Baking & Snack - February 2023 - 29

the
Baking
Family
Louis Rotella Sr. and his son built the Omaha
Italian bakery into a nationwide business.
by Michelle Smith
B
Baking is in the blood of the Rotella family, a legacy
that goes back more than 160 years. Louis Rotella Sr.
and Louis Rotella Jr. elevated Rotella's Italian Bakery, La
Vista, Neb., from an Omaha staple into a supplier of specialty
bread and rolls throughout the United States.
Their passion for the craft and business acumen have
earned the father and son a spot in the American Society
of Baking's Baking Hall of Fame.
The Rotellas' baking tradition dates back to the 1850s
in Calabria, Italy, where Louis Sr.'s grandfather ran a
bakery in which he grew and milled his own wheat. The
US bakery began just over a century ago when Louis
Rotella Sr.'s parents, Alessandro and Maria Rotella, began
operating an Omaha bakery in 1921, using a woodfired
oven and delivering bread in a horse-drawn wagon.
The bakery today is helmed by Louis Jr., chief executive
officer and president, who started learning the business
at a young age and worked for many years alongside his
father, who died in 2009.
" I remember helping my dad when I was in grade
school, " Mr. Rotella said. " Working side-by-side next
to someone who sincerely appreciated the value of hard
work, I really learned all of the facets of the business. By
the time I was in the eighth grade, I was able to run production
in the plant. "
Several members of the Rotella family are involved
with the bakery today, including Louis Rotella III, chief
operating officer, who said he considers his grandfather,
Louis Sr., to be one of his best teachers. He served as an
example of smart and ethical leadership.
" The philosophy my grandfather taught me on the
corporate side incorporates a constant look to the future,
but also a tremendous honor of the past, " he said. " When
speaking of my grandfather, I must also mention integrity.
He has taught us that a leader with integrity behaves
in a manner that is consistent with professional responsibility
and professional ethics. "
The bakery serves the foodservice industry and sells
its products through retail channels, producing hundreds
of baked foods, including bread, rolls and breadsticks,
buns, hoagie rolls, ciabatta, gluten-free and specialty
breads.
Both of the Rotellas have earned numerous awards
for their service to the industry and surrounding community.
Louis Rotella Sr. was named Outstanding
American Italian in 1973 and 1986 and purveyor of the
year for the Omaha Restaurant and National Restaurant
Associations. Louis Rotella Jr. has been honored with
the Omaha Golden Spike Award and the Distinguished
Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska at
Omaha. Under his leadership, the company has been
recognized as supplier of the year, outstanding sales and
dedication, and with awards of excellence, quality and
service and innovation.
Louis Rotella Sr. and
Louis Rotella Jr.
*
www.bakingbusiness.com / February 2023 Baking & Snack 29
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Baking & Snack - February 2023

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