Cariz Food Company

Cariz Food Company, Inc. is an American food, beverage and confectionary manufacturer and distributor. They manufacture and produce consumer food and drink products sold under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, and food service establishments.

Founding, early struggles and eventual success
Cariz Food Company was founded by Brazilian immigrant Ricardo Cardoso and his wife Alexandra Nathans-Cardoso in 1972 in, after they purchased a feed mill near. Ricardo chose the company's name, which means "Nature" in Portuguese.

By 1976, Cariz was the largest poultry producer in the state of, and it had expanded into flour and livestock feed. Despite this, the company lost money attempting to expand into the fisheries, pet food and baby care industries, and was forced to sell its space in a office building in order to avoid bankruptcy.

After extensive research into food preservation and refrigeration, in 1982, Cariz had its first major success with the introduction of Speedies, a range of microwaveable burgers and hot sandwiches.

Growth and further expansion
In response to the multi-million-dollar success of Speedies, Cariz set off on a two-decade-long buying spree, purchasing over one hundred prepared food brands, starting with its 1985 purchase of Hazelden's brand cake mixes and powders from the. It began to rapidly move into the snack foods market, purchasing several brands from.

In 1993, Cariz entered the beverage market when it acquired Total-Superior Beverages Company, makers of Total Cola and Superior Cola.

In 1994, Cariz Food Company acquired several of the brands of the former cereal lineup from, including Almond Delight, Fruit Islands, Honey Bran, Charged Bran, Freakies-branded cereal and Rainbow Brite Cereal, the rest were bought by. The following year, it changed its name to Cariz Brands after entering the personal hygiene market.

Modifications of business areas and further acquisitions
In 2007, Cariz purchased the Abbadia pasta brand - along with the brand's manufacturing facilities in, and  - from.

In 2008, Cariz spun off its soft drink brands as Total-Superior Beverages.

Move from Florida and rebranding
On October 2, 2016, Cariz announced that it was moving its headquarters and around 300 employees from Miami to the as part of a restructuring plan. The move of headquarters from Miami to the Atlanta area was completed in late June 2017 with the opening of their new HQ in the suburb of. Cariz contains to maintain a presence in the Miami area, having moved the Abbadia business there from two years earlier and also maintaining a R&D center there.

In November 2016, Cariz Brands announced it was selling its personal care and hygiene business to a joint venture of and, with Cariz maintaining a minority interest. The sale did not include Cariz's health food brands. The sale was concluded on February 5, 2017, and the former Cariz personal care and hygiene business became Refreshful Brands, headquartered in. The same day, Cariz rebranded back to the Cariz Food Company name.

Recent history
On August 12, 2018, Cariz announced the acquisition of River Foods for US$3 million. The transaction was completed on November 1, 2018.

On January 24, 2019, Cariz announced the acquisition of -based health foods company Advance Nutritionals. The transaction was completed on March 1, 2019, with the Advance business keeping its base in Chattanooga.

On February 4, 2021, Cariz announced that it was acquiring the Alpha-Bits cereal brand from. The transaction was completed on May 1, 2021.

Products
Cariz produces a large variety of food and drink products.

Union relations
Most of Cariz's workers at their U.S. food processing facilities are members of the, with the exception of workers at the Hazelden's facility in , who are affiliated with the.