C • A • N • I

Constant and Never-ending Improvement

What We Do

Involved directly with day-to-day operations, Mission believes in taking a hands-on approach, customized to each location and market. The company’s portfolio includes nationally recognized brands, local chef-driven outposts, and original proprietary concepts. Mission is committed to using all-natural meats and organic produce whenever possible to offer low fat, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and to operate with the environment in mind.

100% COMMITED TO YOU

This includes composting, recycling, and utilizing repurposed décor at many of its restaurants. Mission feels it is imperative to take needed steps to meet growing public demand for higher-quality food sources and environmental sustainability.

GROWING

Mission Yogurt, Inc. is certified as an Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), yet also one of Colorado’s fastest growing companies, currently employing more than 650 people. In the past three years, Mission’s sales have steadily climbed, and in 2014, sales reached an all time high with 30% year-over-year growth.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

From Mission Yogurt, Inc.’s humble beginning with one frozen yogurt location in Arvada, Colorado, to now operating more than 20 successful concepts, Mission’s goals remain the same: Steady growth, developing the best team in the industry, and providing an elite customer experience to the traveling public.

About Our Founder

Rod Tafoya has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant business, including more than 25 at the helm of Mission Yogurt.

From an early age, Tafoya had a connection to, and fascination with, airports. As a child, his mother worked at Denver’s Stapleton International Airport, and his father was an engineer for the city of Denver. It wasn’t until after he graduated with an MBA from UCLA, received a B.S. in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and held a marketing position at IBM, however, that he considered a career connection.

In 1985, Tafoya set his sights on opening a cookie business at Stapleton Airport, and decided to make a bid for space there. While he was not selected for a contract due to lack of experience, four years later, he successfully broke into the restaurant business when he purchased an Arvada Penguin’s Frozen Yogurt franchise in Arvada, Colorado.

After cutting his teeth in the restaurant business for nearly a decade, Tafoya opened Sara Lee Sandwich Shoppe and Colombo Yogurt in Denver International Airport (DIA), when it commenced operations in 1995. Soon after, Rod continued to grow at DIA and opened DIA’s first authentic Mexican restaurant, Que Bueno, the busiest Einstein Bros Bagels franchise location in the nation, and the highest grossing restaurant measured by sales at DIA, Timberline Steaks and Grille. Rod’s steady growth quickly led to different operations in other high traffic airports beyond Colorado, including San Diego and San Jose International Airports.

Our Mission

Provide steady growth, develop the best team in the industry, and provide an elite customer experience to the traveling public. We are proud of our concessions and restaurants.