“It’s a cultural thing,” says Mike Tsai, Suipao Tsai’s second son and chief operating officer of the family’s business, of his mother’s cooking lunch every day for the company’s workers. “My father used to be responsible for providing lunch for 200 employees” in Taiwan. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Suipao Tsai and her son Mike bring lunch to employees of Leg Avenue, the family’s lingerie company in the city of Industry. The Tsais immigrated from Taiwan in 1984, fearing political instability. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Jeff Nugent serves himself lunch at Leg Avenue. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Chief Operating Officer Mike Tsai walks through the Leg Avenue plant in the city of Industry. The company went from $1 million in annual sales in 2000 to $87 million last year. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Mannequin legs stand inside the Leg Avenue warehouse. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)