Partners:
The Vision enabling growth come true 33
Issue #31
A steady growth in its diversification of business divisions enables Grupo Empresarial Sonorense to become a force that has gone beyond borders
T
he history of Grupo Empresarial Sonorense (GEMSO) dates back almost 90 years, having been founded by the late Mr. José Ramón Fernández Suárez and his
grand vision, years after immigrating to Mexico. The company that gave rise to the group is a wheat mill, whose growth and development over the decades resulted in diversification into developing businesses in the agriculture industry, finance, automotive and real estate sectors.
Produced by Jassen Pintado Translation by María Murgui Creative Direction Omar Rodríguez Interviewee Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO for GEMSO
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Grupo Empresarial Sonorense
GEMSO then, now and always will be a group recognized for its solid values and business vocation that prioritizes the customer - Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO for GEMSO
For nearly a century of growth, GEMSO has stood out not only for its significant expansion but also for conducting its operations with high business ethics and the human quality of its personnel. “GEMSO then, now and always will be a group recognized for its solid values and business vocation prioritizing the customer,” added Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO of GEMSO.
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Issue #31
Food & Bever age/A g r oindus t r y/Aut omot ive/Finance/Cons t r uct ion
EXPERIENCE IN THE SECTOR AND PREPARATION FOR SUCCESS Jorge Alberto Raptis’ career has unfolded through various companies, with a focus on the fast-moving
His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from ITAM (Mexico Autonomous Technological Institute),
consumer goods industry. He gained
followed by a master’s degree in the
experience in senior management
same discipline at ITESM (Monterrey
and executive positions at companies
Institute of Technology and Higher
such as Coca-Cola FEMSA, PepsiCo,
Education, also in Mexico), and an
Danone, and Grupo Lala, as well as
MBA at the University of Texas in
in business management at ADO, a
Austin (United States).
major passenger bus line in Mexico.
Raptis focuses his leadership at
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Grupo Empresarial Sonorense
GEMSO on ensuring the sustainable
• Molinos GEMSO, a company
growth of the group, leading efforts
focused on producing the
to transcend the regional and national
strongest brands of wheat flour
markets and enter international
in the Northwest of the country,
markets through globally growing
giving identity to this traditional
sectors.
northern Mexican food.
“When I was asked to join this
• Autos GEMSO. This division has
group, I saw a group with ethical,
established strategic alliances with
integral partners and a desire to
leading automotive brands such
grow,” commented the group’s CEO.
as Changan, Ford, Lincoln, Mazda
A BROAD PORTFOLIO CONQUERING MORE TERRITORIES Beyond its name, GEMSO not only
and Peugeot, and is about to close representation agreements with other nationally relevant
prevails in the northwest of Mexico,
brands.
but also operates in the central,
• Agroindustrias GEMSO is
western and northeastern parts of the
dedicated to high/medium
country. It is also present in the United
technology greenhouse production
States in Arizona, California and
and export of ‘cherry’/’grape’
Nevada, and throughout the country
tomatoes and berries for the most
through products marketed and
important chains in the United
distributed in some self-service chains.
States under the Nature Sweet and Berry World brands.
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This impressive geographic
• Financiera GEMSO, an entity in
presence is driven through five
charge of providing financing for
business divisions:
about 50,000 acres of different
Issue #31
Food & Bever age/A g r oindus t r y/Aut omot ive/Finance/Cons t r uct ion
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Food & Bever age/A g r oindus t r y/Aut omot ive/Finance/Cons t r uct ion
GEMSO has a diversified portfolio of products and services, allowing us to reach different audiences and satisfy different needs - Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO for GEMSO
grains to the food and agriculture
BACKING AND EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR SUPPLIERS
sector.
The relationship that GEMSO
• Desarrollos GEMSO. The group’s
maintains with its diverse list of
real estate firm focuses on
suppliers is undoubtedly one of
projects to be developed in
mutual support.
high-value areas for uses such
Through Financiera GEMSO, the
as shopping malls, corporate
company provides support and
buildings, and sports complexes.
development to its suppliers in the countryside, offering a technological package enabling them to achieve
“GEMSO has a diversified portfolio of
better results out of their crops, along
products and services, allowing us to
with providing first-hand support to
reach different audiences and satisfy
its agricultural producers.
different needs,” added Raptis.
In the face of global events that
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Grupo Empresarial Sonorense
HUMAN have affected wheat prices, GEMSO
said the executive.
spared no effort in providing support to compensate for the losses incurred by many farmers, demonstrating solidarity with the countryside.
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THE HUMAN FACTOR: AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION BUILT OVER DECADES
“We value long-term relationships
The three pillars defining the work
with our business partners and seek
culture at GEMSO are teamwork,
to establish strong collaborations
respect and excellence. What
based on trust and mutual benefit,”
sets GEMSO apart over decades
Issue #31
Food & Bever age/A g r oindus t r y/Aut omot ive/Finance/Cons t r uct ion
FACTOR of successful business is that the
becoming the best place to work,
group’s companies have been
and one of its most significant
formed by honorable and respectable
efforts in that regard has been
partners whose reputation in the
to bring in Ms. Sonia Elizalde
community is recognized, generating
(Director of Human Capital), who
trust among new hires and those
has extensive experience not only
aspiring to join any of GEMSO’s
in managing the workforce but also
business units.
in empowering them to achieve their
The group has set the goal of
full development.
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Grupo Empresarial Sonorense
“We are convinced that we are moving in the right direction, and that can be seen in the opinions of our collaborators and the low levels of turnover we have,” said Raptis. SUSTAINABILITY: DECISIONS FOR THE FUTURE ARE MADE TODAY For GEMSO, sustainability goes beyond concepts announced and broadcast, but it involves concrete actions across all its business units. Efforts such as the elimination of PET plastic bottles, savings in energy efficiency, or the exclusively
We will not rest until we make this company one of the most respected worldwide - Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO for GEMSO
indispensable use of paper for printing are steps in favor of environmental conservation. GEMSO maintains consistency between the development of new and profitable business with the ethical operation of each unit of the company, having a clear awareness that the future is formed from the best decisions that can be made today. “The concept of sustainability must
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Issue #31
Food & Bever age/A g r oindus t r y/Aut omot ive/Finance/Cons t r uct ion
go beyond a politically acceptable statement. It must come with a real commitment,” commented the director. THE FUTURE: OVERCOMING EXPECTATIONS Growth has been a constant in GEMSO’s development, with particular emphasis in recent years, considering that in 2022 the group doubled its profits in just one year. It is assured that 2023 will also show growth beyond what was forecasted in its final figures. Growth not only in numbers but also in operations and business divisions ensures that GEMSO is capable of
FOUNDED: 1926 INDUSTRY: Alimentos / AgroIndustria / Automotriz / Finanzas / Construcción CONTACT: contacto@gemso.com www.corporativogemso.com
transcending beyond the areas where it currently operates. “All paradigms must be left behind, and we will not rest until we make this company one of the most respected worldwide,” concluded Jorge Alberto Raptis, CEO for GEMSO.
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