In 1972 we incorporated the Derivados de Maiz Alimenticio (DEMASA) company and began construction of the first tortilla plant, in order to market packaged tortillas for the first time in Costa Rica, under the TortiRicas brand.

We imported 47 tortilla-producing machines  using  extrusion technology and we began  by producing 60 tortillas per minute, prepared with corn flour imported from Veracruz, Mexico. 

Since the tortilla production project grew to significant  proportions, in 1978 we began  the construction of a mill. Over time, we developed other businesses  DEMASA  successfully entered, such as snacks under the  Tosty brand, rice, palmito [hearts of palm], bread and confectionery goods. 

In October ,1981 we began a process of decentralization  in  tortilla manufacturing, in order to offer  consumers the convenience of finding  the freshest product near their homes and so we started up the first tortillerias.  This important process  allowed up to 37 franchises to be set up  throughout the  country.

Starting in 1996 we reoriented the strategy and created a mega-plant in Valencia de Heredia wherewe installed high-technology machinery to manufacture tortillas. The franchises were eliminated and  added large distributors, to whom  the product is delivered on a daily basis. 

Today, the new plant  is located in Pavas and is equipped with latest manufacturing technology, which  we developed ourselves.

The plant has seven tortilla-manufacturing machines that produce a weekly volume of more than 1.5 million packages of corn flour tortillas, and two machines that produce wheat flour tortillas, providing jobs  for 134 people. 

The basic raw material for  the preparation of the tortilla dough  is of course the corn flour produced by the same mill belonging to the group which automatically delivers it to the plant .

The Palmito Plant

In 1978 , through DEMASA, we began the acquisition of a portion of the facilities of the Conservas del Campo group, and through it,  the palmito [hearts of palm]  business line.

The Del Campo group began their operations in Costa Rica in 1970 through  the production and sale of fruit juices and nectars.  In the mid-1970s it began  to diversify  into other products such as vegetables and fruit.

With a vision of market internationalization, in 1974 we had the idea of canning  palmito [hearts of palm] for export to the European market and it was then that the first facilities were set up. .  By 1978, we had incorporated INDACO (Industrias de Desarrollo Agricola) by planting approximately 500 hectares in Horquetas de Sarapiqui, in  Heredia province. 

At the same time, INDACO decided to  set up another farn with over 500 hectares under cultivation under the name Agropalmito S.A., located in Guapiles, Limon province.

In 1986, DEMASA acquired all of of Conservas del Campo's shares.

Our production of palmito [hearts of palm]  in Costa Rica led the country to become one of the world's majir  producers  of this prized food.

Currently, we have two manufacturing plants: one in Costa Rica and the other in Ecuador.

In regard  to palm cultivation , we have 550 hectares of palms of our own under cultivatuin and have added farmers with more than 5,000 hectares. The canned hearts of palm  is exported to Europe, mainly to Spain, France and Belgium, and to the United States,, Mexico, South America and Canada.