More popular in the United States than in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, during which the French were defeated by Mexican troops on May 5, 1862. It’s also a good excuse to get together with friends, enjoy Mexican cuisine and libations and have a bit of fun. Here is a look at some of the brands in the business of making Cinco de Mayo celebrations a hit.
If you’re looking for salsas or guacamole for your party, the supermarket has plenty of options. If you’re one to create these dips from scratch, global farm products and consumer goods, Calavo Growers, Inc. (Tii:CVGW) is an industry leader in producing fresh avocados for your recipe. If you’d rather not DIY the condiments, Calavo also produces the Salsa Lisa brand salsa, AvoMayo, an avocado infused mayonnaise, and a dairy-free, gluten-free chocolate mousse made with Hass avocados. Another producer of salsa and dip, Pace Foods offers a range of some two dozen varieties that include hot picante, mild chunky, organic, jalapeño queso dip, honey-chipotle, mango habanero and more. A subsidiary of Campbell Soup Company (Tii:CPB), Pace has been in business for over 74 years.
You can’t enjoy guacamole and salsa without tortilla chips. A study by Tostitos and Sabra brands found that Americans consume 16.6 million pounds of chips and over 25 million pounds of store-bought dips on May 5th. That’s where PepsiCo, Inc. (Tii:PEP) comes in. The parent company of Frito-Lay has an abundant product line for Cinco de Mayo parties, including Tostitos dips and salsa. The company also produces tortilla chips under the Tostito brand, including Original, Strips, Bite Size, Scoops, Salsa Verde, and Hint of Lime. Frito-Lay also produces a line of Mexican restaurant-style tortilla chips under its Santitas brand.
With the chips and salsa taken care of, it’s time to look at something a bit heartier for your guests. Old El Paso is a brand of Tex-Mex-style foods from General Mills, Inc. (Tii:GIS) that includes shells and tortillas, seasonings, dinner kits, sauces, rice and beans, toppings and shredded cheese. Competing with General Mills for a spot on the table is the Ortega brand of B&G Foods, Inc. (Tii:BGS). The company boasts Ortega as America’s top-selling taco sauce, but the brand also produces taco shells, tortillas, salsa, seasonings, dinner kits, refried beans, and canned jalapeño and chile peppers.
Now that the food items are out of the way, next up are the adult beverages. Since it’s Cinco de Mayo, that typically means beer and tequila. Corona is the market leader and top-selling imported beer in America. The brewer is part of Constellation Brands (Tii:STZ) beer portfolio in the U.S., while Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (Tii:BUD) retains the brand’s rights in the rest of the world. If Dos Equis is more your speed, the brewer has a range of products that include Lager Especial, Ambar Especial, a lime and salt infused lager, and other flavors. Part of the Heineken N.V. (Tii:HEINY) family of brands, Dos Equis has been in operation since 1890.
If the celebration calls for something a bit stronger, Don Julio tequila is a mainstay in the American marketplace. Produced in Mexico, Don Julio tequila was introduced to the market in 1942 by its namesake founder, who began distilling at the age of 17. Now part of the Diageo plc (Tii:DEO) portfolio, the distiller offers a tequila for every palate, including Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, 1942, Reposado Double Cask Tequila Lagavulin Aged Edition, and more. Like Don Julio, El Jimador, a brand by Brown-Forman Corp. (Tii:BF.B), produces a robust line of tequilas. They include Jimador Silver, Reposado, and Añejo tequilas, as well as its New Mix, a range of mixed cocktails to-go.
With the shopping out of the way, there’s nothing left to do but enjoy yourself. Don’t forget to check out these and other companies for opportunities to own the brands you love.