Los Angeles, CA – January 22, 2026 – Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) recently represented Tapatío Foods, LLC ("Tapatío®"), the makers of the No. 5 hot sauce brand in the U.S., in its acquisition by Highlander Partners, L.P. ("Highlander"), a Dallas-based private investment firm.
The JMBM team was led by Partner and Vice Chair of JMBM's Corporate Department, David Ma, with support from Eric Bardwell, Jamie Ogden, Travis Gemoets, David Tabibian, Nathan Shaw, Marianne Martin, Neill Brower, Kourosh Azin, William Newman, Zara Joshi, Noah Soofer, Julia Siewit, Melody Mohammadi, and Joseph Stolz.
Tapatío® was founded in California by Jose-Luis Saavedra Sr., with the iconic recipe created by his wife, a relative of the Jose Cuervo family. The company is named after the term used to describe someone from Guadalajara, Mexico, reflecting its deep connection to traditional Mexican flavors and heritage. Tapatío® is a versatile condiment and staple in big-box retailers, supermarkets, restaurant chains, and other retail outlets in over 25 countries. Beyond its classic hot sauce, the company now offers Tapatío®-flavored snacks and soups.
"Highlander is a perfect fit given their extensive background in the branded Hispanic food category, and we are pleased to have a partner that invests their own capital and takes a long-term strategic approach to growing companies. Tapatío has a strong business with a proud heritage and identity. Highlander shares our vision to maintain this legacy," said Luis Saavedra Jr., former CEO of Tapatío®, in a press release.
Stout served as exclusive financial advisor to Tapatío® in connection with the transaction.