Marquez Brothers International Inc., the powerhouse behind the renowned El Mexicano® brand, has solidified its status as a global leader in dairy excellence. Announced on March 12, 2026, the company secured two prestigious Best of Class (Gold Medal) awards at the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest held in Madison, Wisconsin.
This biennial competition is the largest technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition in the world, making these wins a significant milestone for Hispanic-style dairy products on the international stage.
Technical Excellence in Hispanic Dairy
The Marquez Brothers’ wins highlighted the company’s ability to maintain traditional authenticity while achieving world-class technical standards:
- Best of Class: Latin American Style Fresh Cheeses: Awarded to El Mexicano® Queso Casero. This fresh, crumbling cheese is a staple of Hispanic cuisine, and winning this category underscores the brand’s mastery of moisture control and flavor balance in the “Fresh” segment.
- Best of Class: Yogurt – Lowfat: Awarded to El Mexicano® Saborico Strawberry Drinkable Yogurt. This win is particularly notable as it demonstrates the brand’s successful expansion into the high-growth functional and drinkable dairy categories.
“We are incredibly honored to receive these awards,” said a spokesperson for Marquez Brothers International. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and our commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality, authentic products.”
Why it matters
For CPG dairy manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, Marquez Brothers’ success is a primary indicator of the “Premiumization of Hispanic Staples.” Hispanic-style cheeses (Queso Fresco, Casero, Cotija) are the fastest-growing segment in the U.S. cheese aisle. For an enzyme or culture supplier, these wins prove that specific microbial strains can be optimized to produce the traditional “clean, milky” profile of Latin American cheeses while meeting the rigorous food safety and shelf-life requirements of national retail.
From a retail perspective, these “Best of Class” titles provide powerful on-pack marketing opportunities. For a retailer like Kroger or H-E-B, stocking a World Champion award-winning Queso Casero allows them to elevate their “International” or “Hispanic” sections from commodity-level to premium-destination. Furthermore, the win for Saborico Drinkable Yogurt highlights the brand’s agility in the portable nutrition space. As consumers move toward high-protein, on-the-go snacks, Marquez Brothers is proving that traditional Hispanic flavors (like strawberry and guava) can lead the low-fat yogurt category. For the broader industry, this proves that Hispanic dairy is no longer a “specialty” niche—it is a technical gold standard competing at the highest global levels.
FAQs
What is the World Championship Cheese Contest?
It is a biennial technical competition held in Madison, Wisconsin, where a panel of international judges evaluates cheeses, butters, and yogurts from across the globe based on flavor, body, texture, salt, and color.
Which El Mexicano® products won Gold in 2026?
The Gold (Best of Class) winners were El Mexicano® Queso Casero and El Mexicano® Saborico Strawberry Drinkable Yogurt.
Where can I buy Marquez Brothers products?
Marquez Brothers brands, including El Mexicano®, are available at major grocery retailers and Hispanic markets nationwide.
About Source86
Achieving World Championship quality in fresh dairy requires precise control over cultures, enzymes, and cold-chain logistics. Whether you are a brand looking to develop an award-winning Hispanic cheese line or a manufacturer seeking the best cultures for drinkable yogurt, Source86 provides the data-driven insights to help you perform.
Source86 simplifies the path for dairy and retail innovators through expert R&D, private label development, and wholesale ingredient coordination. Contact us today to find the right partner to help your products win on the world stage.
