Old El Paso facts for kids
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| Type | Tex-Mex food |
|---|---|
| Owner | General Mills |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1938 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | Mountain Pass Canning Company Pet, Inc. Pillsbury Company |
| Tagline | "Start Somewhere Fresh" |
Old El Paso is a popular brand that makes Tex-Mex-style foods. These foods are inspired by both Texan and Mexican cooking. The brand is owned by an American food company called General Mills.
You might know Old El Paso for its many products. They make dinner kits, tacos, and tortillas. They also sell taco seasoning, sauces, and condiments like salsa. You can find their rice and refried beans too.
Old El Paso products are sold all around the world. The brand's name comes from the city of El Paso, Texas. It also refers to the "Old" times when Texas was part of Mexico.
Contents
How Old El Paso Started and Grew
Old El Paso began a long time ago. In 1917, a company called Mountain Pass Canning Company bought a business in New Mexico. This company first sold canned tomatoes and pinto beans. By 1938, "Old El Paso" became a registered trademark. This means the name was officially protected.
Moving and Expanding the Brand
The Old El Paso company moved to different places in the United States. Finally, it settled in Texas in 1958. In 1969, Old El Paso became the first national brand to offer a full range of Mexican meals in grocery stores. They were also the first to advertise Mexican food across the United States.
In the 1970s, something big happened in American supermarkets. They started having special sections just for Mexican food. This was partly because of how popular Old El Paso and other Mexican food products were becoming. Also in the 70s, Old El Paso brought its taco dinner kits to many countries. At that time, many people outside the U.S. were not familiar with Mexican cooking.
New Products and Healthier Choices
Old El Paso keeps creating new products. In 2010, they launched a line called “Smart Fiesta.” In some places, it was called “Healthy Fiesta.” This line offered healthier versions of their usual dinner kits. For example, the Smart Fiesta kits included taco shells and tortillas made with whole grain. Their fajita and taco seasonings also had less salt.
In 2013, Old El Paso introduced frozen meals. These were only sold in the United States. This line included ready-made burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and fajitas. You could find them with chicken, ground beef, or steak.
Later, in 2019, Old El Paso started selling shredded cheese. They did this by working with another company called Crystal Farms Dairy Company.
Today, Old El Paso products are sold in many countries. These include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France, and many more across Europe.
See also
In Spanish: Old El Paso para niños
