Grupo Arcor - History

History

In 1924, Amos Pagani (Italian immigrant) arrived in Argentina, more specifically to the city of Arroyito (Córdoba), and opened a bakery, an occupation that he exercised in his native Italy.

In 1928, the second of his five children was born, Fulvio Salvador. Years later, he built a candy factory, together with other investors, whose plan (declared by themselves) was "an important production volume, with the purpose of reducing costs."

In 1951 the plant was inaugurated and production began. In 1958, Arcor had already reached a daily production of 60,000 kg (140,000 lb) of sweets. At this point, Arcor wasn't a manufacturer of candies, exclusively. In 1964, the Group carried out its first sales outside Argentina and it began to participate in international events.

The first exports consisted on the sale of glucose-derived products (to European countries, 1964), and sweets (to United States, 1968). In 1970, the first International Convention of Snacks and Confectionery (ISM) was celebrated in Cologne, Germany). Arcor Group had their own stand and it has been a consistent presence ever since.

Arcor then expanded its activities outside Argentina, selling its products to Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. In 1990 its marketing strategists decide to exploit products with more potential of fast commercialization: Bon-O-Bon (padded wafers) and Cofler (high quality chocolates). That year, Fulbio Salvador died in an accident. In 1993 Luis Alejandro Pagani assumed the presidency of the Arcor Group, the elder of the founder's six children. In 1995 Arcor built a large plant in Peru to produce candies and in 1999 opened its chocolate factory of South America in Brazil, which is considered the most advanced in South America.