Grido Helado
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | 2000 in Córdoba, Argentina |
| Founder | Oscar Santiago and his sons |
| Headquarters | Córdoba , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru |
Key people | Oscar Santiago (founder) |
| Products | Ice cream |
Helacor S.A., widely recognized by its brand name Grido Helado, is an Argentine ice cream franchise established in 2000 by Oscar Santiago and his sons, with the inaugural store opening in Córdoba, Argentina.
As of January 2022, Grido manages 1,900 franchised outlets distributed throughout Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, and Peru. The company has announced plans to further extend its presence into Brazil, Bolivia, and China. Producing approximately 82 million kilograms of ice cream annually, Grido holds the distinction of being the largest ice cream chain in South America.
History
The roots of the business trace back to the 1920s when Lucas Santiago sold ice cream under the Laponia label, which was produced by Chocolate Aguila. Subsequently, Santiago established "Marvic," the family's first proprietary ice cream company based in Córdoba. Leveraging this background, the Santiago family launched the Grido franchise in 2000. The brand name "Grido," meaning "scream" in Italian, was selected after the original choice "Criko" was rejected due to trademark conflicts with Nestlé.
During its initial year, Grido expanded rapidly from a single outlet to ten parlors, all located within Córdoba. Within twelve months, this number grew to 50 stores. Over the following decade, the franchise network surpassed 900 locations, necessitating relocation to a more capacious production facility in Ferreyra, Córdoba. The company also extended its operations beyond Argentina into Uruguay and Chile.
By inaugurating a parlor in Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego Province), Grido became the first ice cream chain to establish a presence in every Argentine province.
From its inception, Grido prioritized offering competitively priced ice cream products to fill a market niche for affordable treats in Argentina.
Its international growth commenced in 2006 with entry into Chile. In September 2011, Grido launched five parlors in Uruguay. At that time, it was recognized as Latin America's foremost ice cream chain with annual revenues amounting to US$35 million. The expansion continued with entry into Peru in 2022, marking its fourth country outside Argentina where it operates.