Key Takeaways
- • Apex Capital has acquired El Latino Foods, a specialty food brand serving Hispanic consumers across the United States with a portfolio of over 200 SKUs spanning refrigerated, frozen, and prepared packaged foods.
- • El Latino's product range includes white cheeses, drinkable yogurts, prepared frozen foods (arepas, empanadas, cachapas, soups), protein products (chorizo, salami, mortadella, Serrano ham), and frozen tropical items (plantains, cassava, fruit pulps), distributed through retail, foodservice, and wholesale channels.
- • The Doral, Florida-headquartered company will leverage Apex Capital's platform and expertise to expand into new U.S. regional markets while maintaining its core focus on quality, service, and innovation.
- • Founder and President María Elena Ibañez emphasized the partnership will enhance customer value delivery and long-term relationships, while Managing Partner Pedro Palma highlighted the opportunity to accelerate the company's next growth phase within the Hispanic food category.
Summary
Apex Capital has completed an acquisition of El Latino Foods, a specialty food company focused on serving Hispanic consumers across the United States. The investment signals continued strategic activity in the Hispanic food category, a segment where Apex has demonstrated ongoing interest and operational expertise.
El Latino operates from Doral, Florida, and maintains a diversified product portfolio exceeding 200 stock-keeping units. The company's offerings span three primary distribution channels—retail, foodservice, and wholesale—and encompass refrigerated, frozen, and prepared packaged foods alongside pantry staples. The product range reflects the company's focus on authentic Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, including white cheeses and drinkable yogurts; prepared and frozen items such as arepas, empanadas, pandebono, cachapas, and soups; and a comprehensive selection of protein products including chorizo, salami, mortadella, sausages, and Serrano ham. The portfolio also includes frozen fruits and vegetables (plantains, cassava, tropical fruit pulps) and ready-to-cook items like tequeños and pre-fried tostones.
According to María Elena Ibañez, founder and president of El Latino, the partnership with Apex Capital will "enhance El Latino's ability to deliver even greater value to our customers while strengthening our long-term relationships," while creating opportunities to expand into new U.S. regions. Pedro Palma, managing partner at Apex Capital, framed the acquisition as "an opportunity to build on a strong and proven platform while accelerating its next phase of expansion," emphasizing Apex's commitment to supporting the company's growth within its core operational principles of quality, service, and innovation.
The transaction reflects broader consolidation trends within the Hispanic food sector, where investor interest remains elevated due to demographic growth and increasing mainstream distribution of specialty ethnic food products in the United States.
El Latino operates from Doral, Florida, and maintains a diversified product portfolio exceeding 200 stock-keeping units. The company's offerings span three primary distribution channels—retail, foodservice, and wholesale—and encompass refrigerated, frozen, and prepared packaged foods alongside pantry staples. The product range reflects the company's focus on authentic Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, including white cheeses and drinkable yogurts; prepared and frozen items such as arepas, empanadas, pandebono, cachapas, and soups; and a comprehensive selection of protein products including chorizo, salami, mortadella, sausages, and Serrano ham. The portfolio also includes frozen fruits and vegetables (plantains, cassava, tropical fruit pulps) and ready-to-cook items like tequeños and pre-fried tostones.
According to María Elena Ibañez, founder and president of El Latino, the partnership with Apex Capital will "enhance El Latino's ability to deliver even greater value to our customers while strengthening our long-term relationships," while creating opportunities to expand into new U.S. regions. Pedro Palma, managing partner at Apex Capital, framed the acquisition as "an opportunity to build on a strong and proven platform while accelerating its next phase of expansion," emphasizing Apex's commitment to supporting the company's growth within its core operational principles of quality, service, and innovation.
The transaction reflects broader consolidation trends within the Hispanic food sector, where investor interest remains elevated due to demographic growth and increasing mainstream distribution of specialty ethnic food products in the United States.
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