Founded in 1998 in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, the company began as Dulces Catita before evolving into Yajua and ultimately Nuestra Nostalgia What started as a small family venture has grown into a cross-border confectionery brand recognized for its handmade Mexican sweets.
Nuestra Nostalgia produces traditional candies such as jamoncillo (milk fudge), cocadas, obleas, and palanquetas, preserving the nostalgic flavors of Mexican culture through artisanal craftsmanship. Since expanding to El Paso, Texas, in 2006, the company has continued to blend authenticity with quality to serve customers across the region.
The Situation
As demand from distributors and regional suppliers increased, Nuestra Nostalgia faced a critical operational challenge: production capacity could no longer keep pace with incoming orders.
At the time, the company relied entirely on manual production methods. Operators prepared the candy base by hand using metal spatulas to mix ingredients under high temperatures—a physically demanding process that created production bottlenecks, product inconsistencies, and workplace safety concerns. These limitations restricted the company’s ability to expand into new markets and consistently fulfill customer demand.
Recognizing the need for modernization, TMAC Paso del Norte stepped in to help Nuestra Nostalgia address its main challenge: acquiring appropriate machinery for production. Through technical assistance and process evaluation, TMAC guided the transition from a fully manual operation toward a more efficient and controlled manufacturing system. Additionally, it was identified that the company lacked Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which contributed to variation and inefficiencies in daily operations.
The Solution
TMAC Paso del Norte worked directly with Nuestra Nostalgia’s Production Manager, Juan Carlos Seoenz an Industrial Engineering alumnus from UTEP to develop and execute a comprehensive modernization strategy. Because the company did not have an internal engineering team, TMAC led the full technical implementation from equipment selection and redesign to automation repair, SOP development, and workforce training.
1. Equipment Purchasing and Capacity Expansion: TMAC analyzed production data, supplier demand, and process times to guide the selection and purchase of customized machinery suited to Nuestra Nostalgia’s operations.
2. Spatula Redesign and Material Improvement: During implementation, TMAC engineers identified that the new machinery could not properly handle the candy mixing system and redesigned the process to incorporate a rotating spatula mechanism capable of safely and efficiently handling the candy mixture. The new spatula was manufactured using food-grade stainless steel, ensuring hygiene, durability, and compliance with food safety standards. TMAC leveraged its local manufacturing network to fabricate the component, creating a cost-effective solution that reduced operator fatigue, improved product consistency, and enhanced workplace safety.
3. Automation System Calibration and Electrical Compliance: TMAC also discovered that the imported machinery’s automation system was inoperable due to electrical compatibility issues. The voltage converter and PLC system had been incorrectly installed and calibrated for different compliance standards. TMAC corrected the electrical configuration, recalibrated the automation system, and restored full automated functionality. This eliminated the need for manual handling near high-temperature equipment while improving production reliability and consistency.
4. SOP Development and Operator Training: To support long-term operational consistency, TMAC developed comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and detailed process flowcharts outlining production steps, safety protocols, and maintenance procedures. Hands-on workforce training ensured employees could confidently operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the upgraded systems while consistently following standardized procedures.
The Results
TMAC’s technical support enabled Nuestra Nostalgia to successfully transition from a fully manual operation to a semi-automated production system, generating measurable improvements across capacity, safety, efficiency, and revenue.
- Tripled production capacity, enabling the company to meet growing distributor demand and fulfill larger orders
- The company secured an agreement to supply its products to 45 Circle K stores throughout the El Paso and New Mexico markets, contributing to an $100,000 increase in annual revenue. Projected revenue by the end of FY26 is estimated to reach $500,000
- Successfully integrated customized production equipment aligned with operational requirements
- Improved product consistency, durability, and food safety compliance through redesign of the candy-mixing spatula system using food-grade stainless steel components
- Restored full automation functionality by resolving electrical compliance and calibration issues
- Reduced manual labor and operator fatigue through automation and ergonomic process improvements
- Improved process consistency and shortened production cycles through standardized operations
- Implemented documented SOPs and process flowcharts to support training and operational consistency
- Strengthened the local manufacturing ecosystem through collaboration with regional suppliers and fabricators
- Increased Annual Revenue by $100,000
- Tripled Production Capabilities
“TMAC helped us solve two long-standing issues that were affecting our efficiency and safety.
Their team not only reduced our costs but also gave us the confidence that our equipment now
meets food safety and automation standards.”Juan Carlos Seoenz
Production Manager, Nuestra Nostalgia
