Rooted in family:
our legacy

Tony Wald is the founder and CEO of TOBA, Inc. and is currently Chairman of the Board for Wald Family Foods.

Having possessed an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age, Tony got his start in the business world by opening an employment agency franchise in Pueblo, Colorado in 1972. He would then work for the Nash Finch Company, a Fortune 500 grocery wholesaler, where he became the youngest Vice President in the company’s history in 1989. He eventually became Divisional Vice President and moved to Nebraska.

Tony and his wife, Barbara, had purchased a convenience store in Minnesota in 1984. Wanting to keep the business under a corporation, TOBA Inc. was founded. In 1995, Tony left Nash Finch, liquidated his 401k, and grew TOBA by purchasing the Thompson Company in Grand Island, NE. TOBA continued to acquire various food distributors throughout the 2000s and became one of Nebraska’s fastest-growing broadline food service companies.

In 2017, TOBA shifted its focus to food manufacturing and rebranded itself as Wald Family Foods. Tony continues to work alongside his two sons and grandson. He is an avid outdoorsman, spending his free time fishing and hunting at his property, Twelve Gauge Landing.

Tommy has worked for the family business since 1998, starting as a warehouseman and cigarette stamper for The Thompson Company. Much like his brother Bob, he worked his way up through the company, spending time in as many roles as possible to learn the business. He had stints as an order selector, delivery driver, sales representative, and buyer before becoming Director of Marketing and eventually Vice President – Sales & Marketing of The Thompson Company.

TOBA, Inc. moved its headquarters out of the Thompson Company’s location to its own office space in 2011, where Tommy became Vice President of Sales & Marketing for TOBA (at the time, TOBA consisted of individual LLCs The Thompson Company, PA Braunger Foods, Variety Foods, DI Manufacturing, and Deli International). He became Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing in 2015 and CEO of TOBA in 2021. He focuses his attention predominantly on sales & marketing.

Tommy graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1996 with a BS degree in Business Administration. He played point guard for the Cornhusker men’s basketball team from 1993 to 1996, when they won a Big Eight Tournament Championship (1994) and an NIT Championship (1996). He enjoys watching sports, hunting alongside his black lab, Angel, and working to grow the family business.

Bob joined the family business in 1996, shortly after Tony Wald purchased The Thompson Company. He was working for AVCO Financial in St. Cloud, MN, when he received the call inviting him to join the company. Tony insisted that Bob begin working at the bottom and learning the business from the ground up. He started as a cigarette stamper and warehouseman, then was a delivery driver, salesperson (where he won DSR of the Year), and buyer before elevating to Director of Marketing for The Thompson Company.

In 2005, Bob transferred to Sioux City, IA, where he became General Manager for Braunger Foods. He held that role until 2011, when he moved back to Grand Island, NE, to run The Thompson Company. In 2015, Bob transferred to TOBA’s headquarters, where he became Executive Vice President of Operations. Tony Wald was elevated to Chairman of the Board in 2021, which moved Bob to President & Chief Operating Officer, a role he performs today.

Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a finance degree in 1993. He enjoys hunting with his three Labrador retrievers, Duke, Indy, and Apollo, watching sports, and spending time with his three wonderful kids.

Brayden joined TOBA in 2021 as a management trainee at Wald Family Foods – C Street.

He’s performed roles as production line attendant, quality assurance, warehouseman, warehouse supervisor, and inventory management. He is now in purchasing. Brayden is the third generation of Wald in the business.