KKR, a New York-based global investment firm, announced the combination of two Hispanic grocery chains—Cardenas Markets, Ontario, Calif., and Mi Pueblo—to operate as Cardenas Markets LLC and become what is dubbed as one of the largest Hispanic supermarket chains in the country. Each grocery chain will continue to operate separately, but will be managed under one executive team led by John Gomez, chief executive officer.

"Regardless of acculturation level or language preference, Hispanic people use food as a vehicle to connect with their culture and heritage. This is a growing demographic, not only in size, but also in influence as well, and I am proud to be working with two leading retailers to offer the best shopping experience to our communities in Northern and Southern California, as well as Las Vegas," says Gomez.

The launch of Cardenas Markets will make it possible for both businesses to maximize efficiencies, offer competitive prices for quality products and invest in the store experiences to further improve service and quality. The combined company will also focus on growth opportunities for team members and offer extensive training programs to improve skills.

"Cardenas Markets and Mi Pueblo are committed to the communities they serve, and through this integration, will be able to better deliver for those communities. With a vision of becoming the leading Hispanic grocer in the country, Cardenas Markets LLC will continue to prioritize their loyal customers through the company's continued growth, while creating jobs and offering rewarding career paths for employees along the way," says Vishal Patel, director at KKR.