Comerica Corner: Hacienda Mexican Foods

Story by: Lorenzo Almanza

The power of culture around the world have guided many Latinos in their development, but it was the power of the business that helped guide a compassionate, driven Latina in Southwest Detroit. Lydia Gutierrez is the current owner & president of Hacienda Mexican Foods, a company that produces authentic tortillas and tortilla chips. Her ability to lead a tortilla-making business allowed her to grow and develop as a leader.

THE LATINA LEADER began her journey learning from her late husband, Richard. “Richard carried the vision and I worked alongside him to implement the vision,” Gutierrez said.

Lydia and Richard’s success did not start off easy. They had to learn how to properly grow and build their brand as a company. “We would buy tortillas and tortillas chips from a man who had a company nearby and we would put them in our van and make the delivery,” Gutierrez said. What started off as a small business, soon developed into some amazing opportunities. The company started to build their market by making “tortillas for companies like Stouffer foods and McDonalds.”

“We started to grab quite a bit of traction and respect from the other companies,” Gutierrez said.

As the company grew, Lydia’s husband Richard began to feel ill. Richard developed Hepatitis C and his health would soon depress. The realm of the company fell into the hands of Lydia and she began to lead the company.

With Lydia at the head of the company, things would soon develop. “It was in a year after he passed away, that I had added a 33,000 square foot warehouse,” Gutierrez said. Lydia felt moving into a larger building was significant to the company’s growth.

Some of Lydia’s other accomplishments include her growing the size of employment within the company. “We have over 75 plus employees,” Gutierrez said. “I run my company as if my employees are my children. I instill in them values and camaraderie.”

However, like with every business, hardships are part of a company’s growth. Back in 2010, the company lost a nice sizable piece of business. “We went from maybe a six million company to a million-dollar company,” Gutierrez said. Her ability to leader and grow in difficult situations have propelled her to face whatever life has to offer: even if it’s a pandemic.

Even in the darkest times, Lydia’s light continues to shine. When the pandemic hit, the Hacienda owner gave her employees two options: to continue working or stay at home.

“We were going to work with the people we had, to continue to try and keep the business going,” Gutierrez said. “Thankfully everyone is working, and we put some additionally protocols in place” Along with focusing on her employees, Lydia has strived to continue providing the best opportunities for her customers. No matter the circumstances, Hacienda Mexican Foods continues to go above and beyond for its customers.

“We understand our customers pay us and being in a position to ask a customer how we can help them makes a significance difference,” Gutierrez said.

“I’m incredibly humbled and thankful to be leading this company during this pandemic and it has made me a stronger leader, more focus leader, more continuous leader and one who is looking forward to the day this is behind us,” Gutierrez said.