US food investors have acquired a taste for Mexican food as small and medium-sized Californian latino-food producers are being increasingly targeted for purchase by mainstream American food firms.
According to a specialist report in the Los Angeles Times, burrito-maker Don Miguel Foods, salsa-maker Chilay Foods and taquitos and quesadillas-maker Excelline Foods were all bought or heavily financed recently by bigger firms.
Excelline, echoing other businesses, told the Times it will now have the financing to ramp up distribution, put out new products and advertise. One of the biggest buyers, Senor Felix Foods, for instance, quadrupled annual sales by buying up the nation’s top-selling refrigerated salsa brand (Rojo’s) and another dip rival (Itella Foods).