# Cacique Foods, LLC.

> Cacique Foods is the largest maker of authentic Hispanic-style cheeses, cremas, chorizos and salsas in the United States. Founded in 1973 by Cuban immigrants Jennie and Gilbert de Cardenas, who made queso fresco by hand and sold it door to door in Los Angeles, the family-owned company now reaches more than 25,000 retailers and stocks at least one product in roughly 80% of American grocery stores. It is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and runs dairy and meat plants that supply a category it helped create.

- **Founded:** 1973
- **Headquarters:** Irving, Texas, United States
- **Founders:** Gilbert de Cardenas (Co-Founder), Jennie de Cardenas (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~380 employees (company-wide estimated several hundred; new Amarillo plant added 200+ jobs)
- **Products:** Authentic Quesos (Cheeses), Authentic Cremas, Authentic Chorizos, Salsas, Yogurts
- **Notable:** #1 U.S. brand of authentic Mexican-style cheeses, cremas, chorizos and salsas, Products in roughly 80% of U.S. grocery stores and 25,000+ retailers, Marked 50 years in business in 2023

## Products & services

- **Authentic Quesos (Cheeses)** — Fresh and aged Mexican-style cheeses including Queso Fresco, Cotija, Oaxaca, Panela and Queso Quesadilla.
- **Authentic Cremas** — Table creams and sour creams, including squeezable and flavored varieties used as toppings and cooking bases.
- **Authentic Chorizos** — Traditional Mexican-style pork and beef chorizo and sausages.
- **Salsas** — Homestyle salsas and taco toppings.
- **Yogurts** — Drinkable Hispanic-style yogurts.
- **Shredded Cheese** — Authentic shredded blends for melting and topping.

## Achievements

- #1 U.S. brand of authentic Mexican-style cheeses, cremas, chorizos and salsas
- Products in roughly 80% of U.S. grocery stores and 25,000+ retailers
- Marked 50 years in business in 2023
- Opened a 200,000 sq ft dairy processing facility in Amarillo, Texas
- Great Place to Work certified for six consecutive years

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — Pedro Silveira, formerly of Mondelez International, named CEO; Gil de Cardenas moves to Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.
- **2024-03** — Named Periscope as creative agency of record.
- **2023-05** — Marked 50th anniversary; opened new dairy processing facility in Amarillo, Texas and relocated HQ to Irving, Texas.
- **2021-01** — The Baupost Group made a strategic minority equity investment.

## Links

- Website: https://caciquefoods.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/cacique
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Caciquefoods
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CaciqueInc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caciqueinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cacique/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/cacique-foods-llc
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13