«His leadership and vision of the future led him to create a company based on solid principles and values, with a marked seal of innovation and excellence, rooted in the regions of Chile. (…) We accompany the family in this difficult time. His funeral will be held privately,” said the vice president of Agrosuper, Jose Guzman.

At the age of 88, the businessman died this Tuesday Gonzalo Vial Vial, founder, president and controller of agrosuper, the largest local producer of chicken, pork and turkey meat in the country.

“I started the egg production business with two workers in 1955. I acted motivated by my intuition. I didn't have money, but I dared to leave. However, daring alone was not enough, but you had to dedicate a lot of effort, many hours to work and, most importantly, do it with pleasure," Vial recalled the beginning of what is today an agri-food empire, the main group in the sector of the country. He did it in front of his peers, in 2007, when Agrosuper was chosen as the company of the year. And since 2019, after buy AquaChile, also salmon. Vial controlled the group through a corporate structure in which he almost has no shares, but he does have all the powers.

In 1979, he was highlighted by ICARUS as Best Entrepreneur, and a year later He was awarded by the National Agricultural Society as an Agricultural Entrepreneur. Then, in the 2000s, was worthy of Social Development Award delivered by the SOFOFA. In 2010, he was elected by the Business Association of Chilean Foods as “Bicentennial Food Entrepreneur”, for its contribution to the development of the country as a food power.

Gonzalo Vial Vial founder of Agrosuper

In a statement made this Tuesday by the vice president of Agrosuper, Jose Guzman, noted that “with great pain and sadness, we announce the sensitive death of Gonzalo Vial Vial, president and founder of Agrosuper. Gonzalo Vial began his career as an entrepreneur and transformed his passion into a leading food manufacturing company for Chile and the world. His leadership and vision of the future led him to create a company based on solid principles and values, with a marked seal of innovation and excellence, rooted in the regions of Chile.

Throughout his life he focused on delivering the highest quality food to all Chilean families with the support of his collaborators and so many entrepreneurs and suppliers who grew up with Agrosuper. We accompany the family in this difficult time. His funeral will be held privately.”

Jose Guzman vice president of Agrosuper

In October of last year, Agrosuper informed the Financial Market Commission of a change that was loaded with symbolism: Gonzalo Vial Concha, 61 years old in October, the youngest of his four children, joined Agrosuper's board of directors for the first time. His entry led to the departure of Fernando Barros, the lawyer and partner of Barros Errázuriz who accompanied the patriarch for decades as his closest legal advisor. In 2020, the board grew from six to ten members and Gonzalo Vial Vial's three eldest daughters were able to have direct representation in Agrosuper. Although they previously participated as listeners, in April 2020 María del Pilar (63) and María José Vial Concha (62) made their debut at the table. For the oldest, María Cristina Vial Concha (65), her husband, Andrés Vial Sánchez, entered.

The company

At the beginning of the last decade, agrosuper He was already a giant, but he was not the size he is today. In 2011 it had a turnover of US$ 2.156 million. In 2022, it reported revenues of US$ 4.179 million, of which 60,3% was exported to 64 countries. In total, chicken, pork and turkey meats represent 64,2% of the business, the other third are the aquaculture businesses managed through Empresas Aqua Chile. Gonzalo Vial Concha also joined the board of that firm, which years ago was bought from Víctor Hugo Puchi and the Fischer brothers, on October 26, once again replacing Barros.

In 2011 Agrosuper was involved in the so-called “chicken collusion”, regarding which in 2015 the Supreme Court issued a final ruling, applying the maximum fine contemplated by law for these cases: 30 thousand UTA, equivalent to US$23,3, XNUMX million then.

Agrosuper's weight in Chile is undeniable, according to its market shares by segment. In 2022, the group was awarded 50% of the Chilean chicken market (including its own production and imports); 54% of pork and 65% of turkey. Globally, it has 0,4% of the poultry market and 0,3% of the pig market. This entire group is controlled by Promotora Doñihue Limitada, whose general manager is José Guzmán. Promotora Doñihue, where the group is based, has 98% of Agrosuper. Above Doñihue is Vial Concha Limitada, whose shareholders are, in equal parts, the four children of Gonzalo Vial Vial. But the father reserved the role of lifelong administrator of everything.

Shortly before the 2020 reform that allowed his daughters to join the board of directors, Vial Sr. modified the statutes of Promotora Doñihue. There he established that, upon his death, the four brothers will be founding directors of Doñihue that will last until 2046 and that every decision must be adopted with at least three votes. Dividend distribution issues must be unanimous. In the future, each brother will be able to elect two directors each at Agrosuper. Another role was also left in 2010 to Fernando Barros: in case of conflict, he will be the arbiter of differences between the Vial Concha brothers. That could change in the future.

SNA reaction

The National Agricultural Society (SNA) highlighted the legacy that Gonzalo Vial left in the sector. “Dedicated to animal protein, he industrialized the field, building one of the most successful agricultural companies in the history of the country and with tradition,” said the president of the union, Antonio Walker. He added that “we will remember him as a simple man, low profile, collaborator, tremendous businessman in the best sense of the word, humane, lover of horses and attached to his family. An example of inspiration for all of us who live in agriculture.”