News/Noticias
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Estrada Communications Group, Inc.
(512) 335-7776

Wal-Mart teams with Lopez Foods to introduce pre-cooked, pork chorizo sausage.

Bentonville, AR (January 25, 1999) — Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today the introduction of a new, pork chorizo product. The product will be sold under the name of Lopez Pork Chorizo and sold exclusively by Wal-Mart Stores across the country. The pre-cooked and frozen, pork sausage patties are flavored with "authentic" seasonings which replicate the taste of the spicy, Mexican-style, breakfast sausage.

The new chorizo product represents an expansion of the vendor relationship between Wal-Mart and Lopez Foods, Inc. of Oklahoma City, OK. Earlier this year, Lopez Foods was selected by Wal-Mart to produce and supply a pre-cooked and frozen pork sausage product. The brand, Country Cousin, which has proven to be a success with customers, prompted Wal-Mart to expand its variety of pre-cooked meat products to include the Mexican-style sausage.

"We are proud of our business relationship with Lopez Foods, especially of the quality products they provide for our customers," stated Ken Parnell, Wal-Mart's Vice President of Purchasing. "The Mexican-style sausage product addresses our commitment to expand our Hispanic vendor base, as well as allowing us to carry products that fit the tastes of our increasingly diverse customer base."

Lopez Foods is ranked among the largest, Hispanic-owned, manufacturing firms in the nation. The company employs over 300 associates, who operate the plant 24-hours a day, making it one of Oklahoma City's major employers and sales leaders.

"The expansion of our vendor relationship with Wal-Mart is a reflection of the continued commitment to food safety and quality practiced by the entire Lopez Foods organization," stated John C. Lopez, Chairman and CEO of Lopez Foods, Inc. "This is definitely a vote of confidence in our company by the world's premier retailer," he added.

Lopez began his association with McDonald's in 1978, as a restaurant operator in Los Angeles. In 1992, he assumed controlling interest of the 125,000 square feet, meat processing plant on a 12-acre site in Oklahoma City. In addition to the Country Cousin packaged, pre-cooked pork sausage patties, the "state-of-the-art" plant also manufactures frozen, all-beef patties, pre-cooked breakfast sausage patties and sliced, Canadian-style bacon for McDonald's restaurants and supplies its distribution centers throughout the United States.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,400 stores and 450 Sam's Clubs in the United States. Internationally, the company operates units in Argentina (13), Brazil (13), Canada (152), Germany (95), Mexico (410), Puerto Rico (14), and under joint ventures in China (3) and Korea (4). Wal-Mart employs more than 780,000 associates in the United States and 130,000 internationally. Wal-Mart (WMT) is listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges.

Wal-Mart adds chorizo to its product list.

In keeping with the increasing popularity trends of Mexican food in the United States, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has introduced a new, pre-cooked pork chorizo product to its customers across the nation. The announcement was made by representatives of Wal-Mart and Lopez Foods, Inc. of Oklahoma City, OK. Wal-Mart's Vice President of Purchasing Ken Parnell (second from right) and Vice President of Operations, Merchandising & Vendor Development Sam Dunn (left), join Lopez Foods' Chairman & Chief Executive Officer John Lopez (right) and President & Chief Operating Officer Charlie Barajas (second from left) in unveiling the new packaging. Lopez Pork Chorizo is available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores in an 18-count package. The pre-cooked and frozen chorizo patties are flavored with "authentic" seasonings, which closely replicates the taste of the traditional, Mexican-style, spicy sausage.

(return to top)
(return to Media Release master page)