America’s largest frozen Mexican food company has a new president and CEO. On Jan. 5, 2024, Ruiz Foods announced Kimberli Carroll would take the role as part of the manufacturer’s growth plan. In addition to the new position, Carroll will also serve as part of the company’s board of directors.
The executive leadership transition also includes current CEO Dan Antonelli moving to a new role as executive board chair next to the current board chair, Kim Ruiz Beck, one of Ruiz Foods' owners and the eldest daughter of co-founder Fred Ruiz. The leadership changes are effective Jan. 21, 2024.
“Kim possesses both the leadership skills essential to continue to move the company forward and the deep relationships and commitment to our people and culture that are the foundation of what we do each day,” said Ruiz Beck. “This combination makes her uniquely qualified to lead Ruiz Foods as we boldly work to become the nation’s best frozen food company in the eyes of our team members, suppliers, customers, and consumers.”
Carroll, who joined the company in 2001, forged her career working at Ruiz Foods, an achievement highlighted by Ruiz Beck in an official statement. “Kim Carroll quite literally grew up inside the Ruiz Foods organization over two decades,” said Ruiz Beck.
Starting as director of marketing, Carroll occupied several roles as a leader within the company. Before being offered the CEO role, Carroll was recently promoted to chief operating officer in September 2023 after serving as executive vice president, general manager and chief commercial officer for the company’s Foodservice and Retail businesses.
“I am humbled and honored to lead one of the finest family-owned companies in America,” Carroll said. “Dan Antonelli has been instrumental in leading the transformation we started in 2021 to become a top-performing company and Kim Ruiz Beck has been our North star, leading us by embodying the values of the business. Now, it’s our job to continue their legacy by ensuring our brands are the market leaders in every channel we pursue.”
Ruiz Foods, originally a California-based company, moved headquarters to Frisco in May 2022 as part of a growth strategy that required a headquarters in a centrally located large metropolitan location. The new headquarters are expected to create 125 local jobs by 2026.
Since 1964, when father and son Louis and Fred Ruiz co-founded the company, Ruiz Foods has been a family-owned business. In its 60 years, the company grew from a small warehouse in Tulare, California, with two employees to employ over 4,000 people across five facilities located in California, Texas and South Carolina.
