Flagship Premium Food Group

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. & GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–505 Southwestern® (505SW™), the country’s leading Hatch Valley flame roasted green chile brand, celebrates 25 Years of Flavor this year and is hosting a major event in Albuquerque to celebrate the milestone in the location it was originally founded by local restaurateur and entrepreneur Roy Solomon. The public event, hosted at Solomon’s food hall Tin Can Alley, will feature celebrity chef and Food Network star Aaron May, and the world’s largest portable green chile roaster which will be roasting fresh Hatch Valley chiles live for attendees. In addition, guests will enjoy music from iHeartRadio affiliate 100.3 The Peak and a food demo from Aaron May with tickets starting at just $25.

The celebration is scheduled for Thursday, September 15 at 6:30pm at Tin Can Alley, on Alameda Boulevard just east of I-25. Tin Can Alley has gained national recognition as an innovative venue featuring locally inspired food, beverages, and entertainment. Santa Fe Brewing is an anchor tenant alongside several other local vendors.

As part of the year-long silver anniversary celebration of the brand, 505SW invited its fans to submit unique recipes featuring its world famous green chile. The winner of the contest, Southern California resident Merry Graham, is scheduled to be in attendance, and Chef May will share his unique twist on the winning recipe, Air Fryer Southwestern Salsa Verde Corn and Bacon Rangoons.

The event is open to the public (subject to capacity limitations) and the first 150 people to buy tickets will receive a commemorative gift bag. General admission tickets are $25 and include food from all Tin Can Alley food vendors. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite HERE.

Fans who are unable to join for the event can celebrate with 505SW virtually by participating in 25 Years of Flavor contests and virtual events by following 505SW on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

“For 25 years 505SW has been committed to creating the highest quality products using the best and most simple ingredients from the Hatch Valley. Now we want to celebrate with the people who have made our success possible,” said Rob Holland, Executive Chairman of 505SW. “We will be demonstrating our commitment to our fans and communities with a recipe contest featuring incredible prizes, other giveaways, special offers, and charitable giving all year long.”

505SW started in 1997 when Albuquerque resident Roy Solomon began bottling and selling his unique recipes for green chile sauce and salsa. Honoring his local area code to develop the brand, Solomon’s “magic ingredient” was fire-roasted, Hatch Valley green chiles. With humble beginnings as a local favorite, the brand has grown today to become the largest nationally distributed jarred green chile sauce brand. 505SW is sold in every U.S. state and internationally. 505SW’s parent company, Flagship Food Group, operates multiple facilities in New Mexico throughout the state and created the 505SW – New Mexico True Scholars program in 2017 to support local New Mexico high school students interested in studying agriculture in college.

For more information about 505SW and the 25 Years of Flavor event, visit www.505southwestern.com.

Full Article

Lis, C. (2022, August 17). 505 southwestern hosts ’25 years of flavor’ celebration event at Tin Can Alley. Business Wire. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220817005626/en/505-Southwestern-Hosts-%E2%80%9825-Years-of-Flavor%E2%80%99-Celebration-Event-at-Tin-Can-Alley

Company’s recent investment in increased manufacturing capacity helps to support nationwide expansion

Albuquerque, New Mexico and Greenwood Village, Colorado

505 Southwestern^®, the country’s leading Hatch Valley flamed roasted green chile brand, announced today that its premium products, including its flagship jarred Flame Roasted Green Chile product, will be sold in almost all Walmart stores in the United States.  Rolling out over the next several months, consumers served by all 4,461 Walmart locations across the country will be able to purchase 505SW™ at their local store, as well as on-line.  

The company attributes this growth to increased consumer demand as Americans in all parts of the country have embraced flame roasted green chile as a premium ingredient and condiment.  In addition, the company’s recent investments in its five manufacturing and distribution sites across New Mexico and Colorado have allowed 505SW™ to be a reliable supplier to its customers even as global supply chains have been disrupted.  

“It has been our long-standing goal to bring the flavor of Hatch Valley, flame roasted green chile to consumers in all corners of the country, and this expansion with Walmart is a critical step in this mission,” said Rob Holland, Executive Chairman for Flagship Food Group, parent of 505 Southwestern^®.  “We’ve made some strategic decisions over the past few years to invest heavily in our manufacturing capacity and distribution network, and that has allowed us to better serve our customers and keep up with growing demand.”

Several other 505SW™ products will be available in many Walmart stores around the country, including the brand’s lineup of green chile sauces, salsa, and other products all made with Hatch Valley green chile.

“Discerning consumers know us as ‘THE’ premium green chile proudly sold in a glass jar, not a can,” added Sam Carson, the brand’s President.  “For 25 years, customers prefer the freshness and quality of our flame roasted green chile and have chosen our product over the competition.” 

In addition to Walmart stores, 505SW can be found at many major grocers, club stores, and on-line retailers across the US.

About 505 Southwestern^®
505 Southwestern^®, together with its family of brands and affiliates, is one of the leading premium green chile-based products companies in the country. The brand’s core lineup of shelf stable, premium New Mexico salsas, sauces, and flame roasted green chile is the fastest growing of its kind in the USA and is currently sold from London to Los Angeles. The brand’s portfolio also includes queso as well as frozen stews and diced green chile.  505 Southwestern^® has a commitment to giving back and formed the 505 Southwestern^®-New Mexico True Scholars program in conjunction with the State of New Mexico to support a future generation of farmers through its scholarship program.  The company is based near Denver with its manufacturing headquarters in New Mexico.

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Media Contact:
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In partnership with CREO Capital Partners, the transaction brings additional capital and resources to the branded, diversified food company

NEW YORK, New York and DENVER, Colorado.

Flagship Food Group (“Flagship” or the “Company”) and its parent, Denver-based CREO Capital Partners (CREO), announced today that BlackRock’s Secondaries and Liquidity Solutions group (“BlackRock”) has made a significant investment in the Company to help support the business as it grows and accelerates its acquisition strategy. BlackRock’s investment was funded through CREO Capital Partners and terms of the investment were not disclosed.

“Over many years our team at Flagship has worked to build one of the leading privately held, diversified food companies in the country, and to now be in a place where a global investor like BlackRock recognizes the momentum of our business and the potential opportunities that lie ahead is very exciting,” said Rob Holland, Founding Partner of CREO and the Company’s Executive Chairman. “We are honored to welcome BlackRock and a number of other investment firms into our family as we continue to grow our platform.”

“In making investments, we look for companies that have a passion for what they do. Flagship has a very clear passion to bring high-quality, premium food products to consumers around the world, and we are excited about supporting their mission as they grow,” said Veena Isaac, Managing Director of BlackRock’s Secondaries and Liquidity Solutions team.

In recent years, Flagship has grown aggressively by expanding its brands and products and by acquiring likeminded food companies. Its 505 Southwestern® brand is the largest jarred green chile brand by market share in the USA, and its Lilly B’s® brand of organic burritos is one of the leaders in the category.

Earlier this year, the Company broadened its reach in the Hispanic foods sector by acquiring Santa Rosa, CA-based La Tortilla Factory and Moundridge, KS-based Tortilla King.

According to CREO, the investment by BlackRock and other investors will help strengthen the Company’s ability to source and fund acquisitions, expand the Company’s facilities, and invest in marketing and innovation initiatives. In conjunction with the new partnership, Flagship also announced Flagship50, a program designed to enhance Flagship’s commitment to giving back to its communities and to expand its educational scholarship programs. Flagship’s 505 Southwestern-New Mexico True Scholars program, launched in 2017, helps to support higher educational opportunities for students interested in agriculture; this and similar programs are expected to expand in conjunction with the new partnership.

“We share the BlackRock team’s commitment to seeking to build great businesses and positioning them for potential success over the long term,” added Holland. “Our company and our management teams will operate just as they always have, but now with more resources to deliver for our customers and partners.”

BlackRock led the transaction. Capital Dynamics, among other existing investors in CREO including Committed Advisors, PineBridge Investments, and Kline Hill Partners, extended their investment in Flagship.

Sixpoint Partners LLC and Nixon Peabody LLP served as advisors to CREO. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as advisor to BlackRock. Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised several of the investors in the investor group.

About Flagship Food Group
Flagship Food Group is a Premium and Hispanic-foods focused diversified food company that manufactures, sells, and distributes food products under the 505 Southwestern, Lilly B’s, Hatch Kitchen, Mapa Lupe’s, TJ Farms, La Tortilla Factory, and other brands. The Company also partners with leading food retailers to develop R&D-driven private label programs, and provides food logistics, warehousing, and freight management services within the food industry. The Company operates facilities and offices in or near Boise, ID, Denver, CO, Albuquerque, NM, Santa Rosa, CA, San Francisco, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Moundridge, KS.

About CREO Capital Partners
CREO Capital Partners is a Denver, CO-based investment firm exclusively focused on the food and consumer products industry segments. Founded in 2005, the firm has successfully invested in over 20 food companies in the USA and the UK, and focuses on partnerships with outstanding management and premium brands. Investments have spanned the branded retail, private label, food logistics, and food distribution industry sub-segments. With many of its investments held via its diversified food business, Flagship Food Group, CREO actively seeks dialogue with food companies that have an interest in joining in the Flagship journey.

About BlackRock Alternative Investors
BlackRock Alternative Investors serve investors seeking outperformance in real estate, infrastructure, private equity, credit, hedge funds and alternative solutions. We strive to bring our investors the highest quality investments by drawing upon our global footprint, superior execution capabilities and position as a preferred partner. BlackRock manages $283 billion in alternative investments and commitments on behalf of clients worldwide as of June 30, 2021.

Media Contact: Courtney Lis, VOCA Public Relations, 970.581.6231 email hidden; JavaScript is required