Partners:
NETWORKING TO DELIVER THE BEST, READY TO EAT PRODUCT Joining forces with raw materials suppliers and strategic partners in logistics takes Simplot to the top of the frozen french fries market
Produced by Jassen Pintado Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado Interviewee Luis Alberto Rodríguez Mastache, CEO for Simplot México Interviewee Alberto Ponce, Supply Chain Director for Mexico and Central America at Simplot
Simplot México
J
Food
ohn Richard Simplot
generates value in the food industry,
gave his own name to
providing resources to support
the company he founded
its suppliers and relying on these
during the late 1920s
resources to thrive in the global market
in Boise, Idaho, a state
since the early 21st century, with a
widely known for its
decade’s worth of labor in Mexico.
high volume of potato production. The JR
“We are interested in winning, we think Mexico can host world-class
Simplot company has always been a
organizations,” commented Luis
standout in innovation, besides facing
Alberto Rodríguez Mastache, CEO for
and surpassing different challenges,
Simplot Mexico, and also in charge of
detecting opportunities and making
the Central America territory for the
the most of them to achieve growth for company. decades, developing the business of empire after striking important deals
CORPORATE EXPERIENCE TO FACE ANY CHALLENGE Rodríguez Mastache earned a
with the McDonald’s fast-food chain
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing
and its owner, Ray A. Kroc.
from ITESM (Monterrey Institute of
frozen french fries, and becoming an
Currently, Simplot generates 11%
Technology and Higher Education,
of french fries imports in Mexico, and,
in Mexico), graduating with honors
along two other companies, adds to
through a scholarship. Afterwards,
60% to 65% of the specialty’s global
he completed an MBA from IPADE
production.
(PanAmerican Institute for High
Through its food, agriculture, turf and livestock divisions, Simplot
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Business Management, in Mexico), he also completed Humanities studies at
Simplot México
Food
“We all have leadership within our duties, we all have a leadership example for things to happen” - Alberto Ponce, Supply Chain Director for Mexico and Central America at Simplot
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Simplot México
Food
the University of Granada (Spain) and
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“It’s our duty to make our
the Strategic Business Negotiations
organization grow in Mexico under the
Program at Ivey Business School (part
values the company has displayed:
of the Western University, in Canada).
generating value along with suppliers,
His 30-year experience has led him
clients and distributors,” the
to different areas such as sales
executive said.
and operations, besides marketing,
Alberto Ponce is in charge of
working for multinational companies
the supply chain. Ponce earned a
in the food and beverage industry, and
degree in Industrial Engineering from
being part of Simplot since 2015.
ITESM (State of Mexico campus),
Food
Simplot México
and also earned an MBA from the
environment,” pointed out Ponce,
University of Texas at Austin. His
Supply Chain Director for Mexico and
14-year experience has led him to
Central America at Simplot.
global companies such as ColgatePalmolive, Coca-Cola and Philip Morris. “To achieve growth, we need
VALUE FOR CLIENTS, DISTRIBUTORS AND FOR THE COMPANY About 400 million pounds worth of
the right people. Once the right
potatoes are imported into Mexico,
people are here, the most important
which, along with the 350 million
thing is keeping the talent in a safe
pounds imported into Central America
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Simplot México
Food
and the Caribbean add up to 750 million lb, which amounts to almost a
the different ways to carry out plans. • Product portfolio: The
billion lb in a global market worth 26
Quality Assurance and Research &
billion lb of potatoes. Simplot’s main
Development departments contribute
focus is on food service businesses,
to deliver products with the highest
which includes restaurants of every
quality and consistency; R&D
level, grocery stores, retail chains and
also directs efforts to upcoming
other specialized outlets.
innovations. As a result of such efforts,
“Our value proposition offers
the company is able to offer a product
solutions for what our clients are
that maintains its temperature for 40
looking for,” Rodríguez Mastache
minutes, resulting in a warm, crispy
declared.
product as delivery customers receive
SUPPORT FROM THE PARENT COMPANY IN EVERY FRONT The structure providing support to
their meal. • Innovation system: Investment
the Simplot Mexico operation covers
in technology and standardized
beyond the values and principles
systems, answering to processes
of a family business, which brought
deployed during the last two years,
success to the company in its home
led by the implementation of the SAP-
country, but it’s also based in three
HANA ERP platform.
key factors: This structure allows Simplot Mexico • Strategic support: The
and affiliates worldwide to work with
necessary support to design and track freedom, responsibility and authority the company’s course, from goals to
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to make decisions and carry concrete
Simplot México
Food
“Our duty now is to develop a logistics network that enables us to deliver our products in a more efficient manner” - Luis Alberto Rodríguez Mastache, CEO for Simplot México
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Simplot México
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Food
Food
Simplot México
actions to increase profitability.
as delivery to every food service unit becomes a challenge.
LARGER PRODUCTION ABILITY To back Simplot’s strategic
Synergies have been developed to counteract the contraction among
positioning in the fries specialty, the
available carriers in the US to bring the
company opened new production
product down to Mexico’s northern
plants in Argentina and duplicated
border and rely on a nationwide
its production capacity in Canada
distribution network.
and China. Regarding Mexico and Central
In Central America, the company is developing a similar network, able to
America, Simplot doubled production
work with the same efficiency as the
capacity for avocado in Mexico, with
one in Mexico does.
the company’s plants in Morelia and Irapuato leading the way.
“Our distribution partners are doing a great job, we are setting
“Our production facilities in Mexico
up agreements with Mexican
deliver global production for Mexico,
entrepreneurs to reach more
the United States and Asia,” Ponce
locations,” Rodríguez Mastache
commented.
declared. Simplot’s strategic partners in
CHALLENGES FACED BY LOGISTICS One of the most important tasks
logistics operate units furnished with GPS, led by monitoring stations
in the Logistics department for
for easy location 24/7, in the same
Simplot Mexico is developing
way maritime shipping lines operate
distribution networks, considering how tracking platforms. fragmented distribution is in Mexico,
“We strive to promote solutions
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COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS Leading company in logistics solutions for the Cold Chain in food industry in MEXICO AND PERU
Almacenaje • Distribución • Acondicionamiento de Mercancía • Certificado para Exportar
Tel 55 5290 5086 • Sales 55 4440 3746
ventas@frialsa.mx
along with our distributors and show
Simplot Grower Solution advisory
them that investments in technology
services, which provides resources
are important as it is connecting
such as information, valuable data
through social media, offering
and advanced products for farmers to
different options and the importance
obtain successful crops.
of delivering a quality product,” Rodríguez Mastache commented. ACHIEVEMENT VIA SIMPLOT GROWER SOLUTION Depending from different potato farmers led Simplot to create the
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frialsa.com.mx
This program has been successful with small farmers in the US and Canada, in the same way it has been developed in Mexico, so far, under the “Partners in Growth” brand philosophy.
Simplot México
Food
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Simplot México
Food
“In this way, we guarantee quality and support our partners’ growth,” Ponce added. “GREAT PLACE TO WORK” Simplot Mexico considers the long term as an important factor to create and maintain sustainable systems, also in aspects such as driving its workforce development. Such an environment favoring outstanding performance has not only earned
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Food
Simplot México
Simplot Mexico being listed as a “Great Place to Work”, but has held the company in this ranking during the last four years, factoring along other elements such as the professional/
FOUNDED:
1929
(JR Simplot in EEUU)
personal life balance aspect among employees. “We all have leadership within
INDUSTRY: Food
our duties, we all have a leadership example for things to happen,” Ponce concluded.
CONTACT www.simplotmexico.com.mx
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www.simplotmexico.com.mx
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