Who Owns Herdez?
Herdez in the United States is owned through MegaMex Foods, a 50/50 joint venture between Hormel Foods and Mexican food company Herdez del Fuerte, formed in 2009. Herdez del Fuerte, founded in 1914, owns the brand in Mexico, where it is the top-selling salsa. In the US, MegaMex markets Herdez salsas, guacamole products, and related Mexican foods.
Herdez Timeline
Who Owns Herdez?
- Parent Company: Hormel Foods
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: HRL
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Herdez | Hormel Foods | Subsidiary |
Where to Buy
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History of Herdez
- Founded: 1914
- Founders: Herdez del Fuerte family
Herdez del Fuerte began in 1914 in Monterrey, Mexico, as a small food business that grew into the country's dominant salsa and Mexican packaged food company. The Herdez brand became synonymous with Mexican salsa through the 20th century, with its tomato-based salsas, pickled peppers, and sauces stocked in virtually every Mexican household.
The brand's US expansion ran through the joint venture formed with Hormel in 2009, at a moment when Mexican food was becoming a mainstream American category. MegaMex combined Herdez's salsa lines with the acquired Wholly Guacamole and Chi-Chi's brands to build the leading Mexican food platform in US grocery.
The venture continued expanding through the 2020s as salsa passed ketchup to become America's top condiment by sales, with Herdez positioned as the authentic option against Pace and Tostitos salsas.
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About Hormel Foods
Is Hormel Foods publicly traded?
Yes, Hormel Foods trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker HRL and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats. The company is widely held by institutional and individual investors.
Who is the CEO of Hormel Foods?
John Ghingo was named CEO effective October 26, 2026, succeeding interim CEO Jeff Ettinger. Ghingo previously served as president of Hormel Foods since July 2025. Jim Snee, who had been CEO since 2016, stepped down in 2025. Ettinger, a former Hormel CEO from 2005 to 2016, returned as interim CEO in July 2025.
Who founded Hormel Foods?
Hormel Foods was founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota. The company became publicly traded in 1928.
What is Hormel's annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended October 26, 2025), Hormel reported net sales of $12.1 billion, up 2% year-over-year with organic growth of 2%. Adjusted operating income was $1.02 billion and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.37. For fiscal 2026, the company expects net sales of $12.2 to $12.5 billion.
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Does Hormel own SPAM?
Yes, SPAM is Hormel's most iconic product. The canned pork product was introduced in 1937 and remains popular globally, particularly in Hawaii, Guam, South Korea, and other Pacific regions. SPAM is one of the company's key growth drivers internationally.
What brands does Hormel own?
Hormel owns more than 40 brands including SPAM, Skippy peanut butter, Jennie-O turkey products, Planters nuts, Applegate natural and organic meats, Columbus Craft Meats, Wholly guacamole, Fontanini Italian meats, Hormel Black Label bacon, Dinty Moore stew, and Hormel Chili. The Justin's brand was placed into a joint venture in 2025.
Does Hormel pay dividends?
Yes, Hormel has increased its dividend for 60 consecutive years, making it a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats. The annualized dividend rate is $1.17 per share. In FY2025, the company returned a record $633 million to shareholders in dividends.
- Founded: 1891
- Headquarters: Austin, Minnesota, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: HRL
- Revenue: $12.1 billion (FY2025, ended October 26, 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 20,000
Where Is Herdez Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Austin, Minnesota, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: Mexico
Herdez Categories & Tags
Brands Owned by Hormel Foods
Food BeverageApplegate
Owned by Hormel Foods
Natural and organic deli meat brand founded in 1987, a pioneer of antibiotic-free and humanely raised meat, owned by Hormel Foods since 2015.
natural-foodsorganicdeli-meat
Food Service RestaurantsChi-Chi's
Owned by Hormel Foods
Mexican food brand owned by Hormel Foods (grocery products) with a revived restaurant chain led by founder's son Michael McDermott, opening its first location in October 2025 in Minnesota.
mexican-foodrestaurantgrocery-brand
Food BeverageColumbus Craft Meats
Owned by Hormel Foods
Premium salami and deli meat brand founded in San Francisco in 1917, owned by Hormel Foods since its approximately $850 million acquisition in 2017.
deli-meatsalamicharcuterie
Food BeverageDinty Moore
Owned by Hormel Foods
Canned beef stew brand introduced by Hormel Foods in 1935, a pantry staple that remains the leading canned stew in the United States nine decades later.
canned-foodstewgrocery-brand
Food BeverageHormel
Owned by Hormel Foods
Master grocery brand of Hormel Foods covering chili, pepperoni, bacon, Compleats meals, and Natural Choice, rooted in the company's 1891 founding in Austin, Minnesota.
grocery-brandmeatchili
Food BeverageJennie-O
Owned by Hormel Foods
One of the largest turkey brands in the United States, founded in 1940 in Willmar, Minnesota, and owned by Hormel Foods since 1986.
turkeypoultrymeat
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Herdez Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +The JV structure lets Hormel profit from America's fastest-growing condiment category without diluting the brand's Mexican authenticity.
- +Herdez del Fuerte's production and recipes stay in Mexico, the brand's core selling point.
- +MegaMex gives the brand full US distribution and marketing scale.
Considerations
- -A 50/50 JV means Hormel shares both control and economics rather than owning the brand outright.
- -Cross-border structure exposes the brand to currency, tariff, and supply-chain friction between Mexico and the US.
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Herdez
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hormel Foods | USA | 1917 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Campbells | USA | 1947 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Hormel Foods | Texas (production) | 1989 | Premium | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Food BeverageLa Victoria
Owned by Hormel Foods
One of America's oldest Mexican food brands, founded in Los Angeles in 1917 with the first jarred salsa in the US, now produced by MegaMex Foods, a Hormel and Herdez joint venture.
salsamexican-foodsauces
Food BeveragePace
Owned by Unknown Company
The picante sauce and salsa brand owned by The Campbell's Company, the original mass-market "from the Southwest" salsa since 1947.
salsacondimentsmexican-food
Food BeverageWholly Guacamole
Owned by Hormel Foods
Leading refrigerated guacamole brand in the United States, produced by MegaMex Foods, the 50/50 joint venture between Hormel Foods and Mexico's Herdez del Fuerte.
guacamoledipsrefrigerated
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Herdez competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Herdez
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Hormel Foods, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageBarilla
Owned by Barilla Group
Italian pasta and food brand owned by Barilla Group, a leading global pasta and sauce manufacturer.
pastafooditalian
Privately Owned
Barilla is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageCelebrations
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
British chocolate assortment brand featuring a variety of chocolate candies, owned by Mars, Incorporated and distributed globally.
chocolateassortmentcandies
Privately Owned
Celebrations is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageCrown Prince
Owned by Crown Prince, Inc.
Family-owned American canned seafood brand founded in 1948, covering Crown Prince, Crown Prince Natural, and Ocean Prince lines sold across the US and Mexico.
canned-seafoodtinned-fishsardines
Privately Owned
Crown Prince is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageFroot Loops
Owned by Ferrero
American colorful ring-shaped corn cereal with fruit-flavored sweetness, introduced in 1963 by Kellogg's. Known for its toucan mascot Toucan Sam and the "Follow your nose" advertising slogan.
breakfast-cerealkids-cerealcolored-cereal
Privately Owned
Froot Loops is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageFrosted Flakes
Owned by Ferrero
American sweetened corn flake cereal introduced in 1952 as Sugar Frosted Flakes by Kellogg's. One of the best-selling breakfast cereals in the United States, famous for the Tony the Tiger mascot.
breakfast-cerealcerealkids-cereal
Privately Owned
Frosted Flakes is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageG Fuel
Owned by Gamma Labs LLC
Sugar-free energy drink mix marketed to gamers and esports fans, made by privately held Gamma Labs in Hauppauge, New York.
energy-drinksgamingesports
Privately Owned
G Fuel is privately owned, unlike Herdez which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Hormel Foods Stock Information
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