FOOD PRODUCTION
For Ecuadorian food producers exporting internationally, the keys to success have been their value-added products, responsible social practices, and certification processes.
How has the company grown both domestically and internationally since its establishment?
YURI LEÓN We have been betting on growing with the growing local economy by expanding our in-country capacity and increasing the number of countries we export to. We established a new plant to produce precooked noodles that result in better taste and retain the benefits of the noodles. This plant has 13ha and an additional land of 20ha for the cultivation of ingredients such as soy, chili, borojo, and so on. This expansion has enabled us to be certified with specific ISO 9001:2015 HACCP certifications and others such as kosher, Bpm, FDA, organic, and those demanded by export markets in Europe or the US. In 2017, we obtained the relevant permissions to export to countries like China and Turkey. We continue to open new markets and strengthen our presence in existing ones by offering more niche products. In total, we currently export over a dozen of countries around the world. This was also achieved by strategic distribution in new countries within the Latam region, such as Bolivia and Uruguay.
AMADA GODOY In 1972, the Godoy Ruíz family established an artisanal condiment production facility that grew quickly. Thanks to the quality of the products and the abilities of the founders, the business was named Industria Nacional de Especerías (INE). The vision of founders Manuel Esteban Godoy Ortega and Blanquita Ruíz Aguilera, aiming for continuity and business growth, lead them to create ILE in 1981. The company experienced a significant expansion and professionalization phase, incorporating automated packaging systems, building a modern plant, and launching brands like Sabora, along with new lines and new product formats. Their children, general manager Manuel Agustín Godoy Ruíz and I, started exports to the US in 1994. Since then, we have grown in product lines, presence, and distribution in local markets and exports. Currently, ILE has a presence in the US, Spain, Chile, and Puerto Rico. We are also leaders in the local market. The key to our success has been the support of our family, the social responsibility practices of the company, and looking after the environment.
How does the company work to develop products with more added value?
YL Chile has a big demand for organic products, and we started exporting there seven years ago. Our main exports to Chile include rice noodles and English and soy sauces. Clients in recent trade fairs have commended our capacity to provide different products for celiacs, as well as those consumers seeking different products. The key is to have high-quality products that are exportable. That is why we have been able to focus on quality as a method to diversify ourselves. We have a great deal of innovation every year to launch new products. Every year, we launch between 10 and 15 new products, and we have around 900 different stock-keeping units.
AG ILE is a manufacturing leader for condiments, sauces, pasta, spices, aromatic herbs, and teas, among other products, and we offer dietary solutions that cater to both local and international consumers. Exports are one of our main objectives at the moment, because we already meet the most rigorous standards. ILE has implemented strict processes to guarantee innocuity. We have certifications that allow us to enter international markets such as good manufacturing practices (GMP), HACCP, OK kosher, carbon neutral, and an organic certification for our tea line in the US, Europe, and Ecuador. ILE continues to search for new markets by offering natural and healthy products and expanding its philosophy for social responsibility, environmental protection, and fair trade.
How do you work to ensure your operations are sustainable?
YL We want to invest in certifications and training programs for our employees. Internally, we want to keep working to be a responsible company. More than 40% of our suppliers are informal workers, and almost 90% of our supplies come from the Ríos and Cotopaxi areas, which are zones that need further development. Oriental is aware of that and has put in place programs that can raise the standards of living in these areas.
AG Most of our raw materials are supplied by local farmers of the Loja province and other areas of Ecuador whom we develop and train in soil management, water protection, environmental protection, and fair trade. All of our tea lines are healthy. Thanks to our hard work in community development, we have built a sustainable company, and we contribute to a sustainable country. ✖