Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's tequila business takes a hit when two cargo trucks loaded with $1 million worth of product are stolen.
The celebrity chef, 56, and former Van Halen singer, 77, are co-owners of the tequila brand Santo Spirits. A representative for Mr. Hager told Fox News Digital that the truck was hijacked in Laredo, Texas, over the weekend of November 9th.
The missing truck contained 24,240 bottles of Santo Blanco and Reposado, as well as a special Extra Añejo that took 39 months to make.
Hager's attorney said that after the truck crossed the border from Mexico to Texas, “this appears to have been an organized criminal operation in which the truck illegally transferred goods to another carrier, thereby engaging in illegal double-brokering.” ” he said.
Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's tequila brand Santo Spirits was hit hard when two trucks were hijacked. (Getty)
“It's really disappointing for a growing company like Santo to have something like this happen in the middle of one of the best years ever and right before the holiday season!” Hager told Fox News Digital. He said this in a statement.
Guy Fieri teams up with Sammy Hagar on rocker's latest tequila
“Anyone who knows business knows this is a huge setback for any company in a very competitive market,” the “I Can't Drive 55” rocker added. “But Guy and I will survive. Most of all, I'm glad no one was hurt in this crime.”
In an interview with people magazine, Fieri said he and Hagar learned of the robbery on Nov. 14.
“We worked very hard,” the Food Network star said. “This is the best year we've had at Santo. We've had this much momentum, and now everything that's on the shelves is going to be available to people.”
The truck was loaded with $1 million worth of tequila. (Dennis Trasello/WireImag)
Fieri told People that employees at the Mexican distillery are replacing stolen tequila “on a 24/7 schedule right now.”
But Fieri said Santos Spirits is unlikely to be able to fully replenish its tequila supply during the holiday period, when sales are typically highest.
The “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” alum told People that “someone could be trying to destroy” the momentum his company's tequila business has gained in the market.
Fieri also expressed surprise that the two trucks were targeted by the thieves.
“So one person is one person, but it would take twice as many people to pull off a double robbery,” Fieri said. “It seems like a lot more risky to be in two trucks.”
Hager said this was a “huge setback” for the company during the busy holiday season. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Los Santos: Santo Puro Mezquila)
Dan Butkus, president of Santo Spirits, told People that he is concerned about how the theft of a total of 440 cases of tequila will affect the distillery and its employees.
“We are an independent distillery and depend on our sales for a living for myself and my team,” Butkus said. “My sales team, marketing team and entire Santo Spirits team rely on these sales.
“That's like the part that hurts the most for me,” he added. “We have to support these people, both at the distilleries and in the United States, and we can’t do it right now without the proceeds from these lawsuits.”
Fieri offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who found the trunk. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Los Santos: Santo Puro Mezquila)
According to People, the crime is being investigated by the Laredo Police Department, the Los Angeles Cargo Crimes Investigation Team, and the federal cargo theft prevention and recovery network CargoNet.
Fieri is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can find the missing truck.
He told PEOPLE that he specifically wants Extra Añejo to be recalled. “It's kind of the crown jewel of the company, and it's something we've been working on,” he explained. “You can't recreate something that takes four years to make.”
“It's like something out of a movie,” Fieri said of the robbery. “I never in a million years thought it would turn out like this.” “But it's true.”
