Business News

Bruce Foods sells popular Mexican brands

January sale is New Iberia company’s third divestiture in two years.

Teasdale Foods Inc. confirmed Jan. 6 that it has acquired the Mexican foods business of Bruce Foods Corporation, which includes the Casa Fiesta, Viva Mexico and Mexene brands.

Founded in 1931, the Casa Fiesta brand includes beans, peppers, sauces, corn products and seasonings. As part of the agreement, Bruce Foods will provide transition services to Teasdale, which is based in Atwater, Calif. The brands should be fully integrated into Teasdale's operations in 2016, according to a press release announcing the acquisition.

This is New Iberia-based Bruce Foods’ third major divestiture since December 2013, when South Carolina-based McCall Foods, a processor of canned and frozen vegetables, acquired several aspects of its canned vegetables business, a deal that included the Bruce’s brand and two Bruce Foods plants. In April 2015, Georgia-based Southeastern Mills acquired the New Iberia company’s Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce, Louisiana wing sauce, Red Rooster hot sauce, Louisiana Gold Pepper Sauce, Louisiana brand Tabasco Peppers in Vinegar and Bruce’s Tabasco Peppers in Vinegar.

None of the terms of the three acquisitions were disclosed.

Bruce Foods says it will continue to maintain its sales team and corporate offices in New Iberia, and own and operate its El Paso, Texas, manufacturing facility. In light of the Teasdale deal, the company notes that it will focus on marinades, outdoor cooking appliances, seasonings and sauce mixes, and pancake mix sold to retail and food service channels under brands such as Cajun Injector, Cajun King and Bruce’s, as well as jalapenos, green chilies and other items to food service and industrial customers. All company personnel in New Iberia and El Paso are being retained.

Founded in 1925, Bruce Foods annually makes ABiz’s list of the Top 50 Private Companies in the region, last year ranking No. 14 with an estimated $137 million in annual revenues (the company does not disclose its revenues).

For more than 70 years, Teasdale Foods has been providing branded and private label bean, sauces and hominy products to retail, food service and wholesale customers. In addition to Atwater, the company operates production facilities in Hoopeston, Ill., Greeley, Colo., and Buda, Texas. Brands include Teasdale, D.L. Jardine’s, 7J and Sontava!.