Flores, Hugo

Biography

Hugo G. Flores was born in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Laredo, Texas, at the age of one. He spent much of his youth working for the family=s wholesale food business, Flores Castaño Imports. During these years working for his parents, his mother would always preach the saying, Ahalf an effort is no effort,@ ensuring he understood the importance of giving life everything he had. This saying became engrained in Hugo; and from a young age, he developed the work ethic that has driven him throughout his life.

Hugo attended J.W. Nixon High School, where he was an active member of the National Honor Society and Nixon FFA. During his time in FFA, Hugo participated in the meat processing program and raised show steers. Following his high school graduation, Hugo briefly attended Laredo Community College and then transferred to Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1987. During his time at Texas A&M, he participated in several intramural clubs, along with the Aggie Bonfires.

In 1987, Hugo returned to Laredo to start his own business, Flores Castaño Imports II. This business= primary focus was on the wholesale distribution of Mexican food products, including canned goods, soft drinks, snow cone syrups, and salsas. In 1991, Hugo bought his parents’ company, Flores Castaño Imports, and merged the two businesses together. As of 2024, Flores Castaño Imports has undergone a re-branding to the name of Lobo Foods.

In 1992, Hugo began his career in commercial real estate development with the purchase of the warehouse that housed Flores Castaño Imports. As of 2025, Hugo owns and manages 250,000 square feet of commercial properties, comprised of six commercial warehouses and another 20,000-square-feet warehouse project soon to be developed.

In 1999, Hugo embarked on a third venture — rural property development. Since then, Hugo has purchased, developed, and sold more than 100 ranch properties. His foundational mantra in this venture is, Aleave something better than you found it,@ ensuring that each ranch he developed was left in a better state than when he bought it.

Hugo has used his entrepreneurial success to give back to the community of Laredo, making an impact on thousands of lives. One of his favorite sayings is: Athe more you give, the more blessings you will receive.@  Hugo and his wife, Sara Alicia ABibi,@ have founded several charitable organizations. In 1993, they created the Community Partners Board to provide financial assistance to abused and neglected children in Webb County. In 2000, the couple founded the Laredo Rainbow Room to provide clothing, toys, and assistance to children in Child Protective Services.  Hugo has been a longtime supporter of the Coastal Conservation Association and was the first president of the Laredo Chapter from 1996-2001. He continues to serve on the board of the Laredo Chapter Costal Conservation Association to this day.  Hugo is an avid supporter of the South Texas Food Bank, which serves eight counties in South Texas. He has been a board member since 2013 and served as the board=s president from 2020-2022. He is the leader of the South Texas Food Banks= Ranchers and Hunters for the Hungry Program, created for hunters and ranchers to donate venison and livestock meat to those in need.  Hugo has been an Adult Leader of the Texas Lonestar 4-H Club since 2008 and was the Co-Club Manager from 2012-2021. In 1998, Hugo signed up as an auction buyer at the Laredo International Fair and Exposition and has been a top buyer every year. In 2015, Hugo was awarded the Laredo International Fair and Exposition Rancher of the Year, an award given to an individual that has displayed tremendous generosity in the agricultural community and within the fair. In 2017, he joined the Laredo International Fair and Exposition Board of Directors to broaden his impact on the fair outside of the auction. From 2023-2025, he served as the board=s president. Through his efforts as a buyer and board member, he has impacted thousands of exhibitors.

Hugo has also directed his impactful efforts towards his alma mater, Texas A&M University. In 2018, Hugo and Bibi created an endowment for underrepresented and disadvantaged students transferring into the Agricultural Economics department. He is a member of the Laredo A&M Club and donates several Aggie rings to students from Laredo and surrounding areas each year.  He is actively involved in the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, serving as a mentor for AGEC 424 and 425 and donating student scholarships. Hugo sees the value in providing guidance for students aspiring to embark on a similar path to his. He hopes his efforts inspire one student to lead life in a similar fashion by striving to attain success and using it to help others.

Hugo and his wife Bibi married in 1993 and continue to live in Laredo, Texas. They were blessed with two children, Hugo II and Allegra. Hugo II graduated from Texas A&M in 2020 with a degree in Agricultural Economics and is a Survivor of the Dianne & M. Edward Rister =74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. He is now a managing partner for Lobo Foods. Allegra is currently working to transfer to Texas A&M and looks to follow in the footsteps of her father and brother.  In his spare time, Hugo enjoys spending time on his ranch, raising cattle and being a steward of the land.

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