Established in 1984, Hot Mama’s Foods makes fresh, natural, and select organic salsas, hummus, pesto, sauces, salads and dips for regional and national retailers. Morse said many of its products are “private label” brands sold under various store-brand names around the country.
August 17, 2012 - Springfield - Ernest Alejandro of Holyoke, right, keeps an eye on emulsified hummus pouring into a hopper onto of a dual Pack Line machine at Hot Mama's Foods.SPRINGFIELD – Hot Mama’s Foods is expanding its manufacturing in Springfield with the help of an equipment loan through MassDevelopment.
Hot Mama’s Foods, which has the formal business name of Lansal Inc., borrowed $260,280 to purchase a machine that packages hummus, a spread made from chickpeas, and hummus-like dips.
“It drops the cup, fills it and seals it,” said owner Matthew D. Morse owner. “It’s been up and running since June.”
Hot Mama’s Foods will have hired a dozen new employees in Springfield by the end of 2012 if it keeps to schedule, Morse said. the company has 65 employees in Springfield now and about 60 in a factory near Chicago.
Established in 1984, Hot Mama’s Foods makes fresh, natural, and select organic salsas, hummus, pesto, sauces, salads and dips for regional and national retailers. Morse said many of its products are “private label” brands sold under various store-brand names around the country.
“We have even been able to get our products in Canada and Mexico,” he said.
In 2006, MassDevelopment participated in a $1 million financing package with the Bank of Western Massachusetts – now People’s United Bank – to help Hot Mama’s Foods move to its Avocado Street location and expand in Springfield.
MassDevelopment is the state’s finance and development agency. During fiscal year 2011, MassDevelopment financed or managed more than 300 projects generating investment of $3.8 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are expected to create more than 10,000 jobs, 2,547 of which will be permanent and 8,129 will be in construction. Those projects also include 1,000 new or rebuilt residential units.