This month, the Singer Tabletop team crosses the border to meet the makers at Cal-Mil’s Tijuana facility.
Founded in 1965 by Jack Callahan, the company looked a whole lot different in its early days. From manufacturing helmets to Volkswagen parts, Jack was motivated to produce anything and everything he could to keep the business afloat. Then came an opportunity to produce a plastic bowl for Denny’s, helping set the stage for Cal-Mil’s future in foodservice.
“The family business was all I knew growing up. We’d stop by to visit my dad and grandpa all the time,” said Josh Callahan, CEO of Cal-Mil. “The other thing I remember is how nice all the employees were to me.”
Upon arriving in the beach town of Oceanside, California, the Cal-Mil team greeted us with big smiles and hugs, bringing that warm, bubbly San Diego energy I know well, and that some East Coasters might initially find a little suspicious.
As a San Diego native myself, I can attest: it’s authentic. Josh Callahan, Cal-Mil’s third-generation CEO, embodies that same warmth that has defined the family business since the beginning. He is the kind of CEO you want to hang out with after work: humble, engaging, and genuinely interested in getting to know the people around him. Within minutes, you feel like you’ve known him for years.
“We have employees who have been with us for decades, who knew me when I was a kid, and now know my kids. You don’t get that by accident, and you don’t get it back once you lose it. Protecting that is probably the thing I think about most,” said Callahan.
That same warmth followed us from Oceanside across the border to Tijuana, where we had the opportunity to see the other side of Cal-Mil’s operation and meet the people who bring its products to life. As we toured three different manufacturing facilities, we quickly learned just how much is still made by hand. The factory has a healthy heartbeat; at every turn, artisans were bending, welding, and soldering, with large orders for Singer customers taking shape across the production floor.
“Our manufacturing capability is what lets us do what we do, innovate quickly and stay agile when a customer needs something,” said Callahan.
The scale of that capability becomes even more impressive when you consider the depth of Cal-Mil’s portfolio. With about 3,500 SKUs in the catalog, Cal-Mil drives solution-oriented product development as a top priority. Their best-selling signature Madera collection has 164 items alone.
On top of that, the company maintains the flexibility to customize products around an operator’s specific needs.
That’s where the synergy between Oceanside and Tijuana becomes a competitive advantage. Ideas can quickly cross the border from concept to production, giving Cal-Mil the freedom to experiment, customize, and perhaps most importantly, say yes.
Cal-Mil’s collaborative approach to customization in buffet pieces and their melamine portfolio means that customers have the flexibility to design and implement the exact product they need for their operation. It’s a unique offering that has become increasingly difficult to find, especially at an affordable price point.
That’s where Singer’s Tabletop team comes in. We work directly with customers to understand their vision, find the right products and solutions, and bring those ideas to manufacturing partners like Cal-Mil. From custom artwork and modified products to something entirely new, our team serves as the bridge between a customer’s idea and the factory’s capabilities.
Singer Tabletop Specialist Liz Kelly recently brought that process to life while working with Cal-Mil on a custom project for a hospitality client.
“My customer wanted bright, poppy colors and something completely unique to the space. Cal-Mil was able to color match the melamine and take the designer’s artwork and translate it onto plates and bento boxes exactly how the client envisioned it. The Cal-Mil team was incredibly flexible and easy to work with, even on a tight timeline. The end result felt high-end and completely custom, while still having the durability you need for an outdoor setting,” said Kelly.
That spirit of collaboration extends beyond any one project. Like Cal-Mil, Singer Equipment Company is also in its third generation of family leadership. While the two companies share deep roots in hospitality, Callahan says the real secret to the partnership is much simpler: the people.
We couldn’t agree more. After a few days together, one thing became clear: these are the people we want at our table. Partners who share our passion, push us to think differently, and understand that the best business is built on relationships. At Singer Equipment Company, that’s what family means to us.
Join us next month for another installment of Straight to the Source as we continue our tabletop adventures around the world. Until then, explore our latest work on @singertabletop or connect with our team at
tabletop@singerequipment.com.
Molly Bishop is a Tabletop Specialist at Singer Equipment Company, supporting Singer Kittredge in the Greater Boston Area and beyond. With a background in broadcast journalism and over a decade in food media, she loves combining storytelling with hospitality. Molly is based in Newton, MA, and can be reached at
mbishop@singerequipment.com.
