Frozen Mexican Food Maker Ruiz Foods Will Put A Co-headquarters With 125 Jobs In Frisco

Via the Dallas Morning News - Ruiz Food Products, a California-based maker of frozen Mexican foods and snacks, is setting up a co-headquarters in Frisco to give it a centrally-located hub for growth and to aid in talent recruitment.

The more than 50-year-old family-owned business will be in Hall Park at 3001 Dallas Parkway. It produces frozen burritos, taquitos, enchiladas and tamales under the El Monterey and Tornados brand names for grocery stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Dan Antonelli, company CEO and president, said the company has been in conversations about a new headquarters for several years.

“The business has grown fairly dramatically over time,” Antonelli said. “As we’ve gotten bigger, we’ve identified the need to be at the center of the country, to better be able to reach our locations, but also to recruit talent and just make it more efficient in terms of meeting people and identifying business opportunities.”

Antonelli is the first employee to make the move to Frisco. Some of the company’s executives will relocate this month and other employees will move this year. The company plans to employ 125 people by 2026.

Kim Butler, executive vice president of leasing at Hall Group, said she is thrilled to see Ruiz Foods set up a co-headquarters at Hall Park.

“The company has a great history of embracing the community and making a difference through its philanthropic mission, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will have on Frisco,” Butler said.

The company worked with the Dallas Regional Chamber and commercial real estate agency Site Selection Group to bring the co-headquarters to Frisco.

Antonelli said Ruiz Foods was searching for a location with a good source of talent to recruit and a nonstop flight to its various locations. Frisco fit the bill.

“Frisco is a terrific city with terrific opportunity,” Antonelli said. “They have very strong city governance and they have economic development that really encourages business. It seems to be a business hub especially for the future because lots of companies are relocating here.”

Kim Ruiz Beck, chairman of Ruiz Foods, said relocating employees and their families will be able to benefit from in-state tuition to Texas colleges as part of the state’s economic development package.

“This is an exciting time for all of us at Ruiz Foods,” Ruiz Beck said in a statement. “We are a national business, and this decision will allow us to better serve both our customers and our manufacturing facilities.”

Ruiz Foods has a manufacturing facility in Denison, where it expanded in 2005. Its sites in Dinuba and Tulare, Calif., will continue operations. A production facility in the Midwest also is in its plans.

Antonelli said the Frisco co-headquarters will serve as a decision-making and operational hub, while the Dinuba office will be used for finances.

He said the company views Texas’ wide range of Mexican foods as complementary to its operations and is excited for the move.

In 1964, Ruiz Foods began when co-founder Fred Ruiz made an enchilada with his father, Louis Ruiz, based on family recipes. The company has grown to over 3,500 employees at its facilities in California, Texas and South Carolina.

About Site Selection Group

Site Selection Group LLC is a leading independent location advisory and economic incentives firm providing solutions to corporations and communities across the world. Site Selection Group offers four core services to our customers: Location Advisory, Economic Incentive Services, Corporate Real Estate Services, and Economic Development Consulting. Site Selection Group's mission is to align the needs of corporations with the optimal locations in order to provide the absolute maximum economic benefit. For more information, visit www.siteselectiongroup.com.