Made in Alaska: Taco Loco

Local factory pumps out tortillas and more

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Jul 22, 2012 at 10:01 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2012 at 10:53 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Taco Loco is all about fresh tortillas made right in the heart of Anchorage; a little bit of fiesta in the Last Frontier.

“I don't think anyone thinks tortillas here in Alaska, but we grew up here and when our parents moved up here they saw there was a need, coming from California, for good tortillas and I think that's what spawned the idea,” said Adam Galindo, owner of Taco Loco.

The assembly line produces about a thousand dozen tortillas an hour. That’s nearly 25-million a year and tortillas are just one of eight products Taco Loco makes and can only be found in Alaska.

“It's a better product for the local people and we make it fresh. We never freeze our product. It goes from the factory to the store,” said Production Manager, Luis Chavez.

“You can tell when you see people in the stores. I think they look for Alaska-made products first. Then if they don't find it or it's empty then they go on to whatever offerings happen to be there,” said Galindo.

But making Mexican staples locally isn’t always easy. Taco Loco Constantly has to compete with big corporations.

“It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. We work a lot of hours. Everything you see in the grocery store gets shipped in, there's only a handful of manufacturers here and it's tough to compete. Logistics, fuels charges, things like that. Wages are higher here so it's hard to compete,” said Galindo.

Staff say it’s worth the extra effort to produce a product they’re proud of, one that drives the locals loco.

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Anonymous said on Sunday, Jul 22 at 10:46 AM

I've lived here since 1965, thats all I will look for first..is "Taco Loco" brand for tortillas!!

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mike said on Monday, Jul 23 at 3:01 PM

Unless mt math is wrong 1000 and hour is 8,760,000 per year if they run 24/7. They have the best food there, just not that much.

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kelly said on Friday, Aug 3 at 4:50 PM

i LOVE their tortillas & low salt chips. miss living in Anchorage & having a greater selection. here in Homer most of the stores sell out fast!

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Taco Loco said on Friday, Sep 21 at 10:30 PM

I won't buy salsa unless it's Taco Loco...picky picky

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