Edward Medina – Transformative leader in authentic Mexican cuisine

Edward Medina serves as the president of Ramona’s Food Group. With a background in finance, Edward has played a pivotal role in revitalizing Ramona’s, transforming it into a thriving family-owned business deeply rooted in tradition and committed to innovation.

Ramona’s Food Group is a family-owned enterprise renowned for its authentic Mexican cuisine. Established in 1947 by Romana Banuelos, the company has evolved from supplying tortillas to becoming a staple in frozen Mexican foods, remaining committed to its heritage and quality.

Founded in 1947, Ramona’s began as a tortilla supplier before expanding into frozen foods in the early 1970s.

The company prides itself on using 100-year-old recipes, maintaining authenticity and tradition amidst industry pressures.

Edward, alongside his cousin Robert, co-owns the company, leveraging their complementary skills to continue its legacy.

Edward describes Ramona’s as a “78-year-old startup,” highlighting its long-standing history combined with a spirit of innovation.

He recounts the company’s origins, emphasizing the resilience shown by founder Romana Banuelos, who started by making tortillas and delivering them on public buses.

Under his leadership, Ramona’s maintained its authentic recipes, resisting changes despite industry trends for substitutions.

The transition to frozen burritos in the 70s marked a significant evolution for the company, building on their experience as a key supplier to Taco Bell.

Edward sees Mexican food’s mainstream popularity as a testament to its dynamic nature, expressing excitement about being part of this culinary evolution

QUOTES

“I always say we’re like a 78-year-old startup. It was started in 1947.” (Edward)

“Our recipes are over 100 years old. Mrs. B carried those recipes from her early days. We have not ventured from those.” (Edward)

“We like to think of ourselves as like the In-N-Out of Mexican food. We do a couple of things. We do them well.” (Edward)

“The family dynamic was not very good. It was quite ugly, actually, which kind of led to our purchase in 2017.” (Edward)

“When we became profitable, that’s when life got slower. We could make better decisions, make better products.” (Edward)

“Culture is the way people act when I’m not here, and I think people are very responsible and when we’re not here, they get it done.” (Edward)

“Mexican food is very exciting, and it’s almost American food now.” (Edward)