$7 Million Salsa Manufacturing Expansion

Gov. Susana Martinez Announces El Pinto Foods Growing to Create up to 25 New Jobs

$7 Million Investment to Support 20,000 sq.ft of Manufacturing Facilities

January 31, 2017

Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that El Pinto Foods in the final phase of a $7 million investment to expand its manufacturing facilities to more than 20,000 square feet, creating 25 new jobs to meet increasing demand.

See the El Pinto Salsa & Chile Factory in Action

Does your company need Private Label Hot Fill processing or Co-Packing of your product? Inquire about Private Label or Co-Packing.

“It’s exciting and encouraging to see homegrown New Mexico manufacturers like El Pinto grow and bring new jobs and investment,” Governor Martinez said. “Thanks to our commitment to making New Mexico more competitive with surrounding states, we’re able to help more companies grow and thrive, while lifting our communities up. Results like these show how important it is to keep pushing forward with tools and reforms that make our state more business friendly.”

El Pinto Food’s salsa manufacturing division currently produces 25,000 jars of salsa a day and has the capacity to make 3-4 million jars a year. El Pinto’s factory, which is both Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Organic Certified, is expanding by 5,000 square feet to meet growing demand for individual sized portion cups for private label customers.

“It’s extremely exciting to see investment like this in our local New Mexico businesses,” said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. “The Governor’s bold agenda of reform helps companies grow and thrive, while at the same time recruiting new businesses, jobs and investment to New Mexico.”

This expansion comes on the heels of Governor Martinez announcing nearly 400 new jobs coming to New Mexico this month alone. These include industries like aviation, manufacturing, and agriculture, in communities throughout the state, like Roswell, Belen and the Mesilla Valley.

“El Pinto began from humble roots in 1962 by my parents with 10 tables. Today our salsa manufacturing facility, located on the same property as the 1,000 seat restaurant, shares the taste of New Mexico to the entire country,” said co-owner Jim Thomas.

Twin brother and co-owner John Thomas continued, "With the support of the Economic Development Department and the Governor, we continue to expand our manufacturing jobs, right here in New Mexico, as one of the largest employers in the North Valley of Albuquerque. Providing quality jobs and nutritious New Mexican food is what El Pinto stands for."

The Economic Development Department will contribute $250,000 in LEDA funds toward the construction of the manufacturing facilities. LEDA is New Mexico's closing fund, a tool that recruits new businesses to the state while helping those that are already here grow and thrive. Governor Martinez fought to grow the closing fund to as much as $56 million, up from nearly zeroed out when she took office.

“El Pinto Foods is a great local company using New Mexico products to create new jobs, and Bernalillo County is proud to support this expansion,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Lonnie Talbert. “This investment will boost our local manufacturing base and promote New Mexico’s unique food as an export product around the world.”

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If you are interested in employment at El Pinto Foods we are accepting applications. Go to www.elpinto.com/employment-at-el-pinto for more information.

For Media inquires or Manufacturing Companies interested in hot fill co-packing with production needs above 250,000 units annually, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

El Pinto Premiers on A&E's Big Kitchens

Big Kitchens: A New Culinary Lifestyle Series Featuring El Pinto Released on FYI Network

For Release Sept 10, 2015

El Pinto Restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico is the focus of the a new culinary-themed lifestyle series, Big Kitchens, airing on A&E's FYI Network. The 30-minute episode, “Massive New Mexican,” goes behind the scene at El Pinto Restaurant and the salsa manufacturing facility to reveal some of the tricks that keep this 1,000 seat restaurant humming.

The program is launching this month in the United States, and El Pinto is hosting a free celebratory screening event on Tuesday September 15th at 5 p.m. Free appetizers and rock bottom margarita specials will be going on from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. during the screening. Numerous patrons to El Pinto are interviewed in the new episode that celebrates New Mexican cuisine and all things chile.

Jim Thomas, owner, explains “It is an amazing to understand the ten tables my parents started El Pinto with have organically grown into one of the largest family owned restaurants in the U.S. It is an honor to have Big Kitchens take our story around the world.”

Co-Owner John Thomas describes the filming, “The Big Kitchen's team did an amazing job capturing our kitchen, the heartbeat of El Pinto, and the communication required from the front of the house to the back of the house as staff followed us through our massive house.”

“We were sought out because of El Pinto's massive kitchen, but Big Kitchens is going to be big for Albuquerque tourism as it expands the love of New Mexico green chile around the world,” states Douglas Evilsizor, Marketing Director. He continues, “This is the most widely distributed culinary lifestyle program focusing on Albuquerque the State has ever seen.” In addition to reoccurring broadcast in the U.S on A&E, the program has been purchased by Scripps Networks for Travel Channel UK, as well as Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Shaw Media is taking it to the Food Network in Canada and Seven is broadcasting in Australia.

“The incredible culinary feats combined with the larger-than-life characters lend global appeal to this major new series and we're delighted to work with a raft of high quality broadcasters across international territories,” said Carlo Massarella, creative director and executive producer for U.K based Windfall Films which produced the series, in a statement.

Over the 52-year tradition of El Pinto, the restaurant has helped to put New Mexican cuisine on the map as it has prepared green chile based cuisine within the White House presidential kitchen and provided “take-out” direct to Air Force One on the tarmac in Albuquerque. In addition to serving presidents, cabinet secretaries and military generals, local residents continue to independently voted El Pinto Restaurant the Best New Mexican Restaurant for multiple years running as well as its patios as the Best in the City in the annual Albuquerque The Magazine readers poll.

El Pinto Restaurant and Salsa Co. continues to expand in its 52nd year with an emphasis on serving nutritious, locally raised, and organic foods. El Pinto Restaurant has grown from a few tables in one room started by John and Jim Thomas' parents, to become the most famous restaurant in New Mexico with beautiful patios, natural wood burning fireplaces, and healthy New Mexican cuisine. El Pinto Salsa has recently expanded with the addition of a convenient single serving 4oz chopped green chile cup. The restaurant and salsa manufacturing facility are co-located on property in the North Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

About El Pinto Restaurant & Salsa Co:
Established 50-years ago, El Pinto is a quintessential icon for New Mexican cuisine. Conveniently located in the North Valley of Albuquerque just off I-25, the serene patios located under beautiful cottonwood trees provide an iconic experience. El Pinto is known nationally for its fire-roasted green chile and fresh flavorful salsa distributed across the nation in local grocery stores. The salsa and green chile factory is located on the same grounds as the restaurant. For an authentic taste of New Mexico, visit El Pinto for its fresh iconic food, traditional margaritas, and award winning chile. www.elpinto.com

The Salsa Twins Launch Kickstarter

The Salsa Twins of El Pinto are Launching a New Travel Adventure TV Series about New Mexican Food

For Release Jan 11, 2016

Twin brothers, John and Jim Thomas, are turning to the Internet to raise funds to launch a New Mexico based travel adventure TV show. The program, named Raw & Wild, rediscovers raw and wild indigenous foods growing across New Mexico. With funding as the first major obstacle to getting any TV program off the ground, they are embracing Kickstarter.com to help fund a small portion of the entire production costs necessary for the pilot.

The Kickstarter project can be found at: http://bit.ly/rawwildtv

In line with Kickstarter.com guidelines there are a set number of days to raise all the funds, or the project receives nothing. The Thomas' project has a 31 day fundraising window, from start to finish. If the allotted budget ($17,800 US) isn't raised before February 12^th, all pledges are cancelled and the project will not be funded. This funding is a portion of the $50,000 budget necessary to bring the pilot to completion. The balance is being funded by the Thomas brothers.

The series, Raw & Wild, takes viewers across New Mexico exploring the unique natural beauty found across the diverse state from the 13,000 foot peaks of Taos to the depths of the Carlsbad Caverns. As the brothers travel New Mexico, they rediscover indigenous foods naturally growing throughout the region. There are people across the state who live off the land, and the show will have fun meeting these unique characters while teaching viewers simple ways to find raw food out your backdoor. Raw & Wild will showcase the beauty, the adventure, the people, and naturally healthy food of New Mexico.

When asked about why Kickstarter was appealing, John Thomas noted, "the ability to spread the word quickly online to a lot of people, and keep them updated on the status of the project is invaluable."

Jim Thomas explains his passion for establishing the new show, “My brother and I believe in clean and nutritious food. Food today is over processed, and we are going back to our roots, to locate raw and wild foods off the land, and turn them into nutritious meals that can be made in your home or served as a new entree meal at El Pinto Restaurant.”

Over the 53 year tradition of El Pinto, the restaurant has helped to put New Mexican cuisine on the map as it has prepared green chile based cuisine within the White House presidential kitchen and provided “take-out” direct to Air Force One on the tarmac in Albuquerque. In addition to serving presidents, cabinet secretaries and military generals, local residents continue to independently voted El Pinto Restaurant the Best New Mexican Restaurant for multiple years running as well as its patios as the Best in the City in the annual Albuquerque The Magazine readers poll.

About El Pinto Entertainment LLC:

Established in 2015, El Pinto Entertainment is the production company managing the made for TV docuseries, Raw & Wild. The show travels picturesque New Mexico as the hosts, the Salsa Twins, rediscover raw foods in the wild. The Twins, John and Jim Thomas, have grown up in the food business since age 4. Now they feel the social responsibility, in an age of over-processed and undernourishing food, to go back to the earth to rediscover raw foods and share that knowledge with the world.

About El Pinto Restaurant & Salsa Co:

Established 53 years ago, El Pinto is a quintessential icon for New Mexican cuisine. Conveniently located in the North Valley of Albuquerque just off I-25, the serene patios located under beautiful cottonwood trees provide an iconic experience. El Pinto is known nationally for its fire-roasted green chile and fresh flavorful salsa distributed across the nation in local grocery stores. The salsa and green chile factory is located on the same grounds as the restaurant. For an authentic taste of New Mexico, visit El Pinto for its fresh iconic food, traditional margaritas, and award winning chile. www.elpinto.com

Gabriel Ayala at El PInto

Guitar Virtuoso Gabriel Ayala

Two Free Performances at El Pinto April 24th & 25th

El Pinto Restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico is mixing in with its cuisine the guitar rhythms of the Yaqui Nation’s Award winning guitar virtuoso Gabriel Ayala. During the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in the Duke City, Ayala will perform at El Pinto Thursday before the Pow Wow and Friday. Ayala is an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist with notable performances before the Pope in Rome, Italy, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and at the Presidential Inaugural Ball for President Obama.

For two evenings, Thursday, April 24 and Friday April 25, 2014, Ayala will fill the air for an up-close and intimate performance with music which he says is best described as “JazzMenco” – an audible collaboration of classical guitar and flamenco vibrancy. Performances will begin at 5 p.m. and will be free and open to dining guests with a conclusion at 8 p.m.

“I’m thankful that El Pinto has invited me to showcase my music to accompany an incredible establishment of such fine cuisine,” said Ayala who prides himself with stretching people’s perceptions of the Native American musical genre. Ayala has shared his music both nationally and internationally including performances at the Poway Center for Performing Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Museum for the American Indian.

Jim Thomas, co-owner of El Pinto states, “El Pinto is honored to connect both local and visiting patrons to an acclaimed musician such as Ayala who is celebrated in the musical community for his passion to share his knowledge of music to younger generations.” John Thomas adds, “When I heard Ayala's music for the first time I was astounded. His vibrant powerful sound is something that must be enjoyed, and El Pinto is the perfect spot for it.”