History
During 1969, three friends and entrepreneurs decided to visit the interior of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, to become better acquainted with the then-promising orange sector. The group’s last stop was in the quiet town of Alfenas, which had just over 25,000 inhabitants at that time.
When Carlos Moacir, Luiz Cyrillo and Julio Bozano arrived at this typical city of the interior of Minas Gerais, on the shores of the Furnas lake, they visualized a large-scale project not only for the cultivation of oranges, but also coffee. Thus was born the Condomínio Aliança, which later changed its name to Ipanema Agroindústria S.A.
The phase of land purchases, implantation of coffee and citrus trees and installation of agroindustrial infrastructure lasted from 1970 to 1986, by which time the company had reached impressive mark of 3,000 hectares of coffee and 3,000 hectares of citrus trees.
Thus were born the largest orange producer in Minas Gerais and the largest coffee farm in the world.
After the conclusion of the implantation of its production capacity, the company began to build up a structure for the preparation of specialty coffee and to develop its commercial department. This phase lasted from 1987 to 1990.
Taking advantage of new commercial opportunities after the deregulation of the market and the end of restrictions on exports, in 1991 the company begins to operate as an exporter and makes its first direct shipment to a foreign client.
Over its twenty years of existence, the company has reached the impressive milestone of exporting one million bags of specialty coffee direct from the farm, to more than 15 countries.
In 2006, Cia Bozano withdraws from the company, enabling the entry of new partners Grupo Gávea Investimentos and Grupo Paraguaçu. A new strategic plan is drawn up and the company is prepared for internationalization, culminating in the entry of the Norwegian group Friele in 2008.
In 2009 and 2010, a the company signs commercial agreements that open the doors for exclusive supply of Ipanema specialty coffees to the Korean and Chinese markets.
In 2012,Tchibo GmbH, Germany’s biggest coffee roaster and one of the largest traders in the coffee industry, and Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in the world, with a strong presence in the food industry, acquired Ipanema shares. The two new shareholders will join Ipanema Coffees’ existing owners ML, Paraguaçu and Friele in managing the company.
In 2012, Ipanema made business in new regions not yet explored by the company. It was made business with Bulgaria, in Eastern Europe and Marroco and Egypt, in Afica. In addition, It was created new partnerships with England and Italy. In the total, Ipanema has now direct presense in 27 countries..
