The month of April marks the 59th anniversary of the Coliman brand. The family farming business was founded in 1963 in the state of Colima, Mexico by Mr. Custodio Aguilar. This month also marks the 44th anniversary of AGGALL Group-Coliman, created by Jorge Aguilar Heredia who opened the first commercial center for the company in Hermosillo, Sonora. Today, AGGALL Group-Coliman is led by 3rd generation family member, president and CEO Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr.
The group has specialized in the harvest, marketing, and distribution of conventional and organic bananas in Mexico and abroad. “With 59 years of experience, we know how to grow bananas and manage the supply chain,” says Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr. with the company. Currently, AGGALL Group-Coliman is in the transition process to simplify communication and use the ‘Coliman Bananas’ brand to speak to its end consumers.
Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr., Coliman's President and CEO.
The farms of Coliman Bananas are located on the coasts of Central and Southern Mexico, specifically in the states of Colima, Chiapas, and Tabasco. “They are located in tropical areas with very productive land,” shared Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr. The location allows for banana crops to be protected from low temperatures, preserving their quality until the selection stage. During the selection process, bunches are cut by hand and transported from the plantations to packaging facilities. The fruit is carefully selected by well-trained and qualified staff who consider the correct longitude, ideal calibration, as well as peel and pulp moisture. “The locations of the farms were chosen strategically, allowing us to optimize delivery times and sell more than 4 million boxes per year,” he added.
Exports around the globe
State-of-the art technology and following strict quality control procedures ensure maximum banana quality upon arrival at the final destination. Coliman Bananas make their way around the globe with North America, Europe, and Asia being the largest export markets for the company.
"Our conventional and organic bananas reach all corners of Mexico as well as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea. Bananas consistently rank as one of the top selling items in grocery stores. Much of consumer demand in North America, Europe, and Asia is covered by bananas from Mexico as it is one of the largest producers in the world,” added Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr.. Lately, the industry has been challenged by logistical issues. “The impact of higher costs to grow, pack, and ship the product is among our biggest challenges this year. We are forced to rethink sales to countries where we don’t have a competitive advantage.”
Social responsibility
In addition to growing the highest quality product possible, the family business of three generations focuses on nourishing the world with a socially responsible approach. This vision is backed by global certifications such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Global G.A.P.
“During our sustainable approach, we seek to improve the quality of life of all the people who belong to the Coliman Bananas family, including collaborators, clients, suppliers, farmers, and the communities we have a presence in. It has always been our goal to be the banana producer with the greatest social and environmental awareness in the world,” mentioned Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr.. By partnering with Fair Trade, Coliman Bananas is looking to contribute to better trading conditions, and securing the rights of producers and farm workers. In line with greater awareness for social responsibility, the company continues to see strong demand for organic bananas. Consumers are becoming more aware and careful about choosing fresh produce that ensures responsible sourcing.
Recently, the company has started a process of organization transformation, aiming to make operations more efficient, and betting on its greatest resource, the talent of its partners in the supply chain. “This transformation is helping us unite and connect. We look towards a future that is full of nutrition, health, and well-being for all of us.” Coliman Bananas is working on communicating these changes with distributors and consumers.
For more information:
Audee Ríos Canobbio
Corporate Sales and Procurement Director
AGGALL Group-Coliman Bananas
bananas@coliman.com
www.coliman.com