Florida-based virtual restaurant company Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) has acquired Empanadas United for an undisclosed amount.
Empanadas United is an empanada-focused brand that began as a home-based operation by founder Victor Tejada.
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Empanadas United operates two physical locations in Philadelphia and, before the VDC acquisition, had grown to 160 virtual locations across the states of Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
VDC president and co-founder Robbie Earl stated: “We are thrilled to join forces with Victor Tejada and Empanadas United, whose mission and innovative spirit align perfectly with our vision at Virtual Dining Concepts.
“Victor’s work in revolutionising delivery for independent restaurants exemplifies the visionary leadership we champion. We are excited to help Empanadas United take this next step into the delivery landscape and see the brand take off.”
Under the umbrella of VDC, the Empanadas brand has almost tripled its initial growth to 470 virtual brand locations, to increase to more than 500 by the end of the second quarter of 2025. It is also on track to reach more than $24m in sales during the year.
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By GlobalDataTejada also developed the third-party delivery platform Delivery Guys, and will continue to oversee the daily operations of Empanadas United.
VDC will handle external market development and strategic partnerships.
Tejada added: “I am so proud of how far we’ve come with Empanadas United, and with the support of VDC, we are excited to expand even more, bringing our cultural heritage to new audiences across the nation. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a Latino-owned business succeed, and I hope it’s just the beginning for Hispanic entrepreneurs.”
VDC is the parent company of the MrBeast Burger and Buddy V’s Cake Slice brands.
In March 2024, VDC purchased Man vs Fries, a delivery-only brand recognised for its French fry-based menu items and popularity on social media platforms.
