Rep. Aguilar Visits Inland Empire Snack Food Manufacturer Hurt by Rising Fuel Prices and Tariffs

Increasing fuel prices and tariffs on products used in snack packaging have impacted Anita's Mexican Snack Foods

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) visited Anita's Mexican Foods, a local family-owned manufacturer of tortilla chips, taco shells, and rolled chips, which has faced rising costs and supply chain issues caused by tariffs, the war with Iran and increased operational and equipment prices. As a private-label and co-pack manufacturer, Anita's is absorbing much of the impact of higher production expenses, putting significant pressure on its business. You can find photos from the visit above and here.

"For decades, Anita's has sold and distributed their products to grocery stores and restaurants throughout California and beyond," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "But now, rising costs from tariffs, the ongoing war with Iran and expensive machinery are hitting Anita's hard. From diesel for delivery trucks, the packaging for tortilla chips, to the ovens used to bake their products, everything is costing more for Anita's. I'm committed to working to lower prices, improve California's air quality, roll back reckless tariffs and end the conflict in the Middle East so businesses like Anita's can thrive."

"Anita's Mexican Foods Corp. is currently experiencing notable financial pressure due to ongoing market volatility, particularly the increase in diesel fuel prices driven by global oil market conditions and geopolitical factors," said Jackie Robles, President, Anita's Mexican Foods. "These rising fuel costs have led to higher transportation and distribution expenses, which are difficult to absorb and cannot be easily passed on to our customers. We estimate that elevated fuel prices are impacting our business by more than $37,000 per month. While there are indications that prices may moderate over time, the current environment continues to present meaningful challenges for our operations. We remain committed to managing these pressures responsibly; however, sustained cost increases of this nature place a strain on our ability to operate efficiently and maintain competitive pricing."