SK Foods To Produce All La Victoria And Embasa Mexican Sauces And Specialty Items

Monterey, CA - Two California companies with historic ties to fresh food and agriculture since the early 1900's have reached an agreement that reflects a change in strategy for one and is sure to increase sales and production for both.

Beginning in 2006, SK Foods has contracted to process and package all products marketed by Authentic Specialty Foods including all La Victoria and Embasa brand salsas, sauces and other specialty products. The announcement was made by Scott Salyer, president and CEO of SK Foods.

Distributed nationwide, the La Victoria and Embasa brand products will be processed and formulated at the SK facilities in Lemoore and Williams, in California's Central Valley.

"We could not ask for a more experienced or professional partner," Ted Gardner, president of Authentic Specialty Foods, wrote in a letter to brokers and customers. In the letter, Gardner cited evaluations of SK Foods facilities by independent third parties, suppliers and customers that resulted in the highest ratings in the industry.

Although SK Foods was founded in 1990, the Salyer family has been influential in California agriculture for nearly a century. Scott Salyer, through acquisitions and innovation has led a management team that has created significant growth and success on two continents.

Citing numerous parallels between the companies, including making products with the freshest, high-quality ingredients and a history of family ownership, Scott Salyer comments, "We value the trust implicit with this relationship between our companies. La Victoria has a long tradition of making authentic Mexican sauces and without question we will continue to honor their recipes and produce sauces their customers know and love."

"This is an exciting and positive change in our business strategy that will ensure the high-quality of La Victoria and Embasa tomato-based products for many years to come," Gardner adds, when announcing this shift in manufacturing responsibilities.

Based in Chino, California, Authentic Specialty Foods is a subsidiary of the Mexico-based industrial group DESC, a manufacturer and distributor of Mexican spices and sauces. All of the company's sales and service operations will continue to operate from Chino and products will continue to ship from facilities in Chino and San Antonio, Texas.

As a result of this agreement, SK is adding to the current can and glass lines at the company's processing plants and building a line to accommodate plastic containers. New cold storage and warehouse space is also being added. SK employs approximately 800 full-time and seasonal employees and expects an increase in opportunities for seasonal employees.

SK Foods processed more than 1.5 million tons of tomatoes in 2005. In California, the company's capabilities include packaging ready-to-use tomatoes and formulated products in cans and glass, and industrial tomato ingredients packed in drums and bins. The company's clients include re-manufacturers, retail and foodservice marketers of conventional and organic tomato products.

SOURCE: SK Foods