Here’s the mystery buyer that now owns KC area maker of La Tiara taco shells
Mystery solved: General Mills is the new owner of La Tiara, the cherished, Gladstone-based taco shell brand that disappeared from store shelves earlier this year.
Filings with the Clay County Recorder of Deeds show that Gladstone Food Products transferred ownership of its property at 607 NE 69th St. in Gladstone to General Mills, Inc. on May 30.
A parcel search of county property records also confirms the site is now owned by the Minnesota-based food giant, which owns household brands such as Betty Crocker, Häagen-Dazs and Cheerios.
General Mills confirmed to The Star Monday afternoon that it had acquired the assets of Gladstone Food Products.
“We look forward to welcoming the well-loved La Tiara brand to the General Mills family of brands,” said Mollie Wulff, spokesperson at General Mills.
General Mills also owns the Old El Paso brand, which has a taco shell line.
The sale was approved by a Clay County Circuit Court judge in early May, though the buyer was not publicly disclosed at the time. Court-appointed receiver Eric Moraczewski told The Star then that the $10 million buyer was a “large, publicly traded food company” that wished to remain anonymous until the deal closed.
Fans of the brand have reason to be optimistic. Moraczewski previously said the new owner expressed an intent to expand manufacturing in Gladstone and revive the La Tiara brand.
Gladstone Food Products, a family-run business started in the early 1960s, ceased operations in January after a years-long construction project delayed its planned expansion and strained finances.
When La Tiara’s shells were no longer available at grocery stores, its passionate fan base of home cooks gathered on a Facebook group page called “Please Bring Back La Tiara Taco Shells” to speculate on its future. The group quickly grew from a few hundred to 15,000 members since March.
“I have never seen a small brand with such a cult following,” Moraczewski said.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM.
