Tapatio Hot Sauce Majority Stake Acquired by Investment Firm
Hot sauce brand Tapatio has been acquired by Dallas-based private-investment firm Highlander Partners L.P. — with the Arnold Companies also investing a significant minority equity position as well.
With the investment from Highlander, Tapatio plans to expand its geographic reach, distribution and new product development efforts, as well as enter new product categories.
Tapatio was founded in 1971 in California by Jose-Luis Saavedra Sr., named after the term used to describe someone from Guadalajara, Mexico. Tapatio hot sauce is crafted from a blend of red peppers, vinegar, garlic and spices, and it has developed a large, loyal following in the western U.S., the company noted. The Saavedra family will retain a minority position in Tapatio after closing of the transaction, the announcement noted.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.