#211 - Acquisition Story: How Hector Saldivar Grew Tia Lupita Foods From a Family Recipe to a Successful Acquisition
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff speaks with Hector Saldivar, founder and CEO of Tia Lupita Foods, about his journey from sharing his mother’s hot sauce recipe to building a nationally recognized, better-for-you Mexican-inspired brand.
Hector shares how he grew Tia Lupita from kitchen batches to retail shelves, the challenges of competing in the crowded hot sauce category, and the strategies he used to stand out with authentic branding and premium positioning. He opens up about his SharkTank experience (and the realities of renegotiating after the cameras stop rolling), lessons learned from fundraising and retail expansion, and the pivotal moments that led to Tia Lupita’s acquisition by Vilore Foods.
They also dive deep into entrepreneurship, resilience, and the balance between seizing opportunities and pacing growth.
Tune in to gain valuable perspective on building and scaling a food brand!
Listen in as they share about:
Founding Story of Tia Lupita Foods- SharkTank Experience
- Early Growth and Retail Expansion
- Differentiation in the Hot Sauce Market
- Trends in Hot Sauce & Chili Crisp
- Fundraising and Acquisition Journey
- Retailer & Distribution Strategy
- Advice to Entrepreneurs
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Show Links:
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- Episode music by Super Fantastics
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