UA Imports, LLC
2234 South McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85282
480.755.1541
map
Key Contacts
President/CEO: Ralph E. Hughes, rhughes@uaimports.com
Events & Promotions: Inaudi Abero, iabero@uaimports.com
Ralph E. Hughes President/CEO
Ralph Hughes is the principal owner of UA Imports. Ralph has been an entrepreneur in the Phoenix area for more than two decades and is intimately familiar with the Arizona and Southwestern United States markets. His successful companies include Hughes Mortgage Company, Hughes Financial Management, Hughes Real Estate Investments, LLC, RSP Insurance Specialists, LLC, and Oro Verde Products. Oro Verde has grown into the largest importer of Nopales in the United States and now provides edible cactus to markets throughout the Southwest and is expanding to include national distribution. Working with the Mexican Government Research Center and major supermarket retailers in the Southwest, specifically Kroger (Fry’s), Safeway Stores, Bashas Supermarkets and Food City, Oro Verde has grown from a small importer of occasional truckloads to importing and processing more than twenty six tons of edible cactus weekly.
One of the main reasons for success of the Hughes companies and especially Oro Verde has been the market knowledge Ralph Hughes brings to any partnership concerning the growth potential and financial capability of the Southwestern marketplace and the intricate relationships necessary between shippers, transportation companies, processors and retailers involved in these partnerships.
Ralph Hughes brings this experience and knowledge to UA Imports and is directing UA Imports in targeting specific markets for vodka and beer imports. The huge expanse of the Phoenix Metro Marketplace, 9,226 square miles of urban space, allows for and requires specific targets for high end and high quality deliverables such as vodka. Ralph and his partners are intimately familiar with the restaurant and bar business throughout the Greater Phoenix area and have a long established relationship with media outlets including cable and commercial television, radio programming and print media. Building on the successful development of his various companies and the successful growth of the Oro Verde company in a "hot" marketplace, UA Imports will quickly establish targeted outlets for both vodka and beer and establish a strong brand identity in premium vodka categories in selected bars and restaurants catering to upscale, young, entrepreneurial crowds in specific geographic locations such as Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe.
