With a participation of almost 20% in national food production and a 9% contribution to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, the food industry of Jalisco It is one of the sources of employment and wealth in the State.
This industry occupies first place, nationally, in the production of various products sweets, bottled water, eggs, edible oil, sauces, food supplements, tequila, pork, sausages, dairy products, fruit jams, agave and chia inulin, among others.
Besides, It is second in the production of beef, chicken meat, sugar, sweeteners and avocado products.
As if this were not enough, it occupies the third place in the production of flour, tortillas, bread and honey.
“This sector is one of the most transcendental and important and these numbers guarantee the importance and quality of companies that are here and above all the trajectory of many of them,” said Fernando Acosta Hernández, president of the Chamber of the Food Industry of Jalisco. (CIAJ).
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), in Jalisco There are more than 13,225 economic units dedicated to the food industry that generate more than 135,000 formal jobs and on which 620,000 people depend.
“Not only do we talk about meat, dairy, confectionery and beverages, there is also the food supplements sector where we are one of the first places nationwide.”
Most companies in the sector are concentrated in the city, although there are other important regions in food production. “We have many very important productive areas such as the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone (ZMG) and the Los Altos region where there are very important companies at the national level,” said the CIAJ leader.
For this year, The food sector expects to register growth compared to last year of close to five percent; However, the leader recognizes that there are sectors that face complicated problems such as milk production or the case of sugar, whose price skyrocketed and affected the confectionery sector and other subsectors.
“Right now there is uncertainty with the exchange rate, there are companies that are exporters and when it was down it affected those who export and benefited those who import raw materials. For some, when the dollar is cheap, it benefits them and there are companies that are affected when they allocate a large percentage of their production to exports,” he added.
In the countryside, companies in the agroindustrial sector have also been affected by the issue of lack of water, which is why low corn harvests are expected.
“In terms of prices, the sector is stable, the sugar issue became complicated; In the case of corn there is a lot of speculation, because there was low production and that can trigger the prices of some products.”
Sweetens the lives of Mexicans
With 82 years of history Dulces De La Rosa has become the leading company in the national confectionery sector.
This story was born in the middle of the last century, when Mr. Jesús Michel González and his wife Elvira Velasco, founders of the company, began to make artisanal sweets.
In 1942, the entrepreneurial couple began the small-scale manufacturing of scented pills, bottles of sugary liquor, gummies, marshmallow clowns, chocolate guitars, sugar cookies and chocolates, but the star product was marzipan.
The recipe is a family secret that goes from generation to generation. Currently, the company has the capacity to produce 10 million units per day.
Today it is made up of three production plants and a distribution center. In addition to having a presence throughout the country, its products are exported to the United States, Canada and various countries in Central America, Europe and the Middle East.
This year the company will invest in the acquisition of machinery and equipment to increase its production, which, in some products such as marzipan untable and the chocolates are already insufficient.
The candy plant, located in Tlaquepaque, will house other chocolate production lines. “We are making some filled chocolates and we can’t keep up, so another new machine was bought and we are going to place it in a new warehouse, in the candy plant,” explained Enrique Michel Velasco, general director of the Dulces De La Rosa group.
He stressed that the demand for spreadable marzipan has skyrocketed and very soon they will have to launch new presentations.
The largest candy company in Mexico is also an important source of job creation: six thousand jobs in its plants and distribution centers and administrative offices.
Dulces de la Rosa, the company is a leader in the confectionery sector nationwide. In the image, Enrique Michel Velasco, general director of the group. SPECIAL
They give the special touch
One of the most traditional companies in the food industry Jalisco It is Vanilla Molina. With 80 years old, Vainilla Molina is distinguished for making a vanilla so special that it enhances the flavor of foods.
It was in 1944 when the company was founded by Mr. José Molina Ramírez who was from Cuquio, Jalisco, who moved to Guadalajara to look for a better life.
Currently, the company is run by his son José Molina Luna but the third generation has also joined.
“My grandfather started bottling grape and pineapple juices and also apple juices; What my dad says is that he liked to experiment and that’s where vanilla came from,” recalled Álvaro José Molina Estrada, marketing and design manager of Productos Uvaviña and grandson of José Molina Ramírez.
The first plant was located in the center of Guadalajara; Later, they moved to Ciudad del Sol, and in 1982 they moved to the current facilities located in Colonia El Colli.
As the years go by The company launched more products and Vanilla Molina was added to Vanilla Papantla. He also developed a powdered chocolate to prepare drinks called Chocolvite.
In addition, they manufacture natural cocoa, cocoa powder, icing sugar and icing sugar with vanilla under the Postrelicioso brand. Also, they launched soy sauce under the Lin Dynasty brand.
For 50 years they have allocated half of their production for export, mainly to the United States where they are the leaders in the Hispanic channel.
“We have national distribution in the United States through Walmart and in all cities we have commercial partners”, detailed Álvaro José Molina. In addition to the United States, they export to other countries such as: Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Spain, Holland and Poland, among others. “We seek to grow in other countries so as not to depend on the United States,” he added.
Vainilla Molina is the leading self-service brand in Mexico where it has a 45% market share.
Vanilla is a pod from an orchid that is produced in Veracruz.
The industry in figures
- 13,225 companies make up the sector.
- 135 thousand formal jobs registered with the IMSS.
- 9% participation in the state GDP.
- 196 billion pesos is the value of food production in Jalisco at the end of 2022.
- 19.92% participation in national food production.
CT