Soprole Inversiones S.A. (Chile)

Soprole Inversiones S.A. is a company located in Santiago, Chile. It was founded in 1949 by farmers from the central region of Chile. The company initially focused on the production and distribution of pasteurized milk, fresh cheese, and butter for the city of Santiago. In 1951, Soprole inaugurated its first pasteurization plant and started distributing its products door-to-door. As the distribution grew in the capital, the company expanded its milk supply by incorporating new producers from the Aconcagua and San Fernando valleys, strengthening its network of distributors. In 1970, Soprole launched the first packaged yogurt in Chile, introducing individual glass containers. The company also expanded its product line to include desserts and juices, becoming a leader in these segments. This growth led to the acquisition of a new production plant in Osorno. Soprole established a national distribution network, combining local distributors and its own agencies. The subsidiary Comercial Santa Elena S.A. was created to handle national distribution. In the 1980s, Soprole entered the margarine market through a distribution agreement with multinational company Kraft Foods, which later focused on the distribution of "Philadelphia" cheese. In 1981, the company built a production plant in Santiago for yogurt, desserts, and long-life milk (UHT). Soprole also entered the market for mature cheeses with a processing plant in Los Ángeles. To ensure a supply of thermoformed packaging, a factory was established in a joint venture with the Spanish group Coexpan. In 1988, the New Zealand Dairy Board (now Fonterra) acquired 52% of Soprole's shares. In 1990, Soprole inaugurated the first stage of its San Bernardo plant for the production of long-life milk (UHT). The company also acquired the "Dos Álamos" cheese factory (Los Lagos) and the Lácteos Pirque brand from Unilever. In 1996, Soprole entered the margarine manufacturing business. By 2000, the distribution of Soprole's brands was consolidated through Comercial Santa Elena S.A., and production was rationalized and centralized in the San Bernardo and Los Ángeles plants. The second stage of the San Bernardo plant was completed, including the inauguration of the yogurt, dessert, and fresh cheese factory. In 2002, Soprole became a publicly traded company under the supervision of the Superintendence of Securities and Insurance. Fonterra acquired a significant shareholding from the Isabel Aninat Foundation, reaching 99.85% ownership of Soprole S.A., marking the beginning of a profound evolution for the company. In 2003, with the country experiencing a surplus in milk production, Soprole entered the export market and started exporting a significant portion of its mature cheese production. The company also entered the market for juices and carbonated flavored and unflavored waters in PET bottles, constructing a factory within the San Bernardo complex. In 2021, Soprole launched the Soprole Sonrisa Circular program, becoming the first company in Chile to recycle and reuse yogurt and dessert containers (PS) from any brand, as well as Tetra Pak packaging.