Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, New York, announced that one of its affiliated private equity funds made a significant investment in partnership with the founding family of Del Real Foods, a Hispanic refrigerated foods company based in Mira Loma, Calif.

Del Real was founded in 2002 by the Cardenas family. Today, Del Real manufactures a variety of heat-and-serve Hispanic food products, including value-added proteins such as Carnitas and Barbacoa, rice and bean dishes and staples such as tamales and salsas to large club stores, supermarkets, national restaurant chains, broadline foodservice distributors, delicatessens and other retail outlets in the Western United States.

“We are excited to partner with a company that is distinguished by a strong, authentic brand and record of growth. We believe that Del Real is poised to benefit from several macro trends that are dramatically reshaping consumer food choices,” says Luis Zaldivar, managing director of Palladium. “We first met the founders of Del Real over a decade ago, and have followed the company as it established a strong brand and reputation for quality and authenticity. My colleagues and I see a significant potential growth opportunity across products, channels and geographies.”

“In Palladium, we have found a partner who is just as enthusiastic about Del Real and its future as we are,” says Jesus Cardenas Jr., an equity holder of Del Real Foods. “Our company has a strong business, proud heritage and identity. Palladium shares our vision to maintain this legacy, as we carefully target opportunities to grow the company geographically and in new distribution channels.”