From a team of eleven people in Antioquia to an operation with regional impact. Five decades of innovation, partnerships, and commitment to more nutritious and sustainable food.
There are many ways to tell a 50-year story: through the products developed, the markets reached, or the recognition earned. But behind every achievement lies something numbers cannot fully capture: the people, relationships, and decisions that have brought us to where we are today.
In 2026, Griffith Foods celebrates 50 years in Colombia. Five decades of growing alongside the food industry, combining science, culinary expertise, and innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers and consumers.
What began as a small operation in Marinilla, Antioquia, is now part of a global company working to create more nutritious and sustainable food systems.
This is our story. A story built on creativity, care, and the belief that we can always make a positive impact.
1976: A Vision That Began with Eleven People
In October 1976, Carlos Arensburg Latorre, together with Colombian partners and Griffith Laboratories, began the first chapter of Griffith Foods in Colombia.
Operations started in a borrowed office at Zenú while our first production facility was being built in Marinilla. Two years later, Carlos and a team of ten people launched production, initially focusing on solutions for the meat industry, including products such as Polvo Praga, Accord, and seasonings for processed meats.
During the 1980s, we expanded our portfolio into sauces and liquid dressings, established Research and Development and Maintenance departments, and extended our commercial presence to Bogotá and Cali.
These early years helped us build one of our greatest strengths: combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of our customers, their markets, and consumer preferences.
The 1990s: Resilience, Innovation, and New Paths Forward
In 1991, we faced one of the most difficult moments in our history: the loss of Carlos Arensburg Latorre, our founder in Colombia, during a period of profound violence in the country.
These were years that tested our ability to stay united, adapt, and move forward.
Yet they also brought opportunities to innovate. During this decade, Showy® was born, a brand inspired by the traditional house-made sauces served in Colombian restaurants.
Toward the end of the 1990s, we began a transformation focused on strengthening our capabilities, customer relationships, and ways of working.
This chapter left us with a lesson that remains relevant today: companies are also built during difficult times, thanks to the people who believe in them.
The 2000s: Growing Through New Capabilities and Partnerships
The new century brought opportunities to diversify our business and strengthen the relationships that would support our growth.
We introduced Le Griff, our product line for foodservice customers, which later evolved into Zafrán®, a brand developed in Colombia to meet the needs of food businesses.
This decade also marked the beginning of one of the most meaningful partnerships in our history.
In La Unión, Antioquia, a family-owned company called Picados San Juan was working to transform agricultural products and create opportunities for local farmers in a region affected by violence. Griffith Foods became its first customer.
What started as a commercial relationship evolved into a long-term partnership built on the joint development of production capabilities, innovation, and a stronger supply chain.
During this period, we also advanced our environmental management practices. Our Marinilla facility adopted the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, reinforcing more responsible resource management and operations.
We were beginning to understand that our growth could create value far beyond the products we developed.
The 2010s: Colombian Innovation Crosses Borders
During this decade, we strengthened our regional presence and transformed the way we innovate.
Zafrán® expanded into Central America and Brazil. We opened operations in Ecuador and a commercial office in Peru, establishing Colombia as a strategic hub for our Andean business.
We also welcomed our first commercial chef, marking an important step toward closer integration between food science, culinary expertise, research, product development, and commercial teams.
This evolution allowed us to better connect consumer trends with our customers’ challenges and develop solutions that bring together flavor, functionality, technology, and sensory experience.
During this period, Zayda Martínez became General Manager of Colombia and the Andean Region, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
As our capabilities and markets expanded, we also strengthened a fundamental belief: our expertise could help address social and environmental challenges.
Nutriamor®: Innovation in Service of Nutrition
One of the clearest examples of this commitment is Nutriamor®, an initiative originally developed by Fundación Saciar that found in Griffith Foods a partner to expand its potential.
The challenge was to develop nutritious, accessible food solutions adapted to the needs of vulnerable populations.
We contributed our expertise in research and development, nutrition, sensory science, culinary innovation, and consumer understanding to help transform the initiative into a nutrition platform designed to address specific nutritional needs.
Through community-based research and collaboration with partners, we continue developing solutions grounded in people’s real needs and circumstances.
Nutriamor® demonstrates how food innovation can become a powerful tool for expanding access to better nutrition.
Partnerships That Transform Communities
Our relationship with Picados continued to evolve, growing from a commercial connection into a partnership strengthened through investment, support, and joint development.
Over time, we incorporated new opportunities for agricultural innovation and sustainability, including a biofactory that transforms organic waste into agricultural inputs and the introduction of solar energy into its operations.
We also became involved with Campo Dulce, a beekeeping initiative in the Bajo Cauca region of Antioquia that connects honey production with economic opportunities for rural families and ecosystem conservation.
As a buyer and mentor, we have contributed to strengthening this value chain and developing local capabilities.
Another important initiative born in Colombia was Produce for Hunger, an event in which our employees actively participate in producing food for people and communities in need.
These initiatives are different, but they share the same vision: creating value alongside our partners and demonstrating how business relationships can contribute to community development.
The 2020s: Turning Our Purpose into Action
The pandemic presented new challenges. We transformed the way we worked, strengthened our digital capabilities, and found new ways to support our customers.
Together with Fundación Saciar and local organizations, we also contributed food donations to support communities affected by the emergency.
In the years that followed, we accelerated our sustainability and innovation agenda.
Our Marinilla facility achieved Carbon Neutral certification, we installed 736 solar panels, and we advanced our use of renewable electricity. Our Colombian operation also received the EcoVadis Gold Medal in recognition of its sustainability performance.
In innovation, we expanded our exploration of alternative proteins and continued developing solutions that combine nutrition, flavor, functionality, and sustainability.
Each milestone reflects a vision that guides our decisions today: business performance, people’s well-being, and environmental stewardship must move forward together.
Our People: The Heart of Our First 50 Years
Behind every product, facility, project, and partnership are generations of employees who have made our story possible.
People who joined when we were a small team, leaders who embraced significant challenges, teams who found solutions during difficult times, and families who have supported us throughout this journey. Our workplace culture has also earned external recognition.
As we celebrated our 40th anniversary, we achieved second place in our category in Great Place to Work Colombia. And as we approached our 50th anniversary, we reached first place in the category of companies with 101 to 400 employees.
We have also been recognized among the best workplaces for women in Colombia. Beyond the rankings, these recognitions reflect the experiences of our people and reinforce our commitment to building a workplace where everyone can grow, contribute, and feel valued.
Because our first 50 years would not have been possible without the talent, dedication, and expertise of the people who have shaped this journey. Behind every product, facility, project, and partnership are generations of employees who have made our story possible.
A Family-Owned Company, a Global Vision, and a Shared Purpose
Our story in Colombia is part of a global legacy that began in 1919, when E.L. and C.L. Griffith founded a company with a vision of bringing science to the food industry.
More than a century later, Griffith Foods remains a family-owned company, combining global capabilities with the knowledge and close relationships of its local teams.
This vision is reflected in our purpose of Nourishing the World by Blending Care and Creativity, and in three dimensions that guide our decisions:
- People: Promoting employee well-being and creating opportunities alongside customers, partners, and communities.
- Planet: Advancing more responsible and sustainable operations and value chains.
- Performance: Strengthening our capabilities and innovation to create long-term value and impact.
Together, these dimensions help us connect what we do today with the future we want to build.
Our Next 50 Years Begin Today
Celebrating half a century is an opportunity to recognize what we have built, but also to ask ourselves what we want to accomplish with everything we have learned.
The food industry faces significant challenges: improving access to adequate nutrition, protecting natural resources, and developing solutions that respond to constantly evolving consumers and markets.
Our 2030 Aspirations provide a clear direction: strengthening sustainable food systems, developing an increasingly nutritious portfolio, reaching new markets and underserved communities, and promoting the well-being of our people.
We are not starting from scratch, we have five decades of knowledge, trusted relationships, and experiences that have taught us the value of working together. Fifty years ago, eleven people began a journey in Marinilla without knowing how far it would go. Today, we have many reasons to celebrate. But above all, we have reasons to keep moving forward.
Because the best part of celebrating 50 years is not simply remembering how far we have come. It is recognizing everything we can still build together. 50 years of Nourishing the World by Blending Care and Creativity.
From Colombia, with our eyes on the future.
