Ruiz Foods President and CEO Kimberli Carroll has been inducted into the Convenience Store News (CSNews) Hall of Fame, which recognizes convenience store industry pioneers and innovators from retailer and supplier companies of all sizes. Carroll is the first-ever female supplier executive to receive this honor. Photo via Ruiz Foods

Ruiz Food Products, Inc., the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the United States, announced Thursday that Ruiz Foods President and CEO Kimberli Carroll has been inducted into the Convenience Store News (CSNews) Hall of Fame.

The award recognizes convenience store industry pioneers and innovators from retailer and supplier companies of all sizes. Carroll is the first-ever female supplier executive to receive this honor.

CSNews Hall of Famers are selected by an 80-member blue-ribbon panel of convenience channel executives that includes past retailer and supplier Hall of Fame inductees.

“I am incredibly honored to be the first female executive supplier inductee,” said Carroll in a statement. “I’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible women on both the retailer and supplier sides of this industry. I’m deeply grateful to be the one opening doors and paving the way for others to follow as others have done for me. I’m truly thankful for the recognition from the industry and deeply appreciative of my team for believing in me — even during times when I doubted myself.

The 2024 Hall of Fame gala banquet and induction ceremony was held Nov. 13 at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown in Iowa. Carroll was honored alongside 2024 CSNews Hall of Fame inductee Darren Rebelez, Casey’s General Stores chairman, president; and 2024 Retailer Executive of the Year Chuck Maggelet, who retired on May 1 as CEO and chief adventure guide of Maverik – Adventure’s First Stop.

Ruiz Foods Products, Inc. is a privately-owned corporation co-founded by Fred Ruiz and his father, Louis, in Dinuba in 1964. Ruiz Foods moved its headquarters to Frisco, Texas, last year but maintains production facilities in Dinuba. It closed a plant in Tulare earlier this year. 

Ruiz Foods employs more than 4,000 team members at four manufacturing facilities in California, Texas, and South Carolina.

In addition to frozen Mexican food, Ruiz Foods for the last 20 years has made a line of “Tornados” roll-up snacks for foodservice and convenience stores.