Matthews Steer recently hosted its latest Success Stories Breakfast, bringing together business owners, leaders and advisers from across Melbourne to connect, learn and share real-world insights on growth.
Delivered in partnership with Melbourne’s North Food Group, the event highlighted what these breakfasts are known for — valuable peer-to-peer networking, practical business insights, and candid conversations with those who have successfully navigated growth.
Why these events matter
In a business environment where growth is rarely linear, hearing directly from those who have experienced it firsthand is invaluable.
The Success Stories Breakfast series is designed to share practical insights from established businesses while creating opportunities for meaningful connection within the SME community. The March event delivered on both — with strong engagement, quality conversations, and a shared appetite for learning.
From Kensington Kitchen to National Brand
The headline session featured La Tortilleria co-founder Gerardo Lopez and CEO Jessica Roso, in conversation with MC Dougal Beatty.
Founded in 2013 by Gerardo Lopez and Diana Hull, La Tortilleria began in a small Kensington restaurant, producing tortillas using traditional Mexican techniques and equipment sourced from Mexico. What started as a passion project quickly evolved into a national business.
As demand grew, the business expanded into manufacturing, commissioning its first bakery within two years. Today, La Tortilleria supplies thousands of restaurants and retailers across Australia, while continuing to showcase its products at its original restaurant.
A key turning point came in 2016, when Jessica Roso joined as CEO, bringing the operational structure and leadership needed to support the next phase of growth.
Scaling Without Compromise
A clear theme throughout the session was growth without compromising values.
La Tortilleria’s commitment to authenticity — from its traditional nixtamalisation process to its use of just two ingredients, Australian wholegrain corn and sea salt — remains central to its success. As Gerardo shared, not cutting corners has been fundamental to maintaining quality and building trust.
This philosophy extends beyond product into leadership, culture and decision-making.
Navigating Growth and Change
The discussion offered a candid look at the realities of scaling.
COVID-19 proved a defining moment. With both a restaurant and manufacturing arm, the business faced two very different challenges. The restaurant pivoted quickly to online ordering and delivery, expanding its reach across Victoria, while manufacturing experienced a surge in retail demand despite supply chain constraints.
Rather than stepping back, the team adapted quickly — maintaining staff, shifting operations, and ultimately accelerating their retail growth.
Another major milestone was the move to a new purpose-built facility in Coburg North, a decision that required balancing risk, timing and confidence in the business’s future.
Leadership and Letting Go
One of the most valuable insights for attendees was the decision to bring in an external CEO.
For many founders, this is a challenging step. For La Tortilleria, it came down to recognising what the business needed to keep growing. The partnership between founder and CEO — balancing vision with operational discipline — has been key.
Open communication, aligned values and a strong cultural foundation were all highlighted as critical to making this transition successful.
Innovation and the Future
Despite its growth, La Tortilleria continues to innovate.
A standout initiative is the development of Mexican blue corn in Australia — a complex, multi-year project that has seen the business move into agriculture and work directly with local farmers. This not only strengthens supply but opens new opportunities for differentiation and growth.
At the same time, the business remains focused on educating the market, helping customers better understand the quality and authenticity behind its products.
A Broader Perspective on Growth
The morning was further enriched by insights from industry partners, reinforcing that sustainable growth is rarely achieved in isolation.
Nick Westgarth from Judo Bank shared perspectives from the front line of SME banking, highlighting the importance of relationship-led finance and access to funding that supports businesses to grow on their own terms. Michael Churchill of Peloton Corporate spoke to the role of valuation in guiding strategic decisions, emphasising the importance of understanding and managing business value over time.
Eddy Boscariol from NorthLink and Melbourne’s North Food Group reinforced the value of industry collaboration — from accessing networks and shared knowledge to leveraging programs that help businesses reduce costs and unlock new opportunities.
Together, these perspectives highlighted the broader ecosystem that underpins sustainable business success.
The event also welcomed representatives from key industry associations and networks that Matthews Steer works closely with, including the Victorian Transport Association, Family Business Association, Essendon Fields, and the Essendon Football Club Business Network, reflecting the strong connections that help drive growth and knowledge-sharing within the SME community.
Investing in Future Talent
A standout element of the event was the inclusion of VCE accounting students from Ave Maria College, St Bernard’s College and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School.
These events provide students with valuable exposure to real-world business experiences beyond the classroom. Feedback from both students and faculty continues to be overwhelmingly positive, with strong engagement and thoughtful participation throughout the session.
Encouragingly, a number of students have already followed up to express interest in future work experience opportunities and staying connected — a strong reflection of the impact these sessions can have.
More Than a Breakfast
Consistently, the most valued aspect of our Success Stories Breakfast is the quality of connection.
With structured networking and a room of experienced business owners and leaders, attendees benefit from open discussion, shared challenges and meaningful relationships. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests, sponsors and speakers alike reinforces the value of this format.
Supporting Your Growth Journey
The themes explored throughout the morning — growth, leadership, strategy and navigating change — are challenges faced by many businesses.
At Matthews Steer, we work alongside business owners to provide practical, tailored advice to support sustainable growth, informed decision-making and long-term success.
If you’re looking to take the next step in your business, we’d welcome a conversation.
Get in touch with Matthews Steer to discuss how we can support your growth journey.
