Tamale King

What Tamale King does

Tamale King (legal entity C.T. Beavers Co.) is a privately held, founder-owned manufacturer of mechanical tamale-making machines, founded in 1991 by Charles T. Beavers ("Tio Carlos") and operated from Fort Worth, Texas with 13 employees. The company's core product is a patented piston-extrusion machine (protected by U.S. Patent #5,198,239, filed July 8, 1991 and granted March 30, 1993) that automates masa spreading and meat filling — the most labor-intensive steps of traditional tamale production — with advertised throughput of 10 dozen tamales in 30 minutes per machine (and 100 dozen in 4 hours with manual wrapping assistance). The product line consists of four base models (TK155 through TK158) priced between $549 and $999, with "X" variants (priced $100 higher) that include an extra interchangeable cylinder set for faster production; cylinder diameters range from 7/8" to 2" to produce different tamale sizes.

The business model is direct-to-consumer: customers order via a toll-free phone number (1-800-531-1799), local line, or the tamaleking.com website, with products shipped F.O.B. Fort Worth. Revenue is generated almost entirely from one-time hardware sales plus a small attached catalog of consumables and accessories — proprietary spice blends ($6.50-$75), masa flour ($33 per 50 lb bag), corn husks ($7.75-$13.50 per 10 dozen), alternative tamale wraps ($165 per 3,000 sheets), tamale cooking pots ($35-$60), and replacement cylinders. The primary customer segment is U.S. restaurants and food-service operators looking to add tamales to their menus without the labor cost of hand production; a secondary segment is home users making tamales for family events. Marketing is conducted through the company website, free VHS/DVD demo videos, and a 30-second TV commercial; the company maintains no social media presence and processes orders without a formal sales team, with the founder handling inquiries directly.

Name

Tamale King

Legal name

C.T. Beavers Co.

Website

https://tamaleking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tamale King (C.T. Beavers Co.) is a privately held Fort Worth, Texas manufacturer of patented mechanical tamale-making machines, selling direct-to-consumer to U.S. restaurants and home users alongside a small line of spices, corn husks, masa, and cooking accessories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Food Equipment

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF)

Keywords

• Tamale making machines
• Commercial food equipment
• Food extrusion machines
• Restaurant kitchen supplies
• Latin American cuisine equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tamale Machine Sales: One-time sale of tamale making machines at various price points from $549 to $1,099 depending on model and configuration. Revenue generated from initial hardware purchase.
2. Spice and Ingredient Sales: Recurring sales of proprietary spice blends (Tamale Blend Light/Dark, Chili Powder, Cumin, Garlic, Onion, Paprika, Cayenne, etc.) in small (16 oz), large (5-6 lbs), and bulk (20 lbs) sizes. Also includes masa flour, corn husks, and tamale wraps.
3. Tamale Equipment Accessories: Sales of tamale cooking pots (20-50 quart sizes at $35-$60), replacement cylinders, and parts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tamale King (C.T. Beavers Co.) manufactures and sells patented mechanical tamale-making machines (TK155, TK156, TK157, and TK158 series, with X variants adding extra cylinder sets) priced from $549 to $1,099, targeting restaurants and home cooks who want to produce tamales without the labor-intensive hand-making process. The product line is complemented by proprietary spice blends, corn husks, masa flour, tamale wraps, restaurant-grade aluminum cooking pots, and interchangeable discharge nozzle cylinders in seven diameters. The company also provides free instructional videos in English and Spanish (VHS, DVD, and online download). The machine is protected by U.S. Patent #5,198,239 granted March 30, 1993.

Product overview

Tamale King is a manufacturer of commercial and home tamale-making machines and related supplies. The core product line consists of four Tamalemaker models (TK155, TK156, TK157, TK158) with 'X' variants that include extra cylinder sets for increased production. Each model differs in stand material (stainless steel wall mount, steel stand, aluminum stand, or stainless steel stand) and tray type. The machines are complemented by a full ecosystem of consumables (specialty spice blends, corn husks, masa, tamale wraps) and accessories (tamale cooking pots in various sizes, discharge nozzle cylinders in multiple diameters). The company also provides free instructional videos in English and Spanish. The Tio Carlos' Tamale King brand is based on U.S. Patent #5,198,239 granted in 1993.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TK155 Tamalemaker Entry-level tamale-making machine with stainless steel wall mount, shipped without a tray; priced at $549.00. Designed for restaurant and home users producing tamales using a self-leveling piston-action extrusion system.
• TK155X Tamalemaker Same as the TK155 with stainless steel wall mount and no tray, plus an extra set of meat and masa cylinders to increase production; priced at $649.00.
• TK156 Tamalemaker Mid-tier tamale-making machine mounted on a steel stand with baked-on enamel finish and including a plastic tray; priced at $649.00.
• TK156X Tamalemaker Same as the TK156 on a steel stand with plastic tray, but includes an extra set of cylinders for increased production; priced at $749.00.
• TK157 Tamalemaker Premium tamale-making machine on aluminum stand with aluminum tray. Features self-leveling piston action, holds 2 1/4 lbs of meat and 3 1/2 lbs of masa, weighs approximately 25 lbs, food-grade polycarbonate cylinders and plungers, cast aluminum handle and base, and includes a 90-day limited warranty. Priced at $849.00.
• TK157X Tamalemaker Same as the TK157 on aluminum stand with aluminum tray, plus an extra set of cylinders for increased production; priced at $949.00.
• TK158 Tamalemaker Top-tier tamale-making machine on stainless steel stand with metal tray; priced at $999.00.
• TK158X Tamalemaker Same as the TK158 on stainless steel stand with metal tray, plus an extra set of cylinders; priced at $1,099.00.
• Discharge Nozzle Cylinders Interchangeable polycarbonate discharge nozzle cylinders available in seven diameters from 7/8" (0.375 oz/inch) to 2" (1.50 oz/inch), letting operators produce tamales of different sizes and weights. The 1 1/8" cylinder makes 30 four-inch tamales per batch; the 1" makes 40; the 7/8" makes 50.
• Tio Carlos' Spice Blends Line of proprietary spice blends including Tamale Blend Light, Tamale Blend Dark, Chili Powder, Cumin, Garlic, Onion, Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper, Seasoning Salt, Ancho Chili Powder, Chipotle Pepper, and Fajita Seasoning. Available in small (16–28 oz) and large (4–10 lb) sizes, priced $6.50–$15.50 (small) and $33–$75 (large).
• Corn Husks Corn husks for wrapping tamales, available in Small, Medium, Medium-Large, and Large sizes, priced from $7.75 to $13.50 per 10-dozen package.
• Tamale Wraps 5" x 8" Alternative wrapping material to corn husks, sold as $165.00 per 3,000-sheet case.
• Masa Flour Special corn meal for the tamale outer layer, priced at $33.00 per 50 lb bag.
• Tamale Pots Restaurant-quality aluminum steam cooking pots in 20, 24, 32, 40, and 50 quart sizes, featuring a rim and pan to keep tamales off water and allow steam airflow. Priced from $35.00 to $60.00.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 dozen tamales in 30 minutes (with machine only)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tamale-king

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 Tamale King