About Us

Mexican food is great for sharing and we’ve been sharing our great Mexican inspired food with the world since 1938 and because we've been cooking up sizzling fajitas, crunchy tacos and lots of other tasty dishes for such a long time now, we like to think we're pretty good at it and lots of you seem to agree. In fact, since we brought our products* over here in 1984, we’ve become the #1 Mexican food brand in the UK**... which makes us very proud!

The name Old El Paso is inspired by the city El Paso situated in Texas close to the Mexican border. El Paso is a very important entry from Mexico to the US for clothing and food and is often referred to as the “Mexican food capital of the world”. The earliest known culture in the region were the maize farmer which have come to form the Mexican food culture a lot as well.

 

 Old El Paso Product Range

 

Our range has grown over the years and now features everything from dinner kits, tasty cooking sauces, salsas, dips, seasoning mixes, tortillas and chips. We’re always making new products too – in fact our latest creations include Stand ‘N’ Stuff Soft Tacos and these have been extremely popular since hitting the shelves of the Mexican food category.

Old El Paso™ brings consumers not only the taste, but the fun of getting together and sharing Mexican inspired food - and you'll find our products in shops and supermarkets all over the world. We hope you enjoy them! We're part of General Mills and you can find more information about us by clicking here.

* Our products are made in Spain, unless otherwise indicated on pack.
** Source: Nielsen, 52 w/e 8th Oct, 2016.

Faqs

  • Who owns Old El Paso?
    Old El Paso is owned by General Mills and we've been making food the world loves since 1938 (and flour for much longer!) In 2025 we were named on the Time World's Best Companies list for the third consecutive year. Other much-loved brands you may know from us include Häagen-Dazs and Green Giant.
  • Where was Old El Paso founded?
    Old El Paso was founded as The Mountain Pass Canning Company in New Mexico, USA, in 1917 and originated from only a seven acre farm producing canned tomatoes and pinto beans. Changing our name to Old El Paso in 1938, we soon evolved to provide delicious meal kits, condiments and more to help people enjoy the flavours of Mexican cuisine at home. Today we're the #1 Mexican food brand in the UK**!
    ** Source: Nielsen, 52 w/e 8th Oct, 2016.
  • How old is Old El Paso?
    As of 2026, Old El Paso is 88 years old! Though, 109 years if counting from when we were first known as The Mountain Pass Canning Company.
  • Where are Old El Paso products made?
    Our Old El Paso UK products are made in a dedicated factory in Spain that supplies Old El Paso for the United Kingdom, Europe, and other parts of the world. In rare cases, location may vary, but you can always find the location on your packaging.
  • What does Old El Paso mean?
    Old El Paso is named after the city of El Paso in Mexico. In English it translate as "the step" or "the pass", this is because El Paso historically provided a key trading route from the North of Mexico.
  • Is Old El Paso American?
    Yes, Old El Paso is an American company. Though, our UK products are produced in Spain, unless otherwise stated on the packaging.
  • Is Old El Paso halal?
    While Old El Paso products are not certified halal, many of our products not containing meat or alcohol, would be considered halal. It's always best to check the packaging for the latest ingredients.
  • In the new Old El Paso Taco campaign, I’ve spotted the claim “Better Crunch, Better Flavour” – what does this claim refer to?
    We have reformulated our taco shells to enhance the corn taste and crunchy texture.
  • The Taco Shells taste different. What has changed? Have the ingredients changed?
    That’s a good question. We have reformulated our taco shells to enhance the corn taste and crunchy texture of the product. As a result, the corn flavour and aroma are more intense, and we hope consumers enjoy them. We are now adding some salt. We use the following ingredients: 1) Corn, 2) Sunflower oil, 3) Salt.
  • Are the taco shells naturally gluten-free?
    Yes. The taco shells are naturally gluten-free. There is also a gluten-free claim on the packaging.
  • Has anything else changed inside the taco kit?
    No. The seasoning mix and taco sauce have not changed. The taco shells are the only component in the kit that has been updated.
  • The taco shells aren’t crunchy enough
    Thanks for the feedback. We’re so sorry to hear that you have been disappointed by our product. The crunchy taco shells are intended to be heated before use to ensure the best experience. If they are not heated, the texture may be chewy and the taste or texture may not be as expected. We recommend following the instructions on the packaging to bring out the best texture and crunch.