From Immigrant Roots to Industry Leader: Building Culture, Consistency & Community with René Diaz

Crave - The IFDA Podcast

In this episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, we sit down with René Diaz, President & CEO of Diaz Foods, a multigenerational food-distribution leader with a remarkable story grounded in grit, gratitude, and giving back.

From immigrating to the U.S. with nothing… to running one of the most respected Hispanic food companies in America, René shares the principles that shaped him: consistency, service, culture, and community impact.

We explore how Diaz Foods blends family values, hard work, and data-driven innovation — and why empathy, discipline, and cultural pride still win in a fast-moving market.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, legacy, and the power of showing up.

Topics Covered:

• Growing from a small family grocery store to a major distributor
• Why consistency beats talent — every time
• Mentorship, community leadership & paying it forward
• The value of culture, diversity & shared tables
• Balancing empathy with accountability
• Partnership lessons: from handshake deals to AI-powered pricing
• Robotics, automation & the future of distribution
• How food — and family — build stronger communities
• “Yes, it's possible”: a mindset that transforms careers

More about this episode:

Learn more about Diaz Foods: https://www.diazfoods.com/

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Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/