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Riviana Foods Inc.
Formation1911
TypePrivate
HeadquartersHouston, Texas
Region
United States of America
OwnerEbro Foods
Key people
Enrique Zaragoza (CEO)
Websitewww.riviana.com

Riviana Foods Inc. is a subsidiary of Ebro Foods, S.A. When it merged with American Rice, Inc. and New World Pasta Co. in 2017, it became the largest manufacturer and marketer of rice products and second largest of pasta products in the United States. Its estimated sales revenue at the time was $1.5 billion.[1]

Riviana's brands include Minute Rice and Ronzoni pasta.

History

Early Years

Riviana dates back to the 1911 founding of the Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, Inc., a consortium of thirty rice mills led by Frank Godchaux Sr. By 1931, the Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, Inc. introduced consumer-friendly packaging.[2]

Mergers & Acquisitions

In 1965, after the Louisiana State Rice Milling Company merged with River Brand Rice Mills, Inc, Riviana Foods Inc. was formed.[3] After being acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1976, and then sold back to the Godchaux family in 1986, Riviana became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.[2][4] Riviana was most recently acquired by Ebro Foods, S.A. in 2004.[1] In 2006, Riviana acquired Minute Rice, a brand of parboiled rice, from Kraft Foods.[5] In 2011, Riviana Foods Inc. acquired American Rice, Inc., which owned several rice brands, including Comet Rice and Blue Ribbon Rice. In 2017, American Rice, Inc. and New World Pasta merged into Riviana Foods Inc.[6]

Rice Brands & Products

Carolina Rice

Carolina Rice, founded in 1927, is primarily sold in the northeast United States.[7] Carolina Rice offers many varieties of rice including white rice, parboiled rice, whole grain brown rice, organic rice, yellow rice, wild rice, basmati rice and jasmine rice. Most of Carolina Rice's US-grown rice is sourced from Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas. Riviana Foods commercializes other rice varieties that are originally grown in Thailand (jasmine rice) and India (basmati rice).[8]

Mahatma Rice

Riviana Foods introduced Mahatma Rice to the United States in 1932, during the Great Depression.[2][9] Mahatma Rice is a national rice brand, serving all of the domestic United States, while its sister brand Carolina Rice covers northeast distribution from Maine to Washington, D.C.[7] Mahatma Rice offers many varieties of rice, including white rice, parboiled rice, whole grain brown rice, Valencia short grain rice, organic rice, yellow rice, wild rice, basmati rice and jasmine rice. Most of Mahatma Rice's US-grown rice is sourced from Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas. Riviana Foods commercializes other rice varieties that are originally grown in Thailand (jasmine rice) and India (basmati rice).[10]

Minute Rice

Minute Rice was founded in 1941. It started as a patented method for precooking and dehydrating rice before being used by the U.S. Armed Forces for G.I. rations during World War II.[11][12] Minute Rice was eventually introduced to the greater population in 1946 and gained worldwide distribution in 1949.[2] The brand first introduced precooked, parboiled white rice then expanded its product line to brown rice in 1990.[11] Riviana Foods Inc. acquired Minute Rice in 2006 from Kraft Foods.[5] The brand expanded its product line significantly in 2008 when it launched ready-to-serve rice cups, an easy staple food that could be stored in pantries and microwaved when needed. Today, Minute Rice sells boxed instant rice and rice cups in many rice varieties, and quinoa.[11]

Success Rice

Riviana Foods Inc. introduced Success Rice in 1977, its rice brand offering parboiled, boil-in-bag rice.[2] The brand's product line includes four varieties of boil-in-bag rice, including white rice, basmati rice, jasmine rice, and brown rice. Boil-in-bag rice is made by parboiling rice after it is harvested.[13] In 2017, Success Rice released boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa.[14]

Adolphus Rice

Adolphus Rice first came to market in 1938 in Houston, TX.[15] Currently, Adolphus rice is grown in Texas.[16] It offers whole grain brown rice, gold parboiled rice, and long grain white rice and is sold in Texas.[17]

Blue Ribbon Rice

Blue Ribbon Rice is grown in the USA and kosher approved. Blue Ribbon offers three varieties of rice: whole grain brown rice, golden parboiled rice and white rice.[18] Originally purchased by American Rice, Inc. in 1975, Blue Ribbon Rice was acquired by Riviana Foods Inc. when American Rice, Inc. was purchased from Grupo SOS in 2011.[19]

Colusa Rose Rice

Colusa Rose Rice offers Calrose rice, a variety of rice that originates from California.[20]

Comet Rice

Founded in 1902,[21] Comet Rice offers many varieties of rice, such as long grain white rice, whole grain rice and parboiled rice.[22] Comet Rice is a sister company of Wonder rice. Its rice is grown in the USA. Originally part of American Rice, Inc.,[23] Comet Rice was acquired by Riviana Foods Inc. in 2011 when Riviana purchased American Rice, Inc. from Grupo SOS.[2]

Gourmet House

Gourmet House rice offers three varieties of wild rice: cracked, cultivated and quick cooking, all of which are grown in the USA.[24] It was acquired by Riviana Foods in 1999 from Anheuser-Busch.[25][26]

Pear Blossom

Pear Blossom offers Calrose rice, a variety that originate from California.[27] Pear Blossom rice is similar to sticky rice and recommended for use in Japanese or Korean cooking.[28]

RiceSelect

Riviana Foods purchased RiceSelect from RiceTec in 2015. RiceSelect was the consumer business of RiceTec at the time.[29] RiceSelect offers rice, quinoa and pasta. One of its notable products is Texmati rice, which RiceSelect claims was the first aromatic rice to be introduced in the USA resembling basmati rice.[30] The rice variety was called Texmati because it was grown in Texas.[31]

River Rice

River Rice is a sister company of Water Maid rice. Its rice is grown in the USA. Its products include medium grain white rice and whole grain brown rice.[32]

Sello Rojo

Introduced in Puerto Rico in 1926, Sello Rojo rice offers short grain rice.[33] Its rice is harvested in California.[34]

Water Maid

Water Maid rice is a sister company of River Rice. Its rice is grown in the USA. It offers one product, the Water Maid medium grain white rice.[35]

Wonder

Wonder brand rice is a sister company of Comet Rice. Its rice is grown in the USA and is kosher approved. It offers one product, the Wonder long grain enriched rice.[36]

Pasta Brands & Products

Ronzoni

Ronzoni was founded in 1918 as the Ronzoni Macaroni Company. By the 1970s, Ronzoni was the number one pasta in New York.[37] In 1990, Ronzoni was acquired by the Hershey Food Corporation.[38] Ronzoni pasta was then acquired by New World Pasta, which in turn was acquired by Ebro Foods S.A. in 2006. Ronzoni products include classic pasta and innovations like Turmeric pasta and SuperGreens pasta (vegetable pasta).[39]

American Beauty

American Beauty was founded in 1916 after the Kansas City Macaroni and Importing Co. merged with the Denver Macaroni Company.[40] It appears to be a sister company of Ronzoni pasta. Similar to Ronzoni pasta, American Beauty offers several product lines, including classic pasta, gluten free pasta, SuperGreens pasta (vegetable pasta) and Thick & Hearty pasta.[41] It was acquired by Hershey Foods Corporation in 1984 before being sold to New World Pasta, which in turn was acquired by Ebro Foods S.A. in 2006.[42]

No Yolks

No Yolks was introduced in 1976. It was first developed as a no-cholesterol egg noodle, made only with wheat flour, corn flour and egg whites.[43] In 2011, No Yolks was purchased by New World Pasta as part of an acquisition of Strom Products, which also included another Riviana brand, Wacky Mac.[44] In 2017, when New World Pasta, American Rice, Inc. and Riviana Foods Inc. merged, No Yolks became part of Riviana Foods.[1]

Skinner

Skinner was founded in Omaha, NE in 1911. In 1979, Hershey Foods Corporation acquired Skinner,[45] which was eventually sold to New World Pasta and folded into Riviana Foods Inc. Skinner is distributed in the southeast United States.[46] It sells a Texas-shaped pasta.[47]

Creamette

The macaroni, called Creamette, was introduced in 1912 as a new macaroni noodle that had a thinner wall and larger hole.[48] It was manufactured by Minnesota Macaroni Company. As of 2020, Creamette is distributed in 37 states in the United States.[49] Creamette was originally sold to the Borden Company in 1979 before becoming a brand owned by Riviana Foods Inc.[50]

Light 'n Fluffy

Light 'n Fluffy is a pasta brand that specializes in egg noodles.[51] It became a brand owned by Riviana Foods Inc. after the merger with New World Pasta in 2017.[52]

Mrs. Weiss'

Mrs. Weiss' is a pasta brand that specializes in European Hungarian and Ukrainian egg noodles.[53]

Prince

Prince pasta was founded in 1912 when three Sicilian immigrants opened a small pasta shop in the North End of Boston, MA at 92 Prince Street. By 1941, Prince pasta relocated to Lowell, MA.[54] In 1987, Prince pasta was sold to Borden Inc., which was eventually acquired by New World Pasta in 2001.[55][56] It became one of Riviana Foods Inc.'s brands in 2017 when Riviana merged with New World Pasta.[52]

San Giorgio

In 1914, the Keystone Macaroni Company in Lebanon, PA was renamed San Giorgio. By 1950, San Giorgio went from producing 100 pounds of pasta a day to 400,000 pounds per week.[57] Hershey Foods Corporation acquired San Giorgio in 1966.[38] After Hershey Foods Corp. sold its dry pasta business to New World Pasta in 1998 and New World Pasta merged with Riviana Foods Inc. in 2017, San Giorgio became one of Riviana Food Inc.'s brands.

Wacky Mac

Wacky Mac was created in 1976 as a multi-shaped, tri-colored pasta meant to be used in salads and casseroles. Because of its popularity with kids, a kid-friendly boxed macaroni and called called Wacky Mac Macaroni and Cheese Dinner was developed.[58] In 2011, New World Pasta bought Wacky Mac as a part of an acquisition of Strom Products, which also included another Riviana brand, No Yolks.[59] In 2017, when New World Pasta, American Rice, Inc. and Riviana Foods Inc. merged, Wacky Mac joined Riviana Foods Inc.[6]

COVID-19 Events

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Riviana Foods has made large donations to emergency responders and food banks. In June 2020, Riviana donated 22,000 bags of rice to firefighters and food banks in Houston, TX and the Bronx, NY.[60][61]

See Also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Spain-based food co. to combine brands into Houston-based business". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Riviana Foods Inc. - Timeline". www.riviana.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  3. ^ "History of Riviana Foods Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  4. ^ Koshetz, Herbert (1976-02-13). "Colgate Slates Riviana Merger". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  5. ^ a b "Riviana parent to buy Minute Rice". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Smith, Mike D. (2016-12-14). "Ebro Foods to merge U.S. businesses into Houston subsidiary". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  7. ^ a b "The Story of Carolina Gold, the Best Rice You've Never Tasted". www.seriouseats.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  8. ^ "About Carolina Rice". Carolina® Rice. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ July 18, Olivia Tarantino; 2018 (2018-07-18). "17 Foods With Different Names on East vs. West Coasts | Eat This, Not That!". Eat This Not That. Retrieved 2020-09-29. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "FAQ - General Frequently Asked Questions". Mahatma® Rice. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  11. ^ a b c "Minute Rice History". Minute® Rice. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ PRNewswire (2006-07-27). "(PRN) Ebro Puleva Buys Kraft's Minute(R) Rice Brand and Assets; Minute Rice to Become Part of Riviana Foods". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  13. ^ "Success® Rice - About". Success® Rice. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Riviana, the Maker of Success® Boil-in-Bag Products, Adds Tri-Color 100% Quinoa to Product Line". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ ANTOSH, NELSON (2004-01-03). "Spanish buyer swallows American Rice". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  16. ^ "Adolphus - Products - A Texas Premium Brand". www.adolphusrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  17. ^ "Adolphus - White Rice - A Texas Premium Brand". www.adolphusrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  18. ^ "Blue Ribbon - Products - A Premium Value Brand". www.blueribbonrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  19. ^ "History of American Rice, Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  20. ^ "Riviana Foods Inc. - Food Service". www.riviana.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  21. ^ "Comet Rice Commercial, no. 1". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  22. ^ "Riviana Foods Inc. - Rice Brands". www.riviana.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  23. ^ "History of American Rice, Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  24. ^ "Gourmet House - Products - Gourmet House® ... America's Wild Rice Experts now offers Regular and Organic White or Brown Rice". www.gourmethouserice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  25. ^ News, Bloomberg (1999-12-02). "Riviana Deal in Wild Rice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-29. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "Riviana unit buys German rice miller". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "Riviana Foods Inc. - Rice Brands". www.riviana.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  28. ^ "Pear Blossom Rice". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "Riviana Foods Buys RiceTec's RiceSelect Brand". USA Rice. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Our Story | RiceSelect®". RiceSelect. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  31. ^ Street Journal, Rekha BaluStaff Reporter of The Wall (1998-04-06). "Basmati Rice Grows in Texas, But Many are Steamed in India". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-10-01. {{cite news}}: line feed character in |last= at position 7 (help)
  32. ^ "Water Maid and River Rice - America's Choice for Medium-Grain Rice". www.riverrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  33. ^ "Sello Rojo - Short Grain Rice". www.sellorojorice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  34. ^ "Sello Rojo - About Our Rice". www.sellorojorice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  35. ^ "Water Maid and River Rice - America's Choice for Medium-Grain Rice". www.watermaidrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  36. ^ "Comet - Wonder® Long Grain Enriched Rice". www.cometrice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  37. ^ Salorio, Gene (1974-09-01). "A Label That's All the Family". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  38. ^ a b Seiber, Valerie (2016-01-15). "Hershey and Pasta: An Interesting Relationship". Visit The Hershey Story Museum. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  39. ^ "Trends driving the market for pasta". www.bakingbusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  40. ^ "About Us | American Beauty". americanbeauty.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  41. ^ "SuperGreens® Vegetable Pasta | American Beauty". americanbeauty.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  42. ^ "Ebro Puleva will acquire New World Pasta, leader in pasta in the USA and Canada". Ebro Foods. 2006-06-07. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  43. ^ "No Yolks® - Our Story". www.noyolks.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  44. ^ "Strom Products LTD's Brands NO YOLKS® and WACKY MAC® to be Acquired by New World Pasta". PRWeb. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  45. ^ writer, Barbara Soderlin / World-Herald staff. "Forget macaroni: Skinner pushes profile as Omaha baker". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  46. ^ "Skinner® - Our Story". www.skinnerpasta.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  47. ^ "Skinner® - Texas Shape". www.skinnerpasta.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  48. ^ "Loop Back: Creamette's Beginnings in the North Loop". North Loop Neighborhood. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  49. ^ "Creamette® - Our Story". www.creamette.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  50. ^ Ramirez, Anthony (1990-06-21). "Borden Plan for Profits: One Nation, One Pasta". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  51. ^ "Light 'n Fluffy - Our Story". www.lightnfluffy.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  52. ^ a b "Riviana Foods Inc. - Merger of U.S. Companies". www.riviana.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  53. ^ "Mrs. Weiss'® - Products". www.mrsweiss.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  54. ^ "Wednesday Is Prince Spaghetti Day | Prince Pasta". New England Today. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  55. ^ "Borden Announces Plan to Sell Prince Pasta Plant". www.massmoments.org. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  56. ^ "New World Pasta Buys Rest of Borden". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  57. ^ "San Giorgio® - Our Story". www.sangiorgio.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  58. ^ "Wacky Mac® - Our Story". www.wackymac.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  59. ^ "Pasta purchase: Chicago-area firm sells its brands". Crain's Chicago Business. 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  60. ^ "Riviana Foods Donates Over 22,000 Bags of Rice to COVID-19 Frontline Firefighters and local Houston Food Banks | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ Inc, Riviana Foods. "Riviana Foods Donates Over 22,000 Bags of Rice to COVID-19 Frontline Firefighters in the Bronx". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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