AquaChile buys Robinson Crusoe
AquaChile, a family owned business between the Puchi and the Fischer brothers is the largest salmon company in Chile following Marine Harvest. Over the past two years the company has made steady take-overs of smaller salmon companies in the region and has also bought a tilapia business in Costa Rica. According to El Diario Financiero, AquaChile already owned 60% of Salmones Robinson Crusoe when Arnoldo Macaya, one of the company’s founders, recently decided to sell the Puchi and Fischer brothers the remaining 40%. As is AquaChile’s policy, following each business take-over the original company continues to use its same name and run independently within the financial group. The brand name Robinson Crusoe however is considered a potent market asset in Chile, and also belongs to Robinson Crusoe’s seafood cannery. The current owner of the seafood cannery, Jealsa Rianxeira from Spain, will stay Robinson Crusoe name. AquaChile acquired only Salmones Robinson Crusoe and shortly thereafter changed the company name to Salmones Maullín S.A. Regarding the name brand; the Robinson Crusoe brand may continue to be used by AquaChile for salmon sales in the US or other markets outside of Chile. “This decision will contribute to the strength, diversification and development of markets for the distinct companies grouped within Empresas AquaChile, through innovation and product development,” states Víctor Hugo Puchi, president of AquaChile. Empresas AquaChile will an estimated US$ 600 million in sales this year.
