Prime Highlights
- Vilore Foods acquires Tia Lupita Foods, entering strategically into the clean-label and natural Hispanic foods segment.
- The acquisition also continues Vilore’s vision to provide consumers with innovative, health-focused, and culturally relevant food products.
Key Facts
- Deal terms were not released.
- Tia Lupita Foods previously gained national visibility after an appearance on Shark Tank in 2023 and a Kevin O’Leary funding.
Key Background
Vilore Foods, premier distributor of premier Hispanic brands in the United States, has acquired Tia Lupita Foods, a fast-growing natural foods company recognized for health-focused, culturally authentic-to-taste foods. The acquisition represents Vilore’s entry into the fast-growing natural foods business and once again demonstrates the company’s long-term focus on innovation with respect to its Hispanic heritage.
Tia Lupita Foods was founded by Hector Saldivar in 2018 with the aim of bringing his mother’s go-to recipe for hot sauce into the world. The firm was a house-hold name for natural food consumers, and they retailed a variety of clean-label products such as hot sauces, tortilla chips based on cactus, and Mexican Chili Crunch. Everything they sell is gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from preservatives, which is attractive to the customers today who are in search of healthier and delicious food.
The company was highly known across the country when Saldivar sold Tia Lupita on Shark Tank back in 2023. Kevin O’Leary made the investment, giving the company more shelf space in the big chains like Whole Foods and Target. Exposure from the show and the unique product line allowed Tia Lupita to be a pioneer for healthy-aware Hispanic foods.
Tia Lupita will continue to be a stand-alone Vilore-owned company under the takeover. This organizational framework will allow the brand to maintain the entrepreneurial and innovative strength as well as the capacity to capitalize on Vilore’s strong distribution channel, supply chain know-how, and marketing platform. Vilore management emphasized that the investment is equally as much about development as it is a reflection of respect for heritage, culture, and evolving consumer trends. Hector Saldivar was sure the takeover would introduce genuine and healthier Mexican-style foods to even more American homes.
The purchase indicates Vilore’s intent to be in the leadership position of blending Hispanic traditional flavors with new dining habits, placing it in a dynamic and fast-growing food category.
