Pedro's Tamales

What Pedro's Tamales does

Pedro's Tamales is a privately held, founder-owned food processing and retail company headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, that manufactures and sells hand-rolled tamales to individual consumers across the United States. The business was started in 1977 by Pete Pedro as a small tamale kitchen in a downtown warehouse to satisfy his personal cravings for quality tamales only available seasonally, and has since scaled to produce more than 40,000 tamales per day at a USDA-inspected facility. The core product is a closely-guarded secret recipe using American-grown corn and U.S.-raised beef, pork, and chicken, with each tamale hand-wrapped in an authentic corn husk and available in flavors including Pork, Mild Beef, Spicy Beef, Hatch Green Chili Chicken, Jalapeño Popper, and vegetarian options (Jalapeño Bean, Spinach and Cheese, Poblano and Cheese); all products are gluten-free with no lard or MSG.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model combining two physical restaurant locations in Lubbock, TX (8207 Highway 87 with drive-thru and counter service, and Milwaukee Avenue Ste 950 for local pickup) with a nationwide direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at store.tamale.com, shipping frozen tamales via UPS and FedEx Next Day/2nd Day Air. The product portfolio extends beyond core tamales to include variety packs (Pedro's Sampler 4 dozen at $48, Gift Pack 6 dozen at $72), catering packages (Party Packs at 24 dozen, Tailgater Packs at 10 dozen), restaurant menu items (tamale nachos, sides, value menu), branded merchandise, and e-gift cards. The e-commerce platform is powered by Spoton, in-store ordering uses Clover, and the company accepts all major card networks. Pricing is standardized at $48 per 4 dozen ($12 per dozen) with a 16-dozen maximum per order, and add-on dozens are available at $12 each with a 4-dozen minimum.

Pedro's holds the gubernatorial designation of "The official tamale of Texas" and was recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the best store-bought tamale brands. The company is independently owned and operated by its founder with no disclosed external investors, venture capital, or parent company, and maintains a headcount of 11-50 employees. Marketing is conducted through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), email newsletters, Google reviews, and earned media coverage in outlets including the New York Times, KCBD, Lubbock News, Lonestar 99.5, and Texas Monthly. The company has also engaged in community giving, including a donation of 4,500 dozen tamales to the South Plains Food Bank.

Name

Pedro's Tamales

Legal name

Pedro's Tamales

Website

https://tamale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pedro's Tamales is a privately held, founder-owned Lubbock, Texas food processor that manufactures and ships hand-rolled, USDA-inspected tamales to individual consumers nationwide via two retail locations and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, with a designation as the official tamale of Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mexican Food Products

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Kits Featuring Meat/Seafood (Heat-and-Eat Components) (AFANAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special-Diet & Functional Prepared Meals (Keto, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Medical) (CRAHAJAG)

Keywords

• Handmade tamales
• Frozen Mexican food
• Tamale catering services
• Restaurant dining
• Direct-to-consumer food

Headquarters

HQ city

Lubbock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tamale Product Sales: Primary revenue from selling tamales by the dozen. Product offerings include various flavors: Mild Beef, Spicy Beef, Pork, Hatch Green Chili Chicken, Jalapeño Popper, Jalapeño Bean (Vegan), Spinach and Cheese (Vegetarian), Poblano and Cheese (Vegetarian). Gluten-free products available with no lard or MSG.
2. Catering Services: Catering packages including Party Packs (24 dozen tamales with chips and salsa) and Tailgater Packs (10 dozen tamales with small cooler).
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel and gear sold through the company's storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pedro's Tamales manufactures and sells hand-rolled, gluten-free tamales in multiple varieties (Pork, Mild Beef, Spicy Beef, Hatch Green Chili Chicken, Jalapeño Popper, Jalapeño Bean (Vegan), Spinach and Cheese (Vegetarian), and Poblano and Cheese (Vegetarian)) made from American-grown corn and U.S.-raised proteins. Products are sold by the dozen, in variety packs, and bundled in catering packages, distributed through two Lubbock restaurant locations, a nationwide direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipping operation, and event catering.

Product overview

Pedro's Tamales is a food products company that sells hand-rolled tamales made with American-grown corn and U.S.-raised beef, pork, and chicken. The core product offering consists of tamales available by the dozen in multiple varieties (Pork, Mild Beef, Spicy Beef, Hatch Green Chili Chicken, Jalapeno Popper, and vegetarian options), sold through two retail locations in Lubbock, TX and a nationwide direct-to-consumer shipping service. The product portfolio also includes variety packs (Pedro's Sampler 4 Dozen, Pedro's Gift Pack 6 Dozen), restaurant dining with nachos and sides at physical locations, catering packages (Party Pack, Tailgater Pack), and branded merchandise. All tamales are gluten-free with no lard or MSG, and are hand-wrapped in authentic corn husks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tamales (By Dozen) Hand-rolled tamales made with American-grown corn and U.S.-raised beef, pork, and chicken. Available in multiple flavors including Pork, Mild Beef, Spicy Beef, Hatch Green Chili Chicken, Jalapeño Popper, Poblano and Cheese (Vegetarian), Spinach and Cheese (Vegetarian), and Jalapeño Bean (Vegan). Gluten-free with no lard or MSG, priced at $48.00 per 4 dozen.
• Pedro's Sampler (4 Dozen)
• Pedro's Gift Pack (6 dozen) A variety pack of 6 dozen tamales including 2 dozen Pork, 1 dozen Spicy Beef, 1 dozen Mild Beef, 1 dozen Hatch Green Chili Chicken, and 1 dozen Jalapeño Popper, priced at $72.00. Marketed as a gift-ready assortment.
• Party Pack Catering package containing 24 dozen tamales, chips and salsa, and a large cooler, designed for events, parties, and large gatherings.
• Tailgater Pack Catering package containing 10 dozen tamales and a small cooler, designed for tailgates and smaller group events.
• Restaurant Menu Items In-restaurant menu featuring tamale nachos with ground beef, queso, and choice of tamale; Walkin' Nacho with ground beef, queso, guacamole, and sour cream; sides including guacamole, salsa, queso, barbacoa, picadillo, carne guisada, beans, rice, chips, and posole; bottled and fountain beverages; and value menu items including Bean & Cheese Burrito, Cheese Roll Up, Cheese Nachos, and One Meat Burrito.
• E-Gift Cards Electronic gift cards available for purchase to give as gifts, redeemable at Pedro's Tamales restaurant locations and online.
• Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including apparel and accessories featuring Pedro's Tamales branding, sold through the company storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ tamales produced daily
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• UPSminorOthersShipping partner for nationwide delivery using Next Day Air and 2nd Day Air shipping options. Frozen products shipped with gel packs in insulated coolers.
• FedExminorOthersAlternative shipping partner for nationwide delivery using Next Day Air and 2nd Day Air shipping options.
• South Plains Food BankminorOthersCommunity partner receiving donations. Pedro's Tamales donated 4,500 dozen tamales to the South Plains Food Bank.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• El Monterey: Owned by Ruiz Foods, El Monterey is the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen Mexican entrées including burritos, tacos, and tamales sold through grocery retail. Directly comparable in product category, frozen-shipped format, and Hispanic-focused flavor portfolio to Pedro's Tamales.
• Don Miguel Mexican Foods: Don Miguel manufactures prepared Mexican foods including tamales, burritos, and chimichangas sold in grocery and club channels. Direct peer in the prepared, heat-and-eat tamale category with overlapping customer base and similar DTC-plus-retail distribution approach.
• La Costeña: La Costeña is a major Mexican food manufacturer producing canned and prepared Mexican staples (salsas, chiles, peppers, beans) widely available in U.S. Hispanic grocery. Comparable as a heritage Mexican prepared-foods brand with similar ingredient sourcing and regional authenticity positioning.
• Tamale Brands: Tamale Brands is a Texas-based producer and distributor of refrigerated tamales and Mexican specialty foods sold through Texas retailers and foodservice. Closely comparable as a regional tamale-focused CPG peer serving the same consumer base and product niche.

Broad incumbents

• MegaMex Foods: MegaMex Foods is a joint venture between Hormel and Herdez del Fuerte producing Mexican food brands (Herdez, Chi-Chi's, La Victoria, Wholly Avocado, Embasa) across a broad portfolio. Indirect peer offering tamales-adjacent prepared Mexican products as part of a larger CPG portfolio.
• Stouffer's: Stouffer's (Nestlé) is a major frozen prepared-meals brand sold nationally via grocery. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the "premium heat-and-eat frozen entrée" category that competes for the same consumer wallet share and grocery shelf real estate.
• Mission Foods: Mission Foods is the largest U.S. manufacturer of tortillas and wraps, sold to retail and foodservice. Adjacent peer as a major masa-based product producer—relevant given Pedro's uses masa (corn dough) as a primary ingredient in its tamale production.
• Old El Paso: Old El Paso (General Mills) is the dominant shelf-stable Mexican meal-kit and shell/taco brand in U.S. mass retail. Comparable as a broader-market incumbent serving home consumers seeking Mexican meal solutions, though focused on kits/shells rather than fresh-prepared tamales.

Regional players

• Mama Lena's Mexican Foods: Mama Lena's is a Texas-based family tamale manufacturer producing hand-made tamales for retail and wholesale distribution. Comparable as a small-batch, heritage tamale producer in the same regional market with similar artisanal positioning and authenticity claims.

Emerging players

• Real Good Foods: Real Good Foods is a publicly-traded DTC frozen-food company selling prepared entrées (pizzas, enchiladas, breakfast items) via e-commerce and retail. Comparable as a small specialty frozen-food brand operating a DTC-plus-retail model with similar frozen-shipping logistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pedrostamales
• Facebookfacebook.com/tamale.pedros
• Instagraminstagram.com/pedrostamales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pedros-tamales-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pedro's Tamales