Old El Paso is owned by General Mills (the United States, NYSE: GIS), which acquired the brand on 31 October 2001 for $10.5 billion from Diageo.[1][2] Before General Mills, Old El Paso was owned by Diageo from 1989 to 2001.[2]
Old El Paso is a Mexican-style meal kit brand dating to the 1930s, whose taco kits introduced many households outside Mexico to the format. General Mills acquired it with Pillsbury in 2001, and it is one of the largest Mexican food brands in Europe as well as North America.
General Mills bought Pillsbury from Diageo, roughly doubling its size. The Federal Trade Commission required the divestiture of Pillsbury's dessert and specialty products business to International Multifoods before clearing the deal.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Old El Paso?
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The parent company of Old El Paso is General Mills, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Old El Paso American?
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Yes. Old El Paso originated in the United States in 1938 and its owner, General Mills, is also headquartered in the United States.
When did General Mills buy Old El Paso?
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General Mills completed its acquisition of Old El Paso on 31 October 2001, after announcing the deal on 17 July 2000. The deal was valued at $10.5 billion (enterprise value).
Who owned Old El Paso before General Mills?
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Before General Mills, Old El Paso was owned by Diageo from 1989 until 2001.
Is Old El Paso still owned by General Mills?
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Yes. As of 16 September 2026, Old El Paso is still owned by General Mills. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (2) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.