November 20/Los Angeles/Press Release -- Highwood Farms has acquired Mediterranean food manufacturer Tarazi Specialty Foods Inc. Tarazi has been  in the foodservice industry for nearly 40 years. Its signature products, Tahini and Falafel Mix, are made using “the old world” Tarazi family recipe. Tarazi strives to manufacture non-GMO, gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free products. These products are key ingredients in foodservice manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and family kitchens worldwide. They are available via retail stores, food service distribution, or may be purchased direct.

“We are very excited about becoming part of the Tarazi family,” commented Alexandra Vorbeck, owner of Highwood Farms. “We look forward to continuing the tradition of this premium Mediterranean food brand, and creating the highest quality of products. From the original founder, Faraj “Fred” Tarazi, to the current generation that runs the business today, we are elated to step into such a first-class organization.”

Previous owner of Tarazi, Nabil Huleis, stated, “Tarazi has been in our family for 40 years and we are incredibly confident that the Highwood Farms team is the best choice to operate our trusted brand, and will continue to deliver the healthy, premium products that we developed over the last four decades.”

Tarazi Specialty Foods is a major addition to Highwood Farms’ portfolio of food-related companies, including Tank18 winery and tasting room in San Francisco and Duende restaurant in Oakland, Calif.

Vorbeck was assisted in the transaction by CCM Management Group and CriticalPoint Partners. No financial terms were disclosed.