By Anna Buss
Courtesy photo from Huy Fong Foods, Inc.
After having part of its operations shut down in Irwindale because of a city lawsuit, Fong Foods, Inc., the maker of the Sriracha hot sauce is receiving offers to move to other locations including Texas.
Lone Star State’s Representative Jason Villalba requested a meeting with Huy Fong Foods CEO David Tran, earlier this year.
“I am astonished and dismayed by the recent actions of the Irwindale City Council to further hinder the operations of local small business, Huy Fong Foods,” Villalba writes. “As a long-time fan of Sriracha, I am deeply troubled that one of the fastest growing and universally beloved condiments in the world – made right here in the USA – could face such blatant obstructionism by a local city government.”
Following the letter, Huy Fong Foods CEO David Tran wrote Villalba last week inviting him for a visit.
“(I) would first like to cordially invite you to come visit (the) facility in Irwindale so you can observe firsthand our operations as well as to assess whether there is any potential issues that may affect your residences before the company considers moving to Texas,” Tran writes.
Villalba announced on his Twitter account today that “San Antonio would be ‘high on the list’ of Texas cities to bring Sriracha factory (sic).”
On his Facebook page, Villalba said this week that he plans to lead a delegation to visit the factory and meet with Tran on May 12 to “persuade the sauce maker to move its operations” to Texas. The tour is set to begin at 9:30 a.m., at the factory’s headquarters and production facility.
The city of Irwindale filed a lawsuit October 2013 asking a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge to stop production at the factory, claiming the chilli odor from the facility is a public nuisance. A judge forced the company to partially shut down production last year until Tran made changes to stop the spicy odors.
Tran told Forbes magazine earlier this month he’s not ready to move, just yet, though he may consider it for the sake of his business.
“After seeing the supporters, I don’t feel alone, so I need to try to stay here instead of relocating. There is, however, the possibility of expansion to other locations due to growing sales,” Tran said. “We could grow in the state [of Texas] if need be.”
Texas has less regulations and it doesn’t have state income tax.
Huy Fong foods opened the $40 million plant in Irwindale in 2012. It moved from Rosemead, and today it employs about 200 workers during the “pepper-grinding season.”