In 1945, Victor and Charlotte Cortesi started V&C Foods in San Francsico, delivering fresh eggs to bakeries. More than 80 years later, the business now delivers a wide variety of dairy products and more, around the Bay Area. Oakland customers include Boba Guys and Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream in Rockridge, Sirene restaurant on Grand Avenue, and Red Bay Coffee near the Grand Lake Theater and on Alcatraz Avenue.
What makes V&C Foods distinctive isn’t just that it endured, but how that actually happened. When Victor passed away in 1987, his daughter Judy inherited the business. When she retired she sold the business to Steven Herrera, who’d spent years as a route driver being mentored by Victor and was ready to lead. This ensured the values and relationships that defined V&C would continue into its next chapter.
Now Steven is mentoring his son Adam in the same way Victor developed him — teaching him operations, relationships and what it means to lead through experience and responsibility…