M.C.I. Foods
M.C.I. Foods is a U.S. frozen Mexican food manufacturer (Los Cabos® brand, est. 1957) producing CN-labeled burritos and wraps for K-12 schools, colleges, healthcare, and military food service, plus private label and co-packing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersSanta Fe Springs, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What M.C.I. Foods does
M.C.I. Foods, Inc., operating under the Los Cabos® Mexican Foods brand, is a U.S. frozen food manufacturer founded in 1957 and headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California. The company produces frozen Mexican-style items — primarily burritos and wraps, including CN (Child Nutrition) labeled products certified for USDA school meal programs — and operates across multiple sub-brands (Cabo Classics, Cabo Primo, Cabo Real) alongside private label and co-packing service lines. Core technology centers on USDA-compliant frozen food manufacturing with documented meal component contributions (e.g., Meat/Meat Alternate and Whole Grain Rich grain equivalents) required for federal meal program participation.
M.C.I. Foods serves four institutional verticals — K-12 schools (primary), colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, and military dining operations — through a direct B2B sales motion with per-state product specification and sample request workflows on its website. The company participates in the USDA Donated Foods program, distributing products to low-income student populations through federal breakfast and lunch channels. It also offers contract manufacturing/co-packing for institutional customers requiring specialized frozen Mexican food production capacity.
The revenue model combines branded institutional sales, private label manufacturing, and contract co-packing services, with quote-based B2B pricing and no public rate cards. The firm is a privately held, family-owned business spanning four generations, with 101-250 employees. In October 2025, the company was subject to a USDA-announced recall of approximately 91,585 pounds of frozen breakfast burritos and wraps due to potential Listeria contamination originating from an external egg supplier; no illnesses were reported at the time of the recall.
M.C.I. Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- M.C.I. Foods
- Legal name
- M.C.I. Foods, Inc.
- Website
- https://mcifoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- M.C.I. Foods is a U.S. frozen Mexican food manufacturer (Los Cabos® brand, est. 1957) producing CN-labeled burritos and wraps for K-12 schools, colleges, healthcare, and military food service, plus private label and co-packing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
M.C.I. Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Frozen Food Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141)
- SIC
- Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Frozen Ethnic & International Meals (CRADADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals (CRADADAA), Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA)
Keywords
Where M.C.I. Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Fe Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
M.C.I. Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Private Label Manufacturing: Manufactures frozen Mexican food products under customer brands (private label) for institutional food service operators. Products include breakfast burritos, wraps, and other frozen Mexican food items.
- Co-Packing Services: Provides contract manufacturing and co-packing services for food service operators and other food companies requiring specialized frozen Mexican food production capabilities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels2 records
M.C.I. Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
M.C.I. Foods manufactures and distributes frozen Mexican food products — including burritos, wraps, and breakfast items — under the Los Cabos® brand and via private label/co-packing arrangements. The company primarily serves institutional food service operators in the United States, including K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, and military bases, with CN-labeled products meeting USDA Child Nutrition program requirements.
Product overview
M.C.I. Foods operates under the Los Cabos® Mexican Foods brand, producing frozen Mexican food products since 1957. The company offers a portfolio of frozen burritos, wraps, and traditional Mexican dishes across multiple sub-brands (Cabo Classics, Cabo Primo, Cabo Real). Products include CN-labeled items for school food services under the USDA's National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, as well as offerings for food service, healthcare, colleges & universities, and military markets. The company participates in the USDA's Donated Foods program and provides private label/co-pack services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cabo Classics: A sub-brand of M.C.I. Foods offering Mexican food products.
- Cabo Primo
- Cabo Real
Products and services
- Los Cabos Mexican Foods Frozen Mexican food products including burritos, wraps, and traditional Mexican dishes distributed to food service, healthcare, K-12 schools, and military markets under the Los Cabos® brand.
- Cheese, Cooked Sausage Crumbles (Made with Turkey) & Egg Breakfast Wrap
Companies that use M.C.I. Foods
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
M.C.I. Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
M.C.I. Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- USDA Donated Foods ProgramcoreM.C.I. Foods participates in the USDA Donated Foods program, which supports food distribution to institutions serving low-income populations including schools and other community feeding programs.
- School Food Services (K-12)coreProvides CN-labeled frozen Mexican food products to K-12 school districts participating in federal breakfast and lunch programs. Products are manufactured to meet specific meal pattern requirements and carry documentation of nutritional content contributions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
M.C.I. Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ruiz Food Products: Largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen Mexican food (El Monterey and Ruiz brands) including burritos, wraps, and breakfast items sold primarily through retail and food service. Directly comparable to M.C.I. Foods on frozen Mexican category, product format (burritos/wraps), and food service distribution model, but at materially larger scale.
- Don Miguel Mexican Foods: Manufacturer of frozen and refrigerated Mexican-style appetizers, burritos, and entrées for retail and food service channels. Directly comparable on product format, ethnic frozen category, and B2B foodservice go-to-market.
- Tasty Brands: Specialty frozen food manufacturer focused on K-12 school nutrition programs, supplying CN-labeled breakfast, lunch, and snack products to school districts. Closely comparable to M.C.I. Foods' primary vertical (K-12), CN-labeling capabilities, and institutional foodservice distribution model.
- Reser's Fine Foods: Co-manufacturer of fresh and frozen prepared foods including Mexican-style items, salads, and heat-and-serve entrees for foodservice and retail. Comparable on co-packing/private label capabilities, frozen Mexican category presence, and broad food service customer portfolio.
- Cedar Lake Foods: Frozen food manufacturer focused on ethnic and specialty meals (Mexican, Asian, breakfast) for foodservice channels including K-12 and corrections. Closely comparable in scale and category, with co-manufacturing and institutional focus.
Broad incumbents
- Michael Foods (Post Holdings): Diversified food manufacturer (eggs, refrigerated potato products, cheese) with deep K-12 and institutional food service presence. Comparable through K-12 institutional channel penetration, though product focus extends well beyond frozen Mexican.
- Tyson Foods (Prepared Foods): Large diversified protein and prepared foods manufacturer with a frozen breakfast and entrees portfolio sold through foodservice, including K-12 channels. Broad incumbent operating in the same institutional frozen foods segment.
- Conagra Brands (Frozen & Foodservice): Major packaged food company with a sizeable frozen meals/entrees portfolio and dedicated food service division serving schools, healthcare, and military. Overlaps with M.C.I. in frozen entrées and institutional food service distribution.
- Lamb Weston: Global leader in frozen potatoes serving foodservice and retail; representative broad frozen-food incumbent with deep institutional foodservice relationships relevant to K-12, military, and healthcare channels M.C.I. serves.
- J&J Snack Foods: Manufacturer of frozen novelties, churros, and Mexican-style snacks supplied to foodservice, convenience, and schools. Adjacent overlap through frozen Mexican/Spanish-style items and presence in school channels.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
M.C.I. Foods social profiles
Digital presenceM.C.I. Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
M.C.I. Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
M.C.I. Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
M.C.I. Foods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about M.C.I. Foods
What does M.C.I. Foods do?
M.C.I. Foods manufactures and distributes frozen Mexican food products — including burritos, wraps, and breakfast items — under the Los Cabos® brand and via private label/co-packing arrangements. The company primarily serves institutional food service operators in the United States, including K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, and military bases, with CN-labeled products meeting USDA Child Nutrition program requirements.
Is M.C.I. Foods a public or private company?
M.C.I. Foods is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was M.C.I. Foods founded?
M.C.I. Foods was founded in 1957. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is M.C.I. Foods based?
M.C.I. Foods is headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does M.C.I. Foods make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Private Label Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are co-Packing Services.
Who are M.C.I. Foods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ruiz Food Products, Don Miguel Mexican Foods, Tasty Brands, Reser's Fine Foods and Cedar Lake Foods. Broad incumbents are Michael Foods (Post Holdings), Tyson Foods (Prepared Foods), Conagra Brands (Frozen & Foodservice), Lamb Weston and J&J Snack Foods.
Does M.C.I. Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for M.C.I. Foods.
What industry is M.C.I. Foods in?
M.C.I. Foods's product category is Frozen Food Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADADAE, Frozen Ethnic & International Meals, with a secondary code of CRADADAA, Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals. Its NAICS code is 31141 and its SIC code is 2030.