Grupo Nutresa S.A. (in English: Nutresa Group), formerly Grupo Nacional de Chocolates S.A. (in English: Chocolate National Group S.A.) Retrieved 2011. is a Colombian multinational

food processing Food processing is the transformation of agricultural products into food, or of one form of food into other forms. Food processing takes many forms, from grinding grain into raw flour, home cooking, and complex industrial methods used in the mak ...

conglomerate headquartered in

Medellín Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...

. The group's principal activities are producing, distributing, and selling cold cuts, biscuits, chocolates, coffee, ice cream and pasta. The company markets its products under approximately 70 different brands in 65 countries. Other activities include the investment or application of resources or cash under whatever form authorized by law and the exploration of the metal-mechanic and packaging industry. In 2004, the group began their international expansion, acquiring several companies in

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

and the Caribbean. By 2008, the Compañía Nacional de Chocolates continued expanding and consolidating its presence in the region. The market value of the company grew by a factor of 25 in the decade leading up to 2010 (to US$6 billion). Though originally a

chocolatier A chocolatier ( ; ; ) is a person or company that makes and sells chocolate confections. Chocolatiers are distinct from chocolate makers, who create chocolate from cacao beans and other raw ingredients. Chocolatiers work artisanally with pre- ...

, the sale of chocolates contributed only 19% to sales in 2010.

Company history

Formation of the group

In 1896, Fábrica de Galletas y Confites—a company making biscuits (cookies and crackers) and confectionery—was set up in Medellin, Colombia. Retrieved 2011. In 1925, the company changed its name to Fábrica de Galletas Noel S.A. and again in 1999, to Compañía de Galletas Noel S.A. In 1920, a chocolate-processing company under the name of Compañía Nacional de Chocolates Cruz Roja was founded and later changed its name to Compañía Nacional de Chocolates, S.A. In 1933, this chocolate company bought an interest in the biscuit company paving the way for the formation of the conglomerate. From 1933 to 1958, the group continued to consolidate its distribution network resulting in strengthened national presence and corporate image.

In the business of coffee

In 1933, the "Sello Rojo" (Red Label) brand was created when the company entered the coffee business. In 1950, with the boom of the coffee industry, Compañía Colombiana de Café S.A.- Colcafé, was created and soon become an important Colombian export company. The first export of any company of the group was in 1961 — coffee to

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

International expansion

In 1993, the confectionery company, Compañía Dulces de Colombia S.A. was set up. In 1995, the organization's trading companies were established abroad forming what is known today as the Cordialsa network, first in

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

and second in

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

. The company also made its first investment abroad and expanded its meat-processing business with Industrias Alimenticias Hermo de Venezuela S.A. In 1999, the organization spun off two of its companies, Noel and Zenú. In 2003, the holding company Inversiones Nacional de Chocolates S.A. came into being, with important interests in chocolate and coffee businesses as well as the organization's food investment company Inveralimenticias (which has holdings in the meat, cookie and confectionery business). In 2004, the organization began expanding into Central America and the Caribbean through the purchase of Nestle's cookie and chocolate plants in

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

. In 2006, the organization changed its name to Grupo Nacional de Chocolates S.A. On 1 February 2007, Grupo Nacional de Chocolates purchased Peruvian company Good Foods S.A. and the Winter's brand for US$36 million through its Peruvian subsidiary Compañía Nacional de Chocolates de Perú S.A. In 2008, international acquisitions were concentrated in the meat market with the purchase of Ernesto Berard S.A. in Panama, joining the already acquired Blue Ribbon Products, which would merge in 2011, and give rise to Alicapsa-Alimentos Cárnicos Panamá. In October 2010, the company acquired US–based cookie manufacturer Fehr Foods, which was later renamed AbiMar Foods. In 2020, it announced its foray into

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

with its products and the construction of its 48th production plant, in the city of

Santa Marta Santa Marta (), officially the Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta (), is a port List of cities in Colombia, city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fou ...

, Colombia.

Image change

On 31 March 2011, the company changed its name to Grupo Nutresa in a move made to emphasize the diversity of its products that now includes pasta and cold cuts.

Brands

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

: Jet Chocolate, Jumbo Bars, TOSH, Zenú, Ranchera, Saltin Noel Crackers, Ducales Crackers, Festival cookies, Colcafé, Montblanc chocolates, Doria Pasta,

Crem Helado Crem Helado is a Colombian ice cream company, owned by Grupo Nutresa. The company in 2018 had an income of 118.4 million dollars, having control of 41.4% of the Colombian ice-cream market that year. History CremHelado was founded in 1955 by Ho ...

, Cordillera origin chocolate. *

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

: Winter's, Chin Chin, Picaras, Granuts, Chocolisto, Cordillera. *

: Tutto, Cocoa Dulce, TOSH, Cordillera. *

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

: Nucita, Cremino, Muibon. *

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

: Cameron's Coffee, Kibo Foods, Lil' Dutch Maid, Tru-Blu. "Fehr Foods makes cookies under the brand names Lil' Dutch Maid, Sun Valley and Tru-Blu. Grupo Nutresa, a major Colombian cookie manufacturer, acquired Fehr Foods in October 2010 ..." *

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

: Kryzpo, Muibon, TMLUC. *

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

: Biscoitos Dux

References

External links

Compañía Nacional De Chocolates
(official website) and in Nutresa Group * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nutresa, Grupo Companies based in Medellín Companies listed on the Colombia Stock Exchange Conglomerate companies of Colombia Conglomerate companies established in 1920 Colombian chocolate companies Dairy products companies of Colombia Colombian brands Food and drink companies established in 1920 Colombian companies established in 1920 1920 establishments in Colombia Pasta companies Meat companies Confectionery companies of Colombia Multinational food companies Multinational companies headquartered in Colombia