"Just like grandmom used to make"

77 South 28th Street
San Jose, CA 95116

Business History of Rodriguez Foods Inc. 
• The business was established in 1960 by the Rodriguez family; father Jose (Joe), mother Frances, son Victor and his wife, Stella.  The business was named El Azteca Chorizo Company located on Santa Clara Street in San Jose, California.

• Initially, the business manufactured chorizo, a Mexican style sausage, wholesaling to markets and restaurants in the San Jose area.   The business grew to serve the greater Bay Area, including San Francisco, the Peninsula and eventually expanding to the Monterey County, Sacramento and Stockton areas.

• In 1962, Joe Rodriguez Sr. passed away, leaving his wife Frances, with the help of two sons, to run the family business.

• In 1963, as a result of expanding volume, the business had out grown the Santa Clara St. facility.  The family searched for a larger facility to handle increased production of chorizo.   The family found a business for sale called the Boston Sausage Company.  The facility at 1858 West San Carlos street had the key requirements the Rodriguez family had ascertained would enable them to increase the production of chorizo.  The Rodriguez family bought the Boston Sausage Co. and soon thereafter renamed the business El Azteca Food Products Co.

• In 1964, the Rodriguez family decided to expand its Mexican product line to include an old family recipe for beef and pork Tamales.  The taste of the tamale met the high quality standards and was of real value to both restaurant owners and family markets.  The tamales became El Azteca’s best selling products.

• From 1965 through 1968, the business continued to increase to the point of maximizing production capability of the West San Carlos facility.

• In 1969, production of the products had finally out grown the facility.  Because it was not feasible to expand the current space due to physical limitations, the Rodriguez family began to look for land to build a new production plant that could accommodate current and future growth of the business.

• In 1970, an appropriate site was found at 77 South 28th Street in San Jose.  Frances and sons began to draw up designs for the new plant.  They included in those designs, all the latest manufacturing elements they had accumulated from their both their professional jobs, as well as, experience in the food manufacturing business, to ensure the new production plant would meet current and future production requirements.

• In 1971, Frances Rodriguez passed away.   She left the business and the construction of the new plant to the three sons who had been involved in the business, Salvador, Victor and Robert.  Although Joe and Frances did not live to see their dream become a reality, it would come to fruition with Salvador, Victor, Robert, and Bernice and Stella, the wives of Sal and Victor, respectively.

• In 1972, the three brothers decided to incorporate the business as Rodriguez Foods Inc.  El Azteca was kept as the brand name of the food product lines.

• On February 23, 1973 the dream of Joe and Frances, to build a successful business, became a reality and commenced with the Grand Opening and Dedication of the new plant.  A new era began.

• In 1976 the Rodriguez brothers expanded their Mexican line of foods to include chili rellenos to meet the restaurant and market demand for a better quality of chili rellenos, as well as, compliment the beef and pork tamale offering.

• In the 1980s – 1990s, the business added several more varieties of tamales, pork, chicken and cheese tamales, to the product offerings

• In 1997, Robert Eugene Rodriguez, the youngest of the Rodriguez brothers, passed away.  He left a wife, Sophie, and 4 children.

• In the 2000s, the business added another tamale variety to the ever growing list, a Chicken and Cheese tamale.

• In 2004, Salvador retired from the business as President due to health problems, and he was joined in retirement by his wife Bernice.

• Today, Victor and Stella continue to run the business and established a family Board of Directors to manage and expand the current enterprise to an unprecedented level of success

• Board of Directors: Victor M. Rodriguez,  CEO and Chairman of the Board
Salvador Rodriguez, President, (Retired) 
Sophia Rodriguez, Board Member 
Joseph A. Rodriguez, Board Member 
Curtis V. Rodriguez, Esq., Board Member 
Christopher M. Rodriguez, Board Member 
Ralph Rodriguez, Board Member

Many things have changed over the years but one thing has remained the same, the family’s dedication and desire to provide the highest quality and authentic Mexican Food products.   It is the hope that the third generation of the Rodriguez family will continue the tradition started by their grandparents Jose and Frances, and take the family business into the future. . .