Nissin Foods (USA), the Japanese company that...

Nissin Foods (USA), the Japanese company that introduced instant Oriental noodles to the United States 18 years ago, is going Mexican.

The Gardena company has purchased Camino Real Foods, the Vernon maker of Tina brand frozen burritos, for $7 million. Shigeo Nishihara, president of Nissin, said the purchase helps to expand the company’s U.S. business in the fastest-growing ethnic food markets: Mexican and Oriental foods.

Nishihara succeeded the retiring Ed Minni, one of the owners of Camino Real Foods, as president. Mits Arayama, a former Nissin executive, was named vice president and general manager of Camino Real Foods.

Camino Real Foods employs 165 workers and had 1987 sales of $15 million. Nissin expects its sales to hit $100 million by 1989.