70 • July | August 2026 • abasto.com World-Class Facilities Support Growth In June 2025, Cuervito Morado opened its new nearly 900,000-square-foot head- quarters and logistics center in Whitaker Park, solidifying its position as a regional distribution powerhouse. From this modern complex, the com- pany serves more than 2,000 stores and food service outlets across ten states in the eastern U.S., from Delaware to Alabama, with next-day delivery. Under the motto “freshness and exce- llence guaranteed,” the company has for- ged lasting relationships with producers in Mexico, Central America, and the sou- thern United States. Business Relationships that Become Bonds of Trust Rick Calabro, general manager, expressed his satisfaction at seeing how business re- lationships evolve into genuine personal bonds: “It gives me great satisfaction to see how they are growing stronger.” Calabro also emphasized that soccer and food serve as powerful unifying for- ces: “Beyond any country or language, food brings us together, and soccer brings us together as well.” Lucy Velázquez, CEO of G&G Marketing, confirms this philosophy: she has been co- llaborating with the Cuervito Morado for 24 years and describes the relationship as part of a family that works together. Velázquez presented 12 companies at the show across categories as diverse as grains, flours, snacks, beverages, candies, and cookies, taking advantage of the sea- son to launch innovative strategies. Innovation and New Products Lead the Business Agenda Manolo Artigas, CEO of Life Marketing, thanked Cuervito Morado for keeping this meeting space alive, even though buyers face challenging economic conditions in today’s market. For his part, Numael Acosta, sales ma- nager at Vilore Foods, capitalized on the show’s enthusiasm to introduce the Totis brand with a brand-new subcategory wi- thin the snack segment: plantain chips. This fourth edition of the show at Cuer- vito Morado’s new facilities confirms that the fair serves as a business accelerator: manufacturers and retailers use it to set trends for the next business cycle. Cuervito Morado, Driving Force of the Hispanic Channel in the Eastern U.S. The low minimum order and fast delivery times position the Hispanic food distribu- tor as the ideal strategic partner for small retailers seeking competitiveness without sacrificing cash flow. Furthermore, its coverage of ten states turns every Cuervito Morado Show into a microcosm of the cultural and gastronomic diversity that defines the contemporary His- panic consumer in North America. With the World Cup as a backdrop and a strong business community at the fore- front, Cuervito Morado’s 2026 Summer Show confirmed that the Hispanic food industry continues to score goals. AT THE HALLWAYS OF THE SHOW 9. Dan Calhoun, CEO of Cuervito Morado. 10. Antonio Ríos, Raúl Dávila, Juan Carlos Aponte, Novamex. 11. Maseca. 12. Padilla Imports, Sales and Marketing. 13. Market 5201. 14. The CBI International team. 15. Malher. 16. Charras. 17. Rick Calabro, el Cuervito Morado. 18. Raymond Pagán, Susuky Zambrano, Mo Jafaari, Nestle USA. 9 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 12 10 • TRADE SHOWS • Continuation of page 68