Santa Rosa, Calif./Press Release -- La Tortilla Factory, a brand of tortillas and wraps, is shifting its top management roles and has hired Jeff Ahlers as its president and chief executive officer.  The appointment is the result of a long-term search process led by the Tamayo family and the board of directors. 

 

Sam Tamayo, who has been La Tortilla Factory’s CEO for two years, has been promoted to vice chairman and chief innovation officer.  Tamayo, who has climbed the company ranks, most recently as chief executive officer, represents the third-generation of Tamayos to run the family business in Sonoma County.  

 

Ahlers brings over 25 years of experience in the supermarket, baking and perishables business, most recently as general manager of Lucky Supermarkets. His bakery experience includes serving as COO at a family-owned bakery company in Lodi, Calif., and then as president of a $300 million in-store-bakery business, where he worked with many of the nation’s top retail supermarket chains. Earlier in his career he held the director of bakery, vice-president of bakery, and senior vice president of perishables positions at Safeway.   

 

“What excites me about this new position are the same things that drew me to La Tortilla Factory as a board member: this company’s incredibly strong values, its legacy of good stewardship, and its bright future,” said Ahlers. “It's an honor to join the La Tortilla Factory family and to help build that future."

 

In his new role, Ahlers will be responsible for managing the company’s day-to-day operations and long-term growth strategy, while Carlos, Willie and Sam Tamayo continue to ensure that La Tortilla Factory remains a values-based family business.

 

“Three generations of our family have done a spectacular job building La Tortilla Factory into a market leader,” said Carlos Tamayo, chairman of the board. “We have decided to bring in new perspective and expertise to help guide our company through its next phase of development.”

 

The addition of the new president and CEO  will not affect La Tortilla Factory’s longstanding commitment to its core values, which are based on “a deep commitment to providing long-term, secure jobs to our 300 plus family of employees, our dedication to unsurpassed product quality, and a tradition of service to the community,” commented Sam Tamayo.