la compañía haciendo cosas diferentes.

Nuestro hijo menor ha trabajado en el departamento de carniceria y en la parte delantera de las tiendas y actualmente se encuentra en el colegio de Cal Poly. Estoy muy orgulloso de todos ellos. Han trabajado mucho con la compañía.

¿Quién es tu mentor?

Han habido muchos, pero para ser honesto, creo que todos fueron mentores de una manera o otra.

Sin ego, creo que todos somos los líderes de esta compañía.

¿Qué es lo que más te gusta de la compañía?

Lo que más me gusta es el respeto de mis hermanos, que tenemos el uno por el otro. Creo que es uno de los valores que seguimos cultivando.

Conversación with/con

Maria de la Asunción González

When did you come to the U.S. and start working for the family business?

I stayed later than my sisters in Mexico because I was married there. I came later to the U.S. in 1980 to be with my siblings again.

Do you have any children, and do any of them work for the company?

I have been married for 45 years. We have four children, and two of them are working in the company. I have one son in the accounting department and one daughter in the grocery department as a buyer.

My daughter, Alexandra, went through the USC program and graduated from Cal State Fullerton. All four of my children have degrees.

For my two daughters, one works for Bank of America and another works with her dad [owner/Maria’s husband].

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

My faith.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like to run. I’ve been running all my life.

¿Cuándo te mudaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Me quedé mas tiempo que mis hermanos en México porque me casé allí. Vine más despues a los Estados Unidos en 1980 para estar con mis hermanos de nuevo.

¿Tienes hijos y alguno de ellos trabaja para la compañía?

He estado casada por 45 años. Tenemos cuatro hijos, y dos de ellos trabajan en la compañía. Tengo un hijo en el departamento de contabilidad y una hija en el departamento de grocery como compradora.

Mi hija, Alexandra, pasó por el programa de la USC y se graduó de Cal State Fullerton. Mis cuatro hijos tienen sus títulos.

Mis dos hijas, una trabaja para Bank of America y otra trabaja con su esposo en una pequeña tienda de comestibles.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la compañía familiar?

Mi fe.

¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?

Me gusta correr. He corrido toda mi vida. El valor más importante para mí es el trabajo duro.

Legacy of Miguel and Teresa González endures

Kids recall parents’ sacrifices, influence and sense of family

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

The empire that is Northgate González Market in California would not be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year without Miguel and Teresa González.

The late couple met in Mexico when they were young. One of their mutual friends, Polo Perez, set them up as teenagers in school.

Marco González, one of their sons, said that his father told him, “This man was the cupid between my dad and my mom.”

And from that moment on, they were sweethearts, said Oscar González, the youngest of the family.

“Mom and dad’s favorite song – there’s a Spanish song called ‘Solamente Una Vez,’ so it’s ‘only once in your life,’ and that was their song until they passed,” he added.

Polo playing matchmaker later turned into marriage and 13 children. With all of the kids surviving their parents, they’re running the family business today, just the way they were taught.

Hector González, the ninth oldest, said he’s proud of the respect he and his family have for each other, as well as the customers, a value that he attributes to his father.

“My dad taught us that if you don’t respect the customers, you won’t have a way to grow,” he said.

Oscar added, “I really believe my father gets a lot of credit for a lot of things, and he deserves it.

“At 10 years old, you’re seeing how your dad treats the customer, and you’re seeing how your brothers are working so hard, and you’re just learning a lot of life lessons in a very strong family environment.”

Oscar was 10 when his parents bought the first store, getting “a great sort of kindergarten grocery store experience” through watching his dad and older siblings.

Victor González, seventh of the 13 kids, said one of his mentors was his father.

“The kind of a person my dad was…a really humble, very honest, hardworking person. And I think a lot of that came into some of us,” Victor said.

Jesús González, the second youngest, agreed.

“The biggest [mentor] was my father,” he said. “I had the privilege to be able to be, probably, the guy that worked with him in the store more than anybody else.”

And through working with him, he learned to never say he can’t do something and to work hard.

“One time, we were going to receive the load of milk, and we didn’t have space in our cooler,” he explained. “We had to double stack them and stack them higher than my height. And so, I called him and said I can’t reach that far, I need help…he grabbed another empty milk crate, put it right next to it and said, ‘This is how you do it.’

“He worked 12, 13 long hours, and you never saw him complain.”

Part of their father’s legacy also lives in tradition.

“I met my husband at Northgate Market. He no longer works for the company – no brotherin-law or sister-in-law works for the company,” said Ana Rosa González, the fourth oldest.

“Early on, my dad established this rule for the problems that he could foresee, and this is one of the best decisions that my dad made. That’s what’s kept us united.”

Unity also was a big part of the legacy of their mother, Teresa.

And according to Alicia González, eighth of the 13 siblings, Northgate Market’s values are the pillars on which her parents built the company. “For me personally, the value that I like the most is unity because of the relationship with my mom. She always said, ‘Unidad, unidad.’”

Oscar added, “I think my mother really played an incredible role. I like to coin her the ultimate CEO. She was the chief emotional officer.

“Her whole thing was always, ‘Divorce is not an option; you’ve got to figure things out.’

“She played a huge role through the years. She passed a couple years ago, but I’d say even a year before her passing…she knew exactly what she had to say. And she was a super strong voice, but never in a way that was overt. She always was very loving and compassionate and empathetic.”

Victor recognizes how much influence his mother had on his and his siblings’ lives.

“My mom from the other side, she was really strong. Strong in the sense that she was alone for many years when my dad used to live in the States, and we were living in Mexico…just making sure that we were all fine.”

And a big part of the strength that permeates the González family today comes from her legacy.

“My mom’s goal was to be anywhere in the world but to be together. That was her – to be united. And even to her death, her favorite word was unity,” Jesús said.

“I said, ‘You’re the glue that sticks all of us here.’ Because when she was in Mexico…we would get together in the business on Wednesdays. But we wouldn’t get together as a family here…she was the key person to keep the family united.”

Estela Ortiz, fifth of the 13 siblings, remembers a tradition that her mom started many years ago to bring the family together in celebration.

“Something really beautiful that we have done for many years is every birthday, we celebrate in the corporate office, and my mom always came to celebrate our birthdays here. And this is very beautiful because each birthday, we’re all together for lunch, and we all pitch in for a very nice gift.”

And up until her last few months, she was having the family over to break bread.

“Even six months before she passed, my mother had food made Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. And every one of those days, she probably had an average of 30 to 50 people visit her house,” Oscar said. “It was just easy to drop in and have dinner, and just hang out for a little while.”

Teresa and Miguel González

Congratulations from Western Association of Food Chains

The Western Association of Food Chains is fortunate to have the support of the González family, Northgate González Market and their associates.

For the past 40 years, the Northgate Market family has recognized the power of education and its impact on the lives of its associates and leaders. Whether it is in the boardroom, in the classroom or in the stores, their leaders have supported programs that help transfer values, knowledge and skills to the next generation. As part of this powerful legacy, Northgate Market invests in both internal and industry education programs.

For many associates, the beginning of their advanced education journey begins with Northgate Market funding full tuition scholarships to their employees for the community college Retail Management Certificate Program. As of August 2020, they have celebrated 44 graduates of the fully accredited eight-course curriculum. For more than 10 years, Northgate Market brought college faculty on site to deliver the classes at their corporate offices. To further increase the success of their RMCP students, Northgate Market incorporated an ESOL class to assist Spanish-speaking associates.

As their employee’s progress through their learning journey, Northgate Market supports the leadership programs at the USC Marshall School of Business. The have numerous graduates of the USC Food Industry Executive Program and 14 alumni of the USC Food Industry Management Program.

In addition to supporting WAFC education initiatives for their colleagues, each year the Familia González Reynoso Foundation gives a grant to the WAFC Education Fund. The company also plays a pivotal role in leadership for education. Oscar González has

served on the WAFC board of directors for 13 years and was president chairman in 2013 when we had the 92nd annual convention in Palm Desert. He remains active and currently serves as a director emeritus. Oscar is a 2001 graduate of the USC FIEP Program.

Mike Hendry has been a member of our board since January 2017. Mike is currently education chairman of the WAFC and is a 1995 USC FIMP graduate.

In recognition of the extraordinary support for educating the industry’s future leaders, the USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Programs selected Oscar González as their 2020 Executive of the Year. In doing so, the university is acknowledging the company and their family’s unwavering dedication to lifelong education.

The González Reynoso family represents the American Dream being achieved through hard work, dedication and persistence. We are so proud to know them and be part of their circle.

Christianson,

CONGRATULATIONS NORTHGATE

Muchas felicidades a Northgate Gonzalez Markets de parte de Tabafresh Farms.

Es un honor colaborar con gente trabajadora, exitosa y profesional como ustedes.

por ser parte de la familia Tabafresh Farms.

Carole

COO for WAFC

Carole and Oscar

Yakult USA would like to Congratulate Northgate Gonzalez Markets for being recognized as 2020 West Retailer of the Year! We are proud to have been part of their journey for the past 15 years and we look forward to many more.

with/con Miguel González II

What was it like to immigrate to the U.S. from Mexico?

We ran out of money, again. So, one more time, we saw the land of opportunity – the U.S. to come and work here. We came by bus from Mexico City, got into the U.S. and started working.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

I’ve been married for 51 years to my wife, Alicia.

We have six children – three daughters and three sons.

They’ve all worked for Northgate Market since they could. I mean, seven, eight years old… so they’ve been working with us all their life.

What’s the most important value to you from the family business?

To me, always respect is the one that I really like because you get so many other things into respect.

What’s your favorite thing about the company?

Going into the stores, talking to customers and to associates to see how we can help and motivate the associates to really grow into the company.

For us…the associates are not only a number or only an associate. It is more than that. And so, we have people that have been with us over 35 years. Quite a few.

  

¿Cómo fue emigrar a EE.UU. desde México?

Nos quedamos sin dinero, otra vez. Así que, una vez más, vimos la tierra de las oportunidades: Estados Unidos para venir a trabajar aquí. Llegamos en autobús desde la Ciudad de México, llegamos a los EE.UU. y empezamos a trabajar.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Llevo 51 años casado con mi esposa, Alicia.

Tenemos seis hijos: tres hijas y tres hijos.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING NAMED 2020 WEST RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Todos han trabajado para Northgate desde que pudieron. Quiero decir, siete, ocho años... así que han estado trabajando con nosotros toda su vida.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la empresa familiar?

Para mí, siempre el respeto, es el que realmente me gusta porque tienes tantas otras cosas en si.

¿Qué es lo que más te gusta de la compañía?

Entrar en las tiendas, hablar con los clientes y los asociados para ver cómo podemos ayudar y motivar a los asociados a crecer realmente en la empresa.

Para nosotros... los asociados no son sólo un número o sólo un asociado, es más que eso. Y así, tenemos gente que han estado con nosotros más de 35 años. Bastante.

ON YOUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY WE WISH YOU CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUCCESS

The Consolidated West Team

Conversation

Conversación with/con Ana Rosa González

When did you move to the U.S. and start working in the family business?

I was 25 when we moved in 1976, and I started with the company in 1980 with my dad and my siblings.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

I’ve been married for 29 years to my husband. I met my husband at Northgate Market. He no longer works for the company.

We have one son, and he works for Northgate Market.

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

I’ve always liked honesty, and I feel like I identify with honesty because, for me, it encompasses everything.

This is the value that started Northgate Market. Everything is honesty – it made us who we are.

Do you enjoy visiting the stores?

For me, to be in the store is part of my life.

It’s in our DNA to be in the stores and be connected with the associates, even right now with coronavirus. We’re still going, but at a distance.

¿Cuándo te mudaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Tenía 25 años cuando nos mudamos en 1976, y comencé con la compañía en 1980 con mi padre y mis hermanos.

¿Tienes esposo e hijos?

Llevo 29 años casada con mi marido. Conocí a mi marido en Northgate. Ya no trabaja para la compañía.

Tenemos un hijo y trabaja para Northgate.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la compañía familiar?

Siempre me ha gustado la honestidad, y siento que me identifico con la honestidad porque, para mí, abarca todo.

Este es el valor que comenzó Northgate. Todo es honestidad, nos hizo lo que somos.

¿Te gusta visitar las tiendas?

Para mí, estar en la tienda es parte de mi vida.

Está en nuestro ADN estar en las tiendas y estar conectado con los asociados, incluso ahora mismo con coronavirus. Seguimos adelante, pero a distancia.

Conversación with/con Francisco González

When did you come to the U.S. and start working for the family business? What were your responsibilities?

I came to the US in 1966 and started working at the stores in 1981. My responsibilities were to do some of everything to keep the store running including butcher, cashier, cook, stocking, security, check cashing, and anything else that was needed.

Do you have a spouse and children?

My wife’s name is Miriam, and I have 5 children: Francisco, Deborah, Joshua, Justyn and Julianna.

Do you have any children that work for the company?

Yes, I have three children that work for the company in different roles; Francisco, Joshua and Julianna.

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

The most important value to me is hard work.

What’s your favorite thing about the company?

That our customer is the most important and taking care of our customers is essential for us.   

¿Cuándo viniste a los EE. UU. y comenzaste a trabajar para la compañía? ¿Cuáles eran tus responsabilidades?

Vine a los Estados Unidos en 1966 y comencé a trabajar en las tiendas en 1981. Mis responsabilidades eran hacer todo lo posible para mantener la tienda en funcionamiento, incluyendo al carnicero, el cajero, el cocinero, el almacenamiento, la seguridad, el cambio de cheques y cualquier otra cosa que se necesitara.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos? ¿Cuántos hijos?

El nombre de mi esposa es Miriam y tengo 5 hijos; Francisco, Deborah, Joshua, Justyn y Julianna.

¿Tiene hijos que trabajen para la empresa?

Sí, tengo tres hijos que trabajan para la empresa en diferentes posiciones; Francisco, Joshua y Julianna.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la empresa familiar?

El valor más importante para mí es el trabajo duro.

¿Qué es lo que más te gusta de la empresa?

Que nuestro cliente es lo más importante y cuidar a nuestros clientes es fundamental para nosotros.

Executives praise family ownership for integrity, business savvy

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

Striving to ‘leave a legacy’

Carl Middleton, president of Northgate González Real Estate, started working with the family back in 2003. And for the past 17 years, it’s been an easy decision to stay with them.

“I ended up falling in love with the González family and all they stood for – their mission, their personal integrity and their approach to business,” Middleton said. “They're good, practical business people.”

One of his favorite stories goes back to 2009, amidst the economic aftermath of the market crash in 2008. The company had just built a 400,000 square-foot warehouse and corporate office, and the timing shook up some of the people involved, including family members.

“Miguel [González II] was asked by the family what we should do in the situation. And he said, this is a great strategic investment, and we're built for the future. We don't react to the pressures of the day,” Middleton recalled.

“He said, ‘It may take a while for this thing to turn around, but we've got a good plan, and we're going to stick with it.’ And I think that was, for me, a defining moment that these folks had a vision in mind that would allow the company to prosper for many years to come. They weren't reacting to the pressure of the day.”

Fast forward two years and the facility was valued at nearly twice what the company paid for it. As Middleton described it, “We got a Mercedes Benz at Hyundai prices.” This attitude has translated into all of the expansion that the González family has

invested in over the past several years.

“Especially when we buy a property or build a store…we're looking at about a $20 million investment and a 20-year commitment. So these are things we don't want to make mistakes on. Too many mistakes can really tank a small company.

“When I started with the company, we had 13 stores. We were particularly cautious. But I think over the years…we present opportunities, we move ahead, we do our own homework and we're very careful, but we move very quickly.”

Part of their homework is finding the right opportunities, catering to the attitude of organic growth and cultivating a culture within a store and a team to create a lasting presence.

“As we get later in our careers, one of the things we always want to do is leave a legacy of talent and opportunity,” Middleton said. “We can't do everything ourselves, and we're not going to be here forever.

“I've had a chance to do some mentoring with the some of the González third generation. I have four of the third generation on my team, and they're great hard workers, really humble and love to learn. I get a chance to show them some things about the real estate industry that they hadn't learned before, and they're getting very capable.”

Middleton’s team includes: Alicia and Michelle, two of Miguel’s children; Hector’s daughter, Janette; and Victor’s daughter, Paola.

“One of my favorite quotes that I think really ties into this company is that they want to ‘do well by doing good,’” he said. “I think that the community recognizes that, and that's one of the reasons for their success…these are good people that care about their neighbors, and they want to support them.”

As for future plans in real estate, construction of a new store in the city of South Gate will begin soon. It’s slated to open in the second quarter of 2021.

‘Unity and collaboration’ crucial

Mike Hendry, executive VP of merchandising and marketing, came aboard at Northgate Market in 2012, looking to join the growing sector that is the Hispanic consumer.

“I was fortunate enough to grow up in Fontana, Southern California, and I've been immersed in the culture here since I was a kid,” Hendry said.

To the Gonzalez Family!

I remember the first order that I received from the custodian, Canuto Romero, of Northgate #6 in 1992. After approval from Oscar Gonzalez, the store director, it finally happened - the Gonzalez family gave me the opportunity to service their stores, starting with an order of four cases of large black trash bags!

While at the store that same day, I noticed the founder, Don Miguel, rolling up his sleeves to assist the cocina personnel with customers waiting to buy carni- tas. Consistently up to this very day, I saw what it took to have a successful business and it was all thanks to the Gonzalez family. I am very blessed to be a business owner thanks to the advice given to me by Victor Gonzalez back in 2003 to start my own company and to grow together with Northgate.

As my priest would say, there are no coincidences in this life. Who could ever foresee that four cases of trash bags can lead to almost three decades of partnership and friendship. I will forever be grateful for the words of encouragement; for the family values and hard work your family business has exemplified. Following in your example has given us the foundation and drive to succeed in this country, and should God will it, we will continue to follow on that path to success.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family, thank you for all that you’ve done!

Congratulations on 40 years of service to our communities!!

Jose Flores & Family

“The kids on my street were of all cultures. My best friends were first generation Hispanic from Mexico. I got to learn and go to my first quinceañera and do all kinds of things and eat all kinds of foods and things that I had never done before.

“Growing up here is one thing, but then really being exposed at a deeper level is another. I had a lot to learn from that standpoint, and I still learn every day.”

Hendry reports to the office of the president, interacting mostly with Miguel and Oscar González. He also works with several store departments that are run by the owners as well as many third-generation family members on his team. As he put it, “there's a González in my life, just about half of my workday, just about every day.”

While Hendry is going on his ninth year with Northgate Market, the past six months of 2020 have given him a new perspective on how companies operate.

“The way that Northgate Market was able to react, both socially in the community and for our associates, I really think it is unparalleled for many, many businesses. What I mean by that is, it's not just what we did, it's how we did it and why we did it,” he said.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies struggled to figure out why they should do some things and then figure out how to react, Hendry said. Northgate Market never wavered, though, leading the company and the community with values and deliberation.

“And we never looked back. We never even second-guessed those decisions, because even if they cost us dearly, in terms of expenses, the family and the organization never balked,” he added. “To me, that goes a really long way.”

For Hendry, the family business has been the right fit, without regrets of losing out on other opportunities.

“Never did I look back in the rearview mirror and wonder why or why not,” he said. “I

2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

From page 40

came here to grow in myself and to give back and to hopefully put a small fingerprint on this business and, more importantly, the people that I work with.

“Hopefully, one day when I've left, it’s in a better place than where we started.”

Family business research guides way

David Kuykendall, executive VP of the family office, started doing consulting for Northgate Market in 2007. After about six months of serving in that role, he was brought on as CFO, a position he served in until 2018, seeing the company through a lot of growth.

Prior to his work with Northgate Market, Kuykendall worked for family businesses for 28 years. And unfortunately, he got to see firsthand the disintegration of a fourth-generation company, which is when he started to get heavily involved in family business research and consulting.

“If you look at the research and the literature on family businesses, they typically disappear in the third generation, and there's a whole lot of reasons for that…either because there's not enough family who's particularly interested in continuing the business, there's desires for liquidity, etcetera,” he said.

“I brought that piece of knowledge into working with the González family. Now, I'm spending a lot of time on how to set that structure up for a company to prosper and continue with its legacy going forward.”

Kuykendall is working alongside family members to create a sustainable framework for the future.

“The owners want it to continue – they want their legacy to continue, they want their impact on their associates and their community to continue, and so that's part of the

process that I'm involved with,” he said.

With 13 siblings and 53 of their children, about half of the third generation are involved, said Kuykendall, posing the question of how to keep everyone invested. And he said it comes from mentoring the next generation, creating a “seamless handoff” from one generation to the next.

In efforts to keep the legacy alive, the owners have created the Governance Committee, which has developed detailed plans to bring a number of third-generation family members, as well as external experts, on the board.

“If a family business is not being managed well, it’s not financially performing. The people who are in it are going to say, ‘Well, I want to liquidate my investment, and I want to get out, because this isn't being managed properly,’” he said.

“Part of that process is not only training the G3’s, but also bringing on external directors onto the board who have got a lot of professional expertise in the areas that we see where our growth is going. That’s a process that we're going through right now, too.”

Another aspect of Kuykendall’s consulting includes working with a family code of conduct. This deals with key potential issues, whether it’s as how to behave on social media, or how to operate with fairness and transparency when electing new positions in the company.

And while Kuykendall is 67 years old and trying to slow down to 20 hours per week, the best gift in his retirement would be to be a González.

“I've told them I wish they would hurry up and adopt me. I wish I could become a González family member…I work with all of the owners on a regular basis, and they are just so gracious and respectful,” he said.

“I’ve been in business for 40-plus years and the things that I’ve seen, even in the company’s response to COVID, I was just amazed – how they just bend over backwards for their associates and for the community.”

‘No one doing this type of work’

Teresa Blanco, director of community engagement and wellness, started working for Northgate Market in March 2010.

Her initial role was manager of Viva La Salud, a program that the company founded on community nutrition and education after recognizing several issues with diabetes and obesity in the stores – both from customers and associates. And Viva La Salud was “my top priority,” said Blanco, expanding on Oscar González’s words: “education, education, education.”

“We’ve been building this wellness program for many years,” she said. “If you look at other Hispanic retailers, there is no one doing this type of community outreach to the levels and depths of Northgate Market.”

“We are proud of the partnerships developed with different nonprofits and health providers who are helping educate on nutrition and chronic disease. Last year before COVID, just in 2019, we organized over 855 events in our 41 stores on nutrition education and free health screenings on chronic disease education.”

Each month is themed, concentrating on specific diseases.

“When COVID-19 started, we had no idea how long it was going to last,” Blanco said. “The owners approved a budget for $150,000 to support food insecurity. As the months

Please see page 44

Congratulations

My early dealings with the González family was at a very young age. I would beg my mom to take me to the Northgate Market near my house to buy my favorite sweet bread “conchas.” They were my favorite, and I drove my mom crazy asking her to take me almost every day to get some. Fast forward many years, and we are very proud to be a produce vendor for them.

Natalia Andrea Merienne, director of sales and marketing for Avocado Queen Miguel & Natalia Andrea Merienne

went on, and we saw the pandemic wasn’t going away, they more than doubled the budget. I am grateful to work for a for-profit company that is so giving to the community in need.”

In October 2020, Northgate Market has focused on breast cancer education, doing on-site breast exams and mammograms in mobile vans outside of several stores, as well as drive-thru flu clinics. All are free.

“Our goal is to be a recognized and trusted supermarket champion of health and wellness to the communities we serve,” Blanco said. She went on to note that the trust and loyalty Northgate Market has been able to build with customers is unique.

“Unfortunately, and fortunately, these women who have no health insurance trust us to come to our stores to get these screenings done at our stores versus going into a clinic. Many of them already know that they have they felt a lump, but I really believe that this program has helped save lives. We do thousands of screenings every year, both in May and October.”

And the partnerships with the community, whether its health providers, nonprofits or churches are essential. Northgate Market has built relationships with county nurses to hold a certain amount of flu vaccinations for pop-up flu clinics outside of the stores, a free option that will begin again this fall. In addition, the company currently is in the process of partnering with the San Diego County nurses to create a drive-thru COVID testing location in the city of Vista, which doesn’t have one.

Every community program that Blanco organizes is free, and they’re designed to cater to every age group, from elementary students to senior citizens. And the list of programs goes on and on – 5Ks, grants to encourage healthy eating with EBT money and culinary courses for students attending underserved schools, to name a few.

“When we built this program, something that Oscar always says, and I truly believe and say it as well, is ‘Yes, we're your local, trusted grocery store. But we're also a health portal to the community through all these services that we provide.’”

Congratulations on From page 42

your 40 Year Anniversary and your nomination for 2020 West Retailer of the Year.

Wishing you continued success in the future!

‘Doing well by doing good’

John Franklin is currently the chief financial officer of Northgate Market’s operating companies. In this capacity, he is responsible for integrating the company’s diverse strategies into detailed financial and managerial forecasts and plans, as well as evaluating the company’s enterprise performance against targets.

Franklin oversees all aspects of the company’s internal and external finance and accounting systems, functions and processes with a goal of providing a competitive advantage to operators with the delivery of accurate, timely and actionable insights for decision making.

Prior to joining Northgate Market four years ago, he spent 25 years with Brookshire Grocery Co., headquartered in Tyler, Texas, most recently serving as SVP-controller.

In addition to significant investments in areas relating to accounting, finance, treasury and tax in the retail grocery industry, he had a range of financial responsibility in related pharmaceutical, manufacturing, construction, real estate and supply chain industries.

“The González family is truly the best example I’ve seen for all families on how to live and work as a team of professionals, united by deep-rooted values, unwavering faith and an amazing love and respect for one another,” he said. “The intentionality the family commits to spend time together is inspiring.

“They are a group of very sophisticated and hard-working, hands-on leaders that really have a gift for making all those around them feel special, valued and like part of the family. And they do it with the most genuine, natural overflow of simply who they are to the core.

“I love giving my best every day alongside the family and extended family of Northgate Market associates, and I thank God for allowing me to cross paths with this group of people that I love like my own family. Northgate Market is just an amazing place to be, and I am excited about our future of ‘doing well by doing good,’ which is one of the family’s guiding principles.”

Same ‘family values every day’

Tom Herman, chief experience officer, will mark 10 years with Northgate Market in January.

Prior to that, he spent nearly 30 years with Supervalu in roles in retail operations, wholesale distribution and merchandising and category management. His last role prior to Northgate Market was Group VP of merchandising.

“Whether you are on the senior leadership team or a store associate [at Northgate Market], we all live the same strong company and family values every day,” he said. “I am both proud and honored to work in a values-driven company.”

‘Centered around a people-first culture’

Clara Alonso started her career out of school in manufacturing and spent several years leading international human resources within a Japanese toy manufacturer and distributor.

She subsequently joined a Southern California family-owned food and beverage distributor, which lead to an opportunity with PepsiCo during a time where their focus shifted to the acquisition of wellness brands.

“My passion for international and manufacturing work lead me to move into luxury brand consumer products with Louis Vuitton and their LVMH Group,” she said. “Most of my career has been in family-owned generational businesses [and] various manufacturers and distributors. This truly has been the most rewarding part of my career journey.”

Conversation

Conversación with/con

Estela González

When did you come to the U.S. and start working for the family business?

I was 23 years old when we came here in 1976.

I started in 1980, too, but I worked there for three years, left for 10 and returned in 1984. I got married, I left, and then I returned.

Now, I oversee the foundation and some of the areas of the corporate office.

Do you have any children that work for the company?

My husband and I have five kids, all males. Only one of them works for the company.

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

For me, I really like the value of unity. I believe that this is the value that the majority of the family identifies with.

Another value that I really like is honesty. I believe that if we are honest starting with ourselves, we will be able to do good by our associates.

  

¿Cuándo te mudaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Tenía 23 años cuando nos mudamos, en 1976.

Empecé en 1980, también, pero trabajé allí durante tres años, me fui por 10 años y regresé en 1984. Me casé, me fui, y luego regresé.

Ahora, superviso la fundación y algunas de las áreas de la oficina corporativa.

¿Tienes hijos que trabajen para la compañía?

Mi esposo y yo tenemos cinco hijos, todos varones. Sólo uno de ellos trabaja para la compañía.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la compañía familiar?

Para mí, me gusta mucho el valor de la unidad. Creo que este es el valor con el que la mayoría de la familia se identifica.

Otro valor que realmente me gusta es la honestidad. Creo que si somos honestos empezando por nosotros mismos, seremos capaces de hacer el bien para nuestros asociados.

Conversación with/con

Victor Manuel González

When did you start working in the family business?

I was 19 years old when we came over to the States and 22 when we opened the first grocery store.

I’m in Bakery right now, one of the different hats that I’ve had through all my life in the company.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

I’ve been married for almost 38 years. With the same girl.

We have four kids. My oldest daughter just turned 35. I have one granddaughter and two grandsons.

What is it like working with your siblings?

We get together every Wednesday for a meeting.

A normal meeting might be that I’m not in agreement with someone, or someone is not in agreement with me, but you know what, when we get out of the meeting, we’re still brothers or sisters, and we continue on, and that’s a true fact.

We get along pretty good. As far as I can say, some of my best friends are some of my brothers and sisters.

  

¿Cuándo empezaste a trabajar para el negocio familiar?

Tenía 19 años cuando vinimos a los Estados Unidos y 22 cuando abrimos la primera tienda. Estoy en panaderia ahora mismo, uno de los tantos sombreros que me he puesto en toda mi vida en la compañía.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Llevo casi 38 años casado. Con la misma mujer.

Tenemos cuatro hijos. Mi hija mayor acaba de cumplir 35 años. Tengo una nieta y dos nietos.

Congratulations Northgate Gonzalez Market on your 40th Anniversary and Retailer of the Year Award.

Aligning visions, philosophies and core values creates the strongest of partnerships. We at Gallo Wine Company are honored to have walked this partnership path with you from the beginning and look forward to the next 40 years. Cheers from our family to yours.

¿Cómo es trabajar con tus hermanos?

Nos reunimos todos los miércoles para una reunión.

En reunión normal puede ser que no este de acuerdo con alguien, o alguien no está de acuerdo conmigo, pero sabes qué, cuando salimos de la reunión, seguimos siendo hermanos y hermanas, y continuamos, y eso es un hecho.

Nos llevamos muy bien. Por lo que puedo decir, unos de mis mejores amigos son algunos de mis hermanos y hermanas.

Conversación with/con Alicia González

When did you move to the U.S. and start working in the family business?

I came in 1976, and I was 18 years old.

I started working for the company in 2001 in store nine in Santa Ana. I was in charge of the front end.

How many kids do you have?

Four – two sons and two daughters. One of my sons and one of my daughters work in the company.

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

For me personally, the value that I like the most is unity because of the relationship with my mom. She always said, “Unidad, unidad.”

Also, I asked my mom which my dad thought was the most important value, and he said hard work.

For this reason, these are my favorite values because I feel that my dad and my mom created a pillar for Northgate. These are pillars.

What are your hobbies?

I love to be in my house, cooking or working in the garden.

¿Cuándo te mudaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Llegué en 1976, y tenía 18 años.

Empecé a trabajar para la compañía en 2001 en la tienda nueve en Santa Ana. Yo era encargada del frente.

¿Cuántos hijos tienes?

Cuatro – dos hijos y dos hijas. Uno de mis hijos y una de mis hijas trabajan en la compañía.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la compañía familiar?

Para mí personalmente, el valor que más me gusta es la unidad debido a la relación con mi mamá. Siempre decía: ‘Unidad, unidad’.

También le pregunté a mi mamá cuál pensaba mi papá que era el valor más importante, y él dijo “trabajo duro.”

Por esta razón, estos son mis valores favoritos porque siento que mi papá y mi mamá crearon un pilar para Northgate. Estos son pilares.

¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?

Me encanta estar en mi casa, cocinar o trabajar en el jardín.

Congratulations Northgate Gonzalez Markets on being named 2020 West Retailer of the Year!

Clorox is proud to be a part of your rich history of serving customers and the community. We look forward to many more fruitful years of partnership.

Conversation

Conversación with/con

José de Jesús González

2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

When did you come over to the U.S. and start working in the family business?

I came over to the States in 1976, and I started working for the family business in 1980. I was 16 years old.

I was doing everything…I would help out in the front end or help out in the produce or meat department. Even on Sundays, I was helping out with the accounting.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

So, I am married. I’ve been married for 33 years, and I have three kids – two daughters and one son. And one of my daughters, Lizette – she’s working at Northgate with the marketing team.

My other daughter – she’s just graduating from fashion school, and my youngest son is in his first year at Chapman University for business administration.

Who is your mentor?

The biggest one was my father.

What I learned from my dad was, never say I can’t do it. You need to try. And I think the other one is hard work. He worked 12, 13 long hours, and you never saw him complain.

Do you have any hobbies?

Watching sports, especially bull fighting.

And traveling…When we can, I like to travel at least twice a year.

¿Cuándo te moviste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Vine a los Estados Unidos en 1976, y empecé a trabajar para el negocio familiar en 1980. Tenía 16 años.

Estaba haciendo de todo. Ayudaba en el frente o ayudaba en el departamento de frutas y verduras o la carnicería. Incluso los Domingos estaba ayudando con la contabilidad.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Estoy casado. He estado casado por 33 años, y tengo tres hijos, dos hijas y un hijo. Y una de mis hijas, Lizette, está trabajando en Northgate en el equipo de marketing.

Mi otra hija, se está graduando de la escuela de moda, y mi hijo menor está en su primer año en la Universidad Chapman en administración de empresas.

¿Quién es tu mentor?

El más grande era mi padre.

Lo que aprendí de mi padre fue que nunca dijiera que no puedo hacerlo. Tienes que intentarlo. Y creo que el otro es el trabajo duro. Trabajó 12, 13 largas horas, y nunca lo viste quejarse.

¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?

Ver deportes, especialmente corridas de toros.

Y viajar, cuando podemos, me gusta viajar al menos dos veces al año.

Associates have played key roles in rise of the supermarkets

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

Even though there’s 13 siblings and 53 of their children to run the family business that is Northgate González Market, the family’s now 41 stores, and growing, wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the Northgate Market associates. And a handful of these associates have been working for the company longer than some of the siblings.

Juan Rivas

Juan Rivas has been working with Northgate Market for 30 years. He started at age 18.

Thirty years ago, Rivas came to California from Mexico on summer vacation. He was studying to become a teacher, so he decided to spend his summer working for a few months in the U.S., and his uncle found him a job with Northgate Market.

“I started working there, and I started to like it,” he said. “I was telling my parents, ‘You know what, I’m going to stay here for one more year to save some money, and then I’m going to go back to complete my studies.’

“But a year flies by, and I really loved this company. And that's why I stayed so long.” In Mexico, Rivas was on his way to become a teacher for kids with special needs. And although he didn’t finish his teaching degree, he’s always found happiness in helping people – something he’s been able to fulfill at Northgate Market.

“I think that's one of my best skills – to teach people…to teach all them to become better,” he said.

“Something that I'm very proud of is when I was produce manager, a lot of the guys were working with me to become produce managers.

“And this is my passion – to teach these guys. I was telling all of them, ‘You know what, I don't care if someday you're going to be my boss, but I know that some of the things that I teach you are going to affect your future. And you're going to be successful, and I’m going to be proud of you.’”

And Rivas finding happiness in the company has been easy with the strong core values of the González family.

“I learned this from Oscar a long time ago. He mentioned the core values from his father – hard work, honesty and humility. The three H’s,” he said. “If you do all those things, you’re going to be successful in this company, and you’re going to stay for a long time.

“I would say that I have those three. I really like to work hard and spend a lot of time and effort and dedication to this company. I’m an honest person, sometimes too honest that people don’t like it…and I’m pretty humble. No matter what position I have…I still believe that I can do a lot of good things for the company.”

Today, Rivas serves as a store team leader at store 22 in West Covina. The location employs nearly 150 people.

Rivas is married and has four children, and his oldest daughter is 17. He hopes that one day, they can work for Northgate Market, too.

Teresa Jimenez

Teresa Jimenez was 19 years old when she started with Northgate Market 25 years ago. She was hired in 1995 to work as a cashier at store six.

“I was a cashier for a few months, and then they needed someone to help with the accounting department,’ she said. “So they said, you know, ‘Hey, let’s have Teresa go ahead and go help the accountant.’ No training. It was like, ‘Go and let’s figure it out.’”

At this point in the company, there were just eight stores, so everybody – family members and associates included – were wearing multiple hats. That’s been Jimenez’s journey throughout the company, adapting to fit where they needed her.

But the Northgate Market family was there when she needed them, too.

“I was helping the payroll manager at the time…she was dealing with all the payroll and compliance…and the system crashed and there was a lot of pandemonium.

“To make a long story short, I was there until probably 10 o’clock at night, but Oscar González was calling me every hour on the hour. When it went through, he called me and asked, ‘Hey, is everything good?’ And I just broke down and started crying. It was so stressful.

“He told this person that was there with me, ‘Oh, my God, go get her a Coke.’ It was just one of those things where the owner was sharing his concern. He’s definitely always very caring.”

And Jimenez recalled Hector González showing a lot of care for Northgate Market associates as well.

“The thing that I really remember about [Hector] was how he know every employee’s name, but not just that, every employee’s life – what their situation was, what was going on with them,” she said.

“Back at store six, he would absolutely make you feel like you had his undivided attention. He would come into the office, and he had a line of people waiting for him in the morning, and he would listen to people – what was going on with them. And he wouldn’t leave until really late at night.

“From the moment when Northgate Market takes you in, it’s like an extension of their family…they have this way of caring about people, and really, you could talk to any of the owners and all of them are absolutely wonderful.”

While Jimenez recognizes that she has countless special memories with the family,

It’s an honor to be part of the Northgate Team

From page 56

she says the beauty in the company comes from González-family values.

“One of the values is servant leadership, but it’s not just that – it goes deeper than that,” she said. “All of the González’s have servant hearts, which is very different than servant leadership. Because you could try to serve, but it’s so embedded in their DNA, they have servant hearts.”

Currently, Jimenez serves as the risk management officer for Northgate Market, a role she’s held since late 2016. Her responsibilities include identifying and measuring insurable and hazard risk.

Lupillo Ramirez

Lupillo Ramirez started with the company at 21. Now, he’s 54 and still working.

Ramirez is from Jalostotitlán, the same hometown in Mexico as the González family, and his older brother was close with them. When Ramirez was looking for a job in college, he went to Northgate Market.

“I started in the deli department in ’86, and the company started in ’80. Store two had only been open six months,” he said. “There were about six of the brothers and sisters there, so I was working with a lot of the family.

“It was really great. I mean, that’s part of the key to my longevity in the company. It was like working with your own family, per se.”

Speaking to his longevity with Northgate Market, Ramirez attributes his happiness with the company over the past 33 years to feeling like associates were family, too.

“Any needs as an employee that I had, I never had to worry because they would

always take care of me,” he said.

“One of the things that really kind of stuck in my mind…my youngest brother was getting married in Mexico…and Miguel asked me, ‘You’re not going to the wedding?’ and I said, ‘I can’t, I don’t have the money’…and he said, ‘You should go,’ and he gave me the means to go.

“It was genuinely done. I mean for somebody who says that it wasn’t a necessity or a big need, my point is – that tells you the kind of environment you’re working in.

“I was part of a family. I mean, people would think I was family. I was treated like family. And so, there is no way you cannot feel like family.”

Part of feeling like family has been the support that Ramirez has received, not only inside the stores but in his desire to pursue personal goals of his, such as a higher education.

“When I started with the company, I was going to college. You know, college – I got married and put it by the side,” he said.

“Twenty years later, I went back and finished my AA and got my bachelor’s degree. And then back to back, I got a master’s. All this with the support of Northgate Market, and I’m not stopping there.

“I’m an avid, lifelong learner. I’m going to see what’s next. But I know I’ve got to look for how I can benefit the company that’s benefiting me.”

Ramirez is married and has three children, ages 27, 23 and 19. Two of them are in college right now, on scholarships from Northgate Market.

Salvador Montes

Salvador Montes started with Northgate Market in 1985 as a box boy at store No. 1. He was 18 years old at the time.

“I went to ask Don Miguel if by any chance he could give me a job,” he said. “And he asked me, ‘You have any experience?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I have a lot of experience in the business.’ Not really true, but I did my best.”

After working as a box boy, Montes was a grocery manager for 18 years. Then he stepped into store team leader. Montes said that the González family has always given him the opportunity to grow and stay with the company in any capacity he would like.

“The store is my life. Probably 15 years ago, the company asked me if I would like to go to work in the corporate offices to be honored for all my hard work,” he said. “And I did it for probably one, two days. When I went to the office, sitting in one little room for a whole day, I said ‘No, I have to go back to the store.’

“I don’t like to work in the office. My life is customer service – this is part of my life. I enjoy completely serving the customers. And this is my hobby. Not my job, my hobby.”

He savors his memories with the family, adding, “It’s a complete life working with them.”

And he really did start his professional life with Northgate Market, too. Montes began as a single teenager and later found his wife in the company, which he describes as “one of the best things in my life.” He and his wife have four children –two girls, two boys – who are all in college or out in the working world.

His job with Northgate Market gave him the chance to support his family and pay for his children’s college education.

Two of his kids worked for Northgate Market during their college careers. He currently has three brothers and two sisters-in-law that also work for the company. Today, Montes serves as store team leader at store 33, the only company store in downtown Los Angeles.

Ramon, Francisco, Miguel, Ana Rosa, Alicia, Chonchon, Estela, Teresa, Victor, Hector, Jesus, Oscar, and Marco,

From the early days of sitting on those milk crates upstairs at store #1 to the magnificence of the Magnolia center, it has been an incredible journey. We are so proud to be a part of it. Somehow, we all grew up, but never old.

The example, traditions and standards set by Don Miguel and Doña Teresa are now the standards in which we live and do business. Faith, family, humility, honesty, loyalty. A great legacy for children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and each and every one of us.

Each of you has been a Blessing in our life and we are so grateful to God for bringing us together.

With love, gratitude, and CONGRATULATIONS, Bob and Kathy

New company campaign honoring business, community leaders with Juntos Awards

Northgate González Market recently launched “Juntos,” a campaign to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring community and business leaders and donating $40,000 to nonprofits in Southern California.

The Juntos Award salutes leaders who uplift the Hispanic community through their humanitarian and philanthropic contributions. Visit the new landing page for more information at northgatemarket.com/juntos.

“It is through these trying times we realize just how much our communities are in need. Many people are out of work and struggling just to put food on the table,” said Oscar González, co-president of Northgate Market.

“For the past 40 years, our company has worked side by side with the community, giving back whenever possible. These honorees inspire and remind us nothing is impossible if we all work together – Juntos.”

Giving back to the community has been part of Northgate Market’s DNA from the beginning. Throughout the pandemic, the company has donated food to families at drive-thru food banks, to frontline workers in hospitals and fire departments and has awarded more than $215,000 in scholarships to local students.

The 2020 honorees of the Northgate Juntos Award include:

 Jose Mejia, regional account manager, 7Up

 U.S. Rep Lou Correa, California District 46

 Blanca Melendrez, executive director, UC San Diego Center for Community Health

 Rose Espinoza, founder/executive director, Rosie’s Garage

 Teresa Samaniego, VP of diversity and community engagement for KABC-TV

 Framroze “Fram” Virjee, president, Cal State Fullerton

 Michelle Diaz, counselor, Pledge Center at Katella High School

 Bricia Lopez, cookbook author and entrepreneur

 Mario Cuevas, Mexican Consul, Orange County

 John Echeveste, CEO, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

 Clemente González, market head of community activation for Aetna

 Barbara Jimenez, MPH, director, Central and South Region

 Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, city of Riverside longtime volunteer and former school board president

 Vicente Cid, Bimbo Bakeries USA

 Gil de Cardenas, CEO at Cacique Inc.

 Pauline Cazares, community volunteer/ owner, Cazares Design

 Eddie Martinez, executive director, Latino Equality Alliance

 Dr. America Bracho, executive director, Latino Health Access

 The Rev. Michael Kennedy, SJ

 Patty Rodriguez, Lil’ Libros publisher and radio personality

Organizations receiving the cash awards include:

 Latino Health Access

 America Diabetes Association, OC

 Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative

 Rosie’s Garage

 Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation

 UrbanLife San Diego

 Harada House Foundation

 LA County Fire Dept Foundation

 Girasoles En Marcha

 San Diego Hunger Coalition

 Comisión de Salud Fronteriza México-Estados Unidos

 Immigrants Rising

 The Dominguez Dream

 Feeding America

 Latino Equality Alliance

 Santa Ana College Foundation

 SAC Students for Success Fund

 CSUF Foundation

 Titan Dreamers and Male Success Initiative

 Conexiones Educativas

 Immigration Resource Center

 El Monte Resource Association

 LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

 LA Music & Art School

Congratulations from Brown & Streza

I remember meeting Miguel and Victor for the first time when they wanted to organize their business and thoughtfully integrate the family into the business. There was such a strong desire for the family as a whole to prosper, not only financially, but to grow as individuals in order to create a larger family enterprise.

The family came together, and we instituted weekly meetings to get all the issues out on the table. Those weekly meetings continue to this day. Many of them became painful when disagreements occurred, but even when there were tears, brothers and sisters were hugging at the end.

We devoted a lot of time to working on structure, people and educating ourselves on how a good grocery company works. The hard work physically in the stores, mentally to work on thorny business problems and relationally – where both family and non-family members could thrive – demonstrated the family’s commitment to create a solid company and family.

As time went on, I remember we decided it was important to work through a process to develop a specific set of values, which would guide all of the family’s decisions going forward. This took multiple meetings of choosing and defining 13 values.

Many years later, in 2010, we had a retreat where we ranked these values in importance. Objectivity topped the list, followed closely by integrity and communication. I have witnessed the family successfully embody these values in the decisions they have made, both personally and in running Northgate Market.

It has been a pleasure to work with such a family and the organization they have created.

Richard Streza with Brown & Streza, attorneys at law

Shown, from left, are Tom Finn, VP of center store at Northgate González Market; Mike Hendry, EVP of marketing and merchandising at Northgate Market; Vicente Cid, route sales for Bimbo Bakeries USA; Alex Cabrera, beverage director at Northgate Market; and Jhosimar Rivera, customer marketing manager.

Conversation

Conversación with/con

Ramon González

When did you come to the U.S. and start working for the family business? What were your responsibilities?

I came to the United States at 16 years old in 1963 with my father, Miguel, and my brother, Francisco. We came to pay our father’s debt and to support the family who were in Jalostotitlan Jalisco Mexico.

I had many jobs, some of which included dishwashing at the Biltmore in Los Angeles, and at a metal company making metal. I started working in the business in January 1980 while keeping my full-time job at 7UP company. I had two jobs until 1981.

Do you have a spouse and children?

My wife is Rosa Maria, and we have five children – three daughters, two sons and 14 grandchildren.

Do you have any children that work for the company?

Two daughters and one son working in the company.

What’s your favorite thing about the company?

I enjoy being at the store, more than being behind a desk. I like to get to know my customers and associates.

¿Cuándo llegaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar para el negocio familiar? ¿Cuáles eran tus responsabilidades?

Vine a los Estados Unidos a los 16 años en 1963 con mi padre Miguel y mi hermano Francisco. Vinimos a pagar la deuda de nuestro padre y a mantener a la familia que estaba en Jalostotitlan Jalisco México. Tuve muchos trabajos, algunos de los cuales incluían lavar platos en el Biltmore en Los Angeles, y en una compañía de metal haciendo una metal. Empecé a trabajar en el negocio en enero de 1980 mientras mantenía mi trabajo a tiempo completo en la empresa 7UP. Tenía dos trabajos hasta 1981.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos? ¿Cuántos hijos?

Mi esposa es Rosa María. Tenemos cinco hijos: tres hijas, dos hijos y 14 nietos.

¿Tienes hijos que trabajan para la compañía?

Dos hijas y un hijo trabajando en la compañía.

¿Qué es lo que más te gusta de la compañía?

Me gusta estar en la tienda, más que estar detrás de un escritorio. Me gusta conocer a mis clientes y asociados.

Conversación with/con Teresa González

When did you move to the U.S. and start working in the family business?

I came to the USA in 1976, and I was only 15 years old. Maybe you can imagine the culture. How it was so hard for me to embrace this culture – so hard for me being so far from my town.

I still work at Northgate Market. I started in 1980 when we opened the stores, and I was having so much fun there.

It was almost like my Disneyland going to the stores.

How many kids do you have?

I have four children – three girls and one boy. Two of the girls are working at Northgate. My son is working with my husband, and my youngest daughter is going to school still.

What is the most important value to you from the family business?

A value that I like the most from all of them is respect. This is a value that we all, as a family, practice.

We respect each other a lot. When you practice those values, they come so easy.   

¿Cuándo viniste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar para el negocio familiar?

Vine a los EE.UU en 1976, sólo tenía 15 años. Tal vez puedas imaginar la cultura. Cómo fue tan difícil para mí adoptar esta cultura, y tan difícil para mí estar tan lejos de mi ciudad. Sigo trabajando en Northgate Market. Empecé en 1980 cuando abrimos las tiendas, y me estaba divirtiendo mucho allí. Era casi como Disneylandia ir a las tiendas.

¿Cuántos hijos tienes?

Tengo cuatro hijos: tres niñas y un niño. Dos de las chicas trabajan en Northgate. Mi hijo está trabajando con mi esposo, y mi hija menor va a la escuela todavía.

¿Cuál es el valor más importante para ti de la empresa familiar?

El valor que más me gusta de todos es el respeto. Este es un valor que todos, como familia, practicamos.

Nos respetamos mucho. Cuando practicas esos valores, se vuelven tan fáciles.

Sense of community, involvement extend far beyond City of Anaheim

by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer

Anaheim, California is the birthplace and home to the Northgate González Market headquarters, and the company’s roots in the community have stayed integral to the daily operations over 40 years.

As the story goes, in 1950, the market was bought by two friends. They named it Northgate Market because it was close to the North Gate in the city at the time, which is how people traveled between Los Angeles and Anaheim.

Miguel González told Kevin Clausen, project manager at the City of Anaheim, when the family purchased the market, they were so strapped for cash that they couldn’t afford to change the name, so they left it as is.

“They adopted the Northgate Market name kind of just by happenstance,” Clausen said. “But as I was told, it came to represent the gateway into opportunity in the north and how his family immigrated here and found success in business. It kind of reflected back onto them.”

Anaheim Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Grace Ruiz-Stepter added, “The Northgate Market is an anchor of the community, and the González family has been a valued partner in supporting Anaheim residents.

“The original market on Anaheim Boulevard was as much about ideas and connections as groceries and freshly prepared foods. It is this deeply rooted sense of purpose that is finding new expression and creating new opportunity for the close-knit community of North Anaheim, where the González family achieved and contributed so much.”

Clausen said Northgate Market has been one of the city’s closest partners for several years, but the partnership has grown more over the past four years when it came to light that the González family had plans to close the original store.

“The city approached the family and said, ‘Hey, this is an area that we want to infuse additional community amenities and really support the community,’” Clausen said. “‘Would you be open to selling us to your property? We’ll be good stewards of the property and reimagine a community use that supports the neighborhood that that you guys started in.’

“From that point forward, we’ve been marching on with this idea that we have to do right by the family and the community.”

Fast forward to today, and the city has been brainstorming how to best use the site. It will serve as a space to support youth development, small businesses and workforce development and health and wellness. All are elements that will focus around food as a way to bring the community together.

“We have operational partners that we’re really excited to be working with, and we’re trying to align ourselves with other operational nonprofits that support the community

Please see page 68

Kevin Clausen

THE SHELBY REPORT OF THE WEST 2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

From page 66

in other ways. This could be kind of a hub for different users and different groups,” Clausen said.

“We’re tag-teaming in many ways and leveraging our individual talents and resources, so we’re trying to really bring the community in all aspects together to bring forward a great, great project.”

One of the partners the city has brought on to help is Victoria Torres, director of community impact for the Samueli Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Henry and Susan Samueli, owners of H&S Ventures.

“I was hired to be the eyes and ears of the foundation for all aspects of the business as it relates to philanthropy,” Torres said. “I was keeping my eyes and ears open for good partnership opportunities that would be important to know about, and this was one of them.”

Last year, Ryan Wagner, founder/owner of Culinary Lab Cooking School and co-founder of Hatch Culinary Lab, also was brought on as a community partner with Northgate González Market.

The Culinary Lab Cooking School and Hatch Culinary Lab – the nonprofit arm for the school – offers free culinary education for at-risk youth. After working with Clausen at the city government, Wagner was brought on to fill this piece of culinary entrepreneurship in store No. 1.

“In the beginning, we were consulting on the project – just giving our ideas. It’s an amazing space, it has an amazing history, and we were just wanting to be a part of it how we could,” Wagner said.

“Over time, it evolved into us being the anchor tenant for the space. They were in need of operations – having someone come in and keep the lights on, operate the space, maintain it, take care of it. We’ve kind of evolved the relationship into that. And now, we’re very much in partnership with them, figuring out the future of what the space will become.”

Wagner has been in the culinary industry for 25 years, working in restaurants, owning a catering company and rising to executive chef-status. However, about 12 years ago, he turned to education to offer a hands-on learning experience for students through the Culinary Lab.

“I really saw a disconnect between what we were doing in traditional culinary education and what the industry was doing, from the uniforms that we wear to the food we cooked to the training that students were getting,” he said.

“A big part of what we do is we have a 1,000-hour apprenticeship where students go out and work in the industry. And that’s huge.

“We hand-place them at great local kitchens, restaurants, resorts, catering companies, and kind of hold their hand through that process of getting employed…and that’s really a big part of their education. I mean, any chef will tell you that they learned just as much or more in the industry working through kitchens than they did at school.”

Looking ahead, Wagner’s goal is to repurpose the space to live out the dream of entrepreneurship that the González family pursued.

“We’re training students in entrepreneurship, and that’s something that we really hope to bring into the Northgate Market space – a real focus on supporting both our students at Culinary Lab and our students through our nonprofit or high school-aged students that are at-risk youth in Anaheim.

“And given the opportunities and the tools, and even the funding, potentially, we want to help them start their own business and follow that dream of entrepreneurship.”

Ryan Wagner

Community Service

THE SHELBY REPORT OF THE WEST 2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Community Service

Marquez

/ El

Tostadas Is grateful with the Gonzalez Family for the opportunity to sell our products in their first two stores they had at the time over 25 years ago. Don Miguel was very supportive and believed in our product. In one occasion our product was taken off the sales floor and with the help & continued support of Don Miguel & Teresa our product remains at all Gonzalez Northgate locations today.

Marquez Foods

Paraiso

Back-to-school events at Northgate González Market often include haircuts, screenings, back packs and nutrition education, all at no cost to the community.

On Jan. 2, 2020, Teresa Blanco arranged for owners and thirdgeneration children to split up to visit all 41 stores on the same day, surprising random customers with free groceries.

Conversation

Conversación with/con Marco González

2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

When did you come over to the U.S. and start working in the family business?

It was 1976, and I was 12 years old when we came to the U.S.

I didn’t start immediately. Before I was working in a carwash…they gave me a school permit to work for the car wash on weekends. That was my first job.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

Yes. My wife is from the same hometown as us. She’s a González, too.

We have three kids. My son Sergio is working at Northgate Market. He graduated from Loyola Marymount Business Administration.

My daughter, Andrea – she’s working in the legal department with our attorneys. And my youngest son, Camilo, just graduated from San Diego, the architecture school, and he is now working in Boston, Massachusetts. His plan is to work two or three years and then come back to help Northgate Market with real estate, construction and design of stores.

Who is your mentor?

It’s funny, but my youngest brother, Oscar. I see him like my mentor. Not only things that I needed to learn to grow in the business, but the values that he has, and all those things, I’m very proud of him.

At store nine, he was so good. And he was like 17 or 18. He was very young, and he was managing the biggest store we had at that time – store nine in Santa Ana. And I couldn’t believe how he was managing that size of a store. It was tremendous.

¿Cuándo te mudaste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar en el negocio familiar?

Era 1976, y yo tenía 12 años cuando llegamos a los EE.UU.

No empecé inmediatamente. Antes trabajaba en un lavado de coches. Me dieron un permiso escolar para trabajar para el lavado de autos los fines de semana. Ese fue mi primer trabajo.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Sí. Mi esposa es de la misma ciudad que nosotros. Ella también es González. Tenemos tres hijos. Mi hijo Sergio, esta trabajando en Northgate. Se graduó de Loyola Marymount Business Administration.

Mi hija, Andrea, está trabajando en el departamento legal con nuestros abogados. Y mi hijo menor, Camilo, acaba de graduarse de San Diego, la escuela de arquitectura, y ahora está trabajando en Boston, Massachusetts. Su plan es trabajar dos o tres años y luego volver a ayudar a Northgate con los bienes raíces, la construcción y el diseño de las tiendas.

¿Quién es tu mentor?

Es chistoso, pero mi hermano menor, Oscar. Lo veo como mi mentor. No sólo las cosas que necesitaba aprender para crecer en el negocio, sino los valores que él tiene, y todas esas cosas, estoy muy orgulloso de él.

En la tienda nueve, él era tan bueno. Tenía como 17 o 18 años. Era muy joven, y estaba manejando la tienda más grande que teníamos en ese momento – la tienda nueve en Santa Ana. Y no podía creer cómo estaba manejando una tienda de ese tamaño. Fue tremendo.

Congratulations Northgate Markets on your 40th Anniversary! Mojave Foods is your proud partner and will continue to bring the flavors of Mexico to every table!

¡Felicitaciones Northgate Markets en su 40 aniversario! ¡Mojave Foods se enorgullece de ser su socio y juntos seguiremos llevando los sabores de México a cada mesa!

The LALA U.S. Story

Nurturing your life is our passion and has been our mission for over six decades. Here at LALA U.S., we believe our success comes from listening to the needs of our customers which is why we have continued to expand and grow our business.

The LALA U.S.® story is rich with dairy history. Our name comes from our parent company, Grupo LALA – a Mexican dairy company, founded in 1949 in Torreón, Coahuila. It is the only dairy company that operates nationwide in Mexico. It expanded into the United States in 2005, and began acquiring manufacturing plants in North America in 2009. Today, LALA U.S. continues to expand its reach across North America with both regional and national value-added dairy brands from manufacturing plants in Colorado and Nebraska.

On 40 Years of excellence and on being named 2020 West Retailer of the Year!

Conversación with/con

Oscar González

When did you come to the U.S. and start working for the family business?

I was six years old when we came to the States, and my dad bought the store when I was 10.

Some of the best moments in my life were just going into the store as a kid. And that’s where I got to interact with a lot with my dad and brothers and sisters…you’re just learning a lot of life lessons in a very strong family environment.

As I grew, especially after high school, I got really serious about the business, and so at 18, I decided to postpone my college…I fell in love with the grocery business, and I started managing the store in Pico Rivera.

Do you have a spouse and kids?

I have four kids. My oldest is Carla, Clarissa, and then Oscar and Victoria. And my wife and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary this past December. So that’s been a great ride.

My oldest daughter, Carla, is working in the business.

Where do you see Northgate Market going in the future?

I see Northgate Market expanding to the Southwest, for sure. That is something we envision and something that is very tangible.

We’re excited, and we think that we can very conservatively continue to grow to 100 stores in the next few years.

Growth is a big part – if you’re not growing, you’re dying.   

¿Cuándo viniste a los EE.UU. y empezaste a trabajar para el negocio familiar?

Tenía seis años cuando vinimos a los Estados Unidos, y mi papá compró la tienda cuando yo tenía 10.

Algunos de los mejores momentos de mi vida fueron ir a la tienda cuando era niño. Y ahí es donde pude interactuar mucho con mi padre, mis hermanos y hermanas... estás aprendiendo muchas lecciones de vida en un entorno familiar muy fuerte.

Al crecer, especialmente después de la escuela secundaria, me volví muy serio sobre el negocio, a los 18 años, decidí posponer mis estudios universitarios. Me enamoré del negocio y empecé a administrar la tienda en Pico Rivera.

¿Tienes esposa e hijos?

Tengo cuatro hijos. Las mayores son Carla y Clarissa, y luego Oscar y Victoria. Mi esposa y yo acabamos de celebrar 25 años de casados el diciembre pasado. Así que ha sido un gran recorrido.

At City of Hope we turn innovative ideas into powerful new treatments that give people the chance to live longer, better and more full lives. With breakthroughs in cancer drugs, bone marrow and stem cell transplants, diabetes treatments and more, we are working at the leading edge of medical science. Thanks to Northgate Markets for your love and support. Congratulations on being nominated as The Shelby Report of the West’s Retailer of the Year and your 40th Anniversary! City of Hope wishes to celebrate your good fortune and health.

Mi hija mayor, Carla, está trabajando en el negocio.

¿Hacia dónde ves que Northgate va en el futuro?

Veo Northgate Market expandiéndose al suroeste, seguro. Eso es algo que imaginamos y algo que es muy tangible.

Estamos emocionados, y creemos que podemos seguir creciendo de manera muy conservadora a 100 tiendas en los próximos años.

El crecimiento es una gran parte: si no estás creciendo, te estás muriendo.

THE SHELBY REPORT OF THE WEST 2020 RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations from Al Martinez

Al Martinez, senior regional senior executive for Don Francisco Cheese, has been calling on Northgate González Market for 25 years. And by his account, the González family has stayed “down to earth,” always acting with the same humility as the company grew.

Martinez has gotten to know the family over the years, but one of the siblings with whom he’s closest is Victor Manuel González. Their friendship dates back more than two decades.

Martinez and another friend, Diego, used to go cycling with two of the of González brothers – Victor and Marco Antonio – about every three weeks.

They would get together on a Saturday morning at Yorba Linda and ride. Sometimes, they would venture to the González’s ranch in Lake Matthews.

“When we would ride to the ranch, the family was always there – very generous,” Martinez said. “We had big barbecues – steaks, chicken, whatever you wanted to eat – food was always abundant.

“Those are very fun memories.”

Congratulations from Bristol Farms

I was working at Bristol Farms one afternoon several years ago, and I received a phone call from a young man who said he didn’t know me but that he would like to meet and speak with me regarding the grocery industry. He said it would be part of his assignment in graduate school to interview an executive leader within the industry. I said sure, I’d be glad to do it, and we arranged to meet.

Oscar and I spent several hours talking together that evening we first met and have become very close friends over the years since then. I was impressed with Oscar and his family’s story from the moment I met him. I was also surprised that such a young man was so knowledgeable, dedicated and serious about the responsibility that he and his family shared for the success of the business his mother and father started – not only for their family, but also for the employees in their company and the customers they served in their communities.

Oscar has grown tremendously since that first meeting many years ago. During the time I have known Oscar, he has risen along with his family business, both in stature and in his leadership sophistication. Northgate Market González is one of the largest and fastest growing specialty foods grocers in North America.

Oscar and his family have trained, educated and developed their family members and their employee associates to be at the cutting edge of the industry in both technical knowledge and food industry management skills. Under Oscar and Miguel’s leadership, the family business has thrived and is respected across the country and throughout the industry.

Al Martinez holds up a cycling jersey, a reminder of his decades-long friendship with Victor Manuel González.

Martinez also shared a story about visiting Victor at store No. 5. “Right away, he greeted me very warmly like he always does.”

As the men caught up, Victor asked Martinez how his job with a new company was going. After the men sat down to talk, an employee went to get a tray of fruit. Martinez recalled, “A few minutes later, the guy brought the fruit in and Victor pushed it in the middle, and he takes a two plastic forks, and he goes ‘Come on. Dig in there.’

“We shared the same plate, and I always thought that was so sweet. I said, ‘Man, I feel like he was my brother.’ I cherish that moment very much…being successful never went to his head.”.

Note from Shelby Publishing

While putting together this special section honoring Northgate González Market, the team at Shelby Publishing got a glimpse into life of a remarkable Southern California family.

The González siblings were quick to share their story in words and photos. Their warmth and candor quickly helped illustrate the many reasons for the family’s success – humility, honesty and hard work.

The González family lives out the American dream, something that we believe everyone can appreciate and admire. It was a true pleasure to be immersed in the Northgate Market legacy for a few months as family members, associates, friends and business partners shared their memories.

We wish the family the absolute best as they continue to change the lives of the communities they serve.

Best wishes,

The team at Shelby Publishing

Over the time I have watched Oscar grow as an industry leader and businessman, he has served not only his family company but also the industry and the community through his commitment and dedication to improving the lives of everyone he comes in contact with.

As president of the Western Association of Food Chains, he has led the efforts of our industry to further the success of its members through education. As Humanitarian of the Year, he has been honored by the California Conference of Equality and Justice for his leadership in breaking down the walls of racial and religious bias that separate so many people in our society. He has served the industry on a national level as a board director at Food Marketing Institute in Washington, D.C., where he is a member of the executive committee and the Independent Operator Council.

His awards and recognitions are too numerous to list, but he gives back in every way imaginable to our industry and still somehow finds the time and focus to be a dedicated husband to his wife, Silvia, and committed father to his beautiful children. Since the first time we met, I was impressed with Oscar.

We still have those talks, like we did that first time we met. If I was a young graduate student today and given an assignment to interview and speak with an established and knowledgeable industry leader who might someday serve as a mentor to me, I would not hesitate to call Oscar and ask him if he might have time for me. While I now consider Oscar a close and trusted friend, and he might still consider me one of his early mentors, he probably doesn’t know how much I have appreciated learning from him during our talks over these many years. Congratulations on your success and this recognition, my friend. It is well deserved for all you do and who you have grown to be.

Kevin Davis, chairman of Bristol Farms Kevin Davis and Oscar González have enjoyed a long friendship that has taken them on many adventures, including trout fishing.

Al Martinez, Don Francisco Cheese

35 YEARS +

Cliserio González

Teresa G. Anaya

Martin Salvador Montes

Francisco J. Camarena

30 YEARS +

Fernando Hernandez

Manuel Montes

Fortunato E. Meda

Jose Lupillo Ramirez

Juan E. Gomez

Esee Espahbod

Jesus Montes

Victor M. Villalobos

Marie E. Flores

Valente Ibarra

Jose Zuniga

Filiberto Cruz

Miguel Pena

Gonzalo Luque

Rafael P. Marquez

Roberto Faudoa

Maria L. Gomez

Honoring Longtime Associates

Jose R. Salgado

Jose Suarez

Sergio Garcia

Livier Alvarez

Monica G. Vazquez Reynoso

Rita A. Roman

Juan Rivas

Benito Becerra

Francisco J. De Luna De Rueda

Juan F. Franco Gomez

Sandra E. Llampallas

Julio C. Romo González

25 YEARS +

Julio C. Delgado

Jesus H. Garcia

Luis A. Flores Cuellar

Jose A. Reynoso

Michelle González

Yolanda Ramirez

Alicia Valadez

Oswaldo Gutierrez

Lucilo O. Torres

Alejandro Gomez Zapata

Aurelio Enriquez

Cirilo Reyes

Canuto Romero

Jesus Alvarez

Everardo Sanchez

Robert J. Perez

Jose A. Retamoza

Ricardo Hernandez

Darwin G. Carter

James A. Russell

Alberto C. Navarro

Luis D. Caceres

Cenon Ortiz

Benjamin Rivas

Juan P. Avilez

Julio Ramirez

Raul Cuevas

Jose A. Espino

Juan M. Carmona

Joel A. Sanchez Davalos

Jesus Guerrero

Gustavo Limon

Blanca E. Martinez Mejia

Irma Barajas

Maria L. Garcia

Adrian A. Zermeno

Jose J. Santillan

Joel Hernandez Sr.

Juan C. Garcia

Abel Noriega

Miguel C. Cervantes

Miguel A. Martinez

Melinna Lozano

Isidro S. Pineda

Martin Lopez

Jorge M. Flores

Jose A. Camarena Cortes

Eduardo Galvez

Nery L. Lopez

Carmela Ayala

Rogelio Solano

Marco A. Mejia

Hector M. Silva

Rosauro Del Cid

Gilberto Ortiz

Gustavo Macias

Jose J. Torres

Juan Solorio

Luis A. Rojas

Yalid Ocampo

Roberto C. Garcia

Antonio Palma

Almarosa G. Ramirez

Jose G. Solano

Irma Salcido

Jose L. Zermeno

Jesus Mendoza

Esther Ramirez

Joel Hernandez

Armando Torres

Anthony Dominguez

Elva Santana

Silvana P. Vizuete

Tomas Valdez

Roberto Hernandez

Blanca Yescas

Jose Luna

Benito Diaz

Jose L. Reyes

Luis A. Mendoza Carranza

Serafin Pineda

Antonio Padilla

Ruth Najera

Paulo Tavera Meza

Jose P. Gutierrez

Gerardo Hernandez

Elva G. Hernandez

Jorge P. Renteria

David Perez

Jorge H. Sandoval

Euxodio Almeida

Antonio Flores

Jose L. Meza

Jose T. Solis

Carmen Rolon

Teresa Jimenez

Esther Alvarado

Emiliano Bautista

Alejandro Diaz

Jose Reyes

Fernando Galvan

Fernando G. Balderas

Miguel A. Zambrano

Miguel A. Lopez

Guillermo Cruz González