Ruiz Food to set up new $55m facility in Florence County, South Carolina

Ruiz Food Products, a manufacturer of frozen Mexican food and snack products, is set to open new man…

Ruiz Food Products, a manufacturer of frozen Mexican food and snack products, is set to open new manufacturing facility in Florence County, South Carolina, with an investment of $55m.

The proposed facility, which marks the company's first on the East Coast, is expected to create more than 500 new jobs over the next several years.

Renovation on the plant, which previously housed Heinz operations, will begin immediately, with initial manufacturing operations expected to begin in 2015.

Ruiz will begin manufacturing its various nationally distributed El Monterey and Tornados products next year.

Products under El Monterey brand include burritos, tamales, breakfast burritos and Mexican snacks. Tornados is a major snack available at convenience stores.

Ruiz Food Products president and CEO Rachel Cullen said that the company's expansion strategy included establishing a manufacturing facility on the East Coast.

"Our products are in high demand with significant growth on the East Coast; and for us at Ruiz Foods, it's all about customer service. After conducting an initial search, we quickly narrowed our choice to this facility in Florence, South Carolina," Cullen added.

Among other manufacturing facilities operated by Ruiz Foods are facilities in California and Texas.