Grupo Arcor
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food processing, Confectionery |
| Founded | July 5, 1951 in Arroyito, Córdoba, Argentina |
| Founder | Amos Pagani, Renzo Pagani, Fulvio Pagani, Elio Pagani |
| Headquarters | Arroyito , Argentina |
Area served | Latin America, worldwide (over 120 countries) |
| Products | Confectionery products including sugar and chocolate sweets, cookies, ice cream; also jams, marmalades, sauces, canned vegetables and seafood, beverages, polenta, dressings, oils, fruits |
Number of employees | 13000+ (2003) |
Grupo Arcor is an Argentine company focused on the production of confectionery products. Established on July 5, 1951, in Arroyito, Córdoba, it manufactures a variety of food items such as sugar and chocolate sweets, cookies, and ice cream through 39 manufacturing facilities throughout Latin America. Arcor stands as the leading global manufacturer of hard candies and ranks tenth among confectionery producers worldwide. Within Argentina, it is the foremost processed food producer, distributing its goods to more than 120 countries.
In 2012, Arcor was recognized as the top company in Argentina's list of 100 most valuable firms by CEOs, financial experts, and economic reporters.
History
The origins of Arcor date back to July 5, 1951, when the Pagani family—Amos, Renzo, Fulvio, and Elio—descendants of Italian immigrants, launched their first confectionery factory in Arroyito, Córdoba Province. The company's name is derived from a combination of "Arroyito" and "Córdoba." Initially, it had 23 shareholders.
Arcor's initial export venture occurred in 1968 with milk candy sent to the United States; although the product melted during shipment, the company absorbed all partner expenses to preserve business relations. By 1958, daily output had reached 60,000 kilograms as Arcor broadened its product assortment. In 1995, it expanded its footprint in South America with the inauguration of a large facility in Peru.
To enhance its market presence, Arcor acquired the traditional Argentine chocolate manufacturer Chocolates Águila in 1993. Founded in 1880, Aguila was renowned for its chocolate bars and later diversified into ice creams, alfajores, and candies. From the 1930s through the 1970s, Aguila produced over one hundred products at its Barracas plant.
In 1994, Arcor purchased Noel & Cia. Ltda. S.A., established in 1847 and recognized for jellies and chocolates. Four years later, it acquired cookie maker Lía and inaugurated the Arcor Museum in Arroyito. In 1999, Arcor expanded regionally by acquiring Chilean confectionery leader Dos en Uno.
By 2003, Arcor's revenue reached US$800 million with a workforce of 13,000 employees (9,000 based in Argentina). In 2004, it formed a partnership with French multinational Danone to acquire local cracker and cookie producer Bagley, resulting in South America's largest cookie manufacturer with an annual turnover of US$300 million. Ownership was split with Arcor holding 51% and Danone 49%. This collaboration concentrated exclusively on cookie production.
The early-2000s Argentine economic crisis had a significant impact on Arcor; nonetheless, by December 2008 it successfully restructured its debt with financing terms extending up to five years. During this timeframe, in 2005 Arcor acquired Benvenuto SACI for US$40 million, obtaining the La Campagnola brand along with its canned goods portfolio including tuna, tomatoes, peas, and dips. Benvenuto’s workforce of approximately 2,000 employees joined Arcor’s team, increasing Argentine personnel to around 14,000.
In 2002, Arcor established a foothold in Europe by opening commercial offices in Barcelona, Spain.
Brands and products
The Foodstuff Division of Grupo Arcor operates across more than a dozen categories such as jams, marmalades, sauces, canned vegetables and seafood, beverages, polenta, dressings, oils, and fruits.
Below are key brands along with their respective product lines manufactured or distributed by Arcor:
| Brand | Products |
|---|---|
| Arcor | Marmalades, chocolate powders, candies, canned vetch products, ice cream varieties, powdered juices, chocolate bars, fruit juices, wafers, turrón sweets, ñoquis (gnocchi), cereal bars, crackers |
| Aguila | Chocolate bars; mint-filled bonbons; chocolate syrups; alfajores; ice creams; sponge cakes; wafers |
| Bon-o-Bon | Alfajores; bonbons; wafers; ice cream; peanut paste |
| Butter Toffees | Candy assortments |
| Cereal Mix | Granola bars; biscuits; crackers |
| Chocolinas [note 1] | Chocolate cookies |
| Cofler | Alfajores; bonbons; chocolate bars; wafers; ice cream; chocolate chip cookies |
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Crackers |
| Formis | Cookies |
| Godet | Sponge cake (bizcochuelo); gelatin desserts; flan; assorted desserts |
| Hogareñas | Crackers |
| La Campagnola | Canned foods including pears, corn kernels, tuna fish, tomatoes; ketchup; marmalades; condiments |
| Menthoplus | Candies |
| Mister Pop's | Lollipops; ice creams |
| Mogul | Gumdrops; ice cream products; jelly desserts |
| Natural Break | Cereal snacks |
| Poosh | Bubble gum |
| Presto Pronta | Polenta products |
| Rocklets | Candy similar to Smarties and related ice creams |
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Cookies |
| Saladix | Snack foods |
| Salsati | Tomato sauces and purées |
| Sonrisas | Cookies |
| Tofi [note 2] | Chocolate bars; bonbons; alfajores; ice cream treats |
| Topline | Bubble gum varieties |
| Tortuguita | Chocolate bars |
- Notes
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