The Argentine company Havana The launch of its first Alfajores production plant in Europe, in the town of Picassent, in the province of Valencia, is progressing. The project will be developed in a 3,000 square meter industrial warehouse and is expected to be operational in the first half of next year. The initiative will be implemented through an investment program combining bank financing and institutional support.
The installation is part of the strategy international expansion of Havanawhich wants to strengthen its presence in European and Asian markets through direct production in the region. Previously, the company supplied these destinations from Argentina, which entailed extensive logistical processes and costs for the transfer of goods. With the new plant, this operational structure can be reorganized.
The project has the technical support of Vielca Ingenieros, the Valencian company responsible for project management, processing permits and monitoring all phases of construction. The engineering firm stated that the facility will be dedicated to the production of Groceriesespecially Alfajores, and which represents a relevant investment for the local industrial sector.
The warehouse where the facility will operate went through a process comprehensive reform. The work included structural adjustments, improvements to the facilities and the development of a site of approximately three thousand square meters. There is a ten-year rental agreement for the use of the property.
Financing and strategic goals
To execute the investment, Havana received two loans for 1.5 million euros each: one from Banco Santander and one from the Valencian Institute of Finance (IVF). This combination of public and private financing made it possible to retool the plant and acquire the necessary equipment to start production.
According to official information from the company, the facility is used to supply European market with local production and improve the company’s responsiveness to regional demand. The company also suggests the new structure will allow it to accelerate its development of strategic markets in Asia, a goal that is part of its international growth plan.
The commissioning of the factory is part of an expansion process Havana has existed for years with a growing presence in different countries and a diversified network of stores and dealers. The European factory represents a further step in this strategy, as it allows for more direct logistics and an offer adapted to the delivery times required by external markets.
The company noted that the centralization of the Production for Europe in a factory in Spain will reduce transport times, reorganize distribution and ensure a more stable supply to points of sale in different countries.
Havana’s History and Business Expansion
Havana was founded in 1947 founded by a group of three businessmen in the city of Mar del Plata, where they established their original plant. Over time, the company expanded its offering and consolidated an important presence in different regions of Argentina. Its growth has been supported by a model that combines its own production and premises for the sale of its gastronomic products and services.
From the 1990s, the brand began to expand to other locations in the country and later to international markets. In 2003 it was taken over by the fund invert, which operates in Argentina and other countries with diversified investments in different sectors. Since then, the company has expanded its branch network and consolidated a franchise structure in several regions.
At the moment, Havana is listed on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange. According to the latest public information, the company recorded an annual turnover of 118,000 million pesos, which corresponds to about 70 million euros at the reference exchange rate. In addition to operating canteens, the company’s activities also include the production of alfajores and other foods.
The chain has 214 cafes Sales take place in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Chile and Spain, where the company operates six branches. In addition, the Company maintains distribution agreements in the United States, Costa Rica and Colombia, allowing it to maintain a commercial presence in markets with varying volumes of demand.
Regional impacts and operational forecasts
For the Valencia region, the construction of the factory means the incorporation of ato the new food industry aimed at both the domestic market and export. Vielca Ingenieros emphasized that the technical supervision of the project included adapting the warehouse to the specific needs of the production process, as well as quality control at each stage of the work.
The company expects this The plant will begin operations in the first half of next year. After completing the adaptation work, installing machines and obtaining the appropriate permits for food production. Commissioning includes an initial process calibration phase and a gradual growth plan based on demand.
Havana stated that the operation from Spain would improve the situation logistical flexibility and respond faster to orders from different countries. The company believes that the location in Picassent facilitates connectivity to regional transport infrastructure, a factor that influences distribution to other European markets.
The project also gives the company the opportunity to integrate new industrial developments into the sector medium term, according to the development of the international market and the production capacity of the factory. Currently, the factory will focus on producing artisan alfajores, the brand’s emblem.
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