by Subsole Team: Pepe

Headquartered in Santiago, Subsole is one of Chile’s largest and most iconic fruit exporters and the largest Chilean exporter of table grapes to global markets. Subsole also has significant programs in citrus, avocados, kiwis, cherries and pomegranates.

Three main themes run throughout Subsole’s history:

  • The desire to provide global customers with the highest-quality fruit possible.
  • A commitment to being good stewards of the land and strong advocates for meaningful sustainability, and;
  • An abiding respect for the people who farm the land and for all members of the Subsole team.

The evolution of an enduring, mission-driven company like Subsole is much like writing a book with the entire Subsole team – from those that were there at the company’s founding until today – as the true authors. It is they who continue to craft Subsole’s history, a story with many chapters yet to write.

  • Subsole
    Today
  • Subsole’s Expansion
    2000 - 2021
  • Subsole’s Origin Story
    The 1990’s
Subsole
Today

After three decades as a significant independent operator, in 2022 Subsole was acquired by Frutura, a California-based global sales and marketing network. Frutura is committed to supplying international customers with premium fruit, 365 days a year, and to aligning with companies who share core values around social and environmental performance. A perfect fit for Subsole.

Today, Subsole is experiencing additional growth, as Frutura invests in expanding Subsole’s footprint and in its leadership. Subsole’s future is also a story of collaboration with other Frutura companies, all similarly focused on sustainability and good governance, principles central to Subsole since its founding.

Subsole’s Expansion
2000 - 2021

After an initial decade focused on producing grapes of the highest quality, Subsole added new crops to its portfolio, concentrating on citrus, avocados, kiwis, cherries and pomegranates. The company also crafted a strong infrastructure to support this growth. Subsole entered into progressive relationships with over 150 farmer entrepreneurs, resulting in an impressive 3,000 plus cultivable hectares on which to grow an expanded fruit portfolio.

It is easy during a period of expansion to let one’s founding principles fall by the wayside, but that did not happen at Subsole. An abiding respect for the human team, and an emphasis on sustainability and on being good stewards of the environment, continued to drive decision-making at Subsole.

Subsole’s Origin Story
The 1990’s

Miguel Allamand co-founded Subsole in 1991. The focus was on exporting grapes, of the highest quality, to the global marketplace.

Of equal importance was building a company that gave greater participation to producers, team members and even customers. The founders wanted to give a strong voice to the people responsible for Subsole’s success. They felt it was important to strike a balance between achieving a fair economic return, with the then‑emerging principles of ESG – respect for the environment, social welfare and good governance.

Business units

Subsole has five business units that together, enable the company’s mission of producing superior Chilean fruit for global markets.

That mission begins with the meticulous work of Subsole teams in the field, harvesting high-quality fruit through Los Terrones. Key learning at the production level, particularly around sustainability, is later shared within Subsole’s producer colleagues via Exportadora Subsole and throughout the Frutura family of companies.

Subsole’s work often yields innovations in packing and cold storage and that is handled through Subsole’s Agroindustrial Services business unit.

Delivering superior fruit to Subsole’s home country is the purpose of Subsole Comercial, which supplies supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Chile.

Lastly, with Subsole Servicios Portuarios, port operations are optimized to achieve both maximum agility, as well as protection of the quality of Subsole’s fruit. This effort begins as fruit is first loaded at the port, straight through to when it is received at its international destination.

The power of these highly-efficient business units was multiplied in 2022, when Subsole became part of Frutura (www.fruturaproduce.com). Through Frutura, Subsole added synergies and strength to its business operations via collaboration with sister Frutura companies which include Agrícola Don Ricardo (Peru); Dayka & Hackett (USA); Frutura Uruguay and TerraFresh Organics (USA).

Juan Colombo
Juan Colombo

CEO


I grew up in Santiago, Chile, dividing my time between the city and my family’s tree nut and dairy farms, so I haven’t strayed far from either my agricultural or geographic roots. Weekends and summers were spent learning the business from my dad and I did all of the dirtiest jobs, even becoming a pretty skilled mover of cow manure.

I received a degree in Agronomy from the Universidad de Chile, majoring in Fruit Production. My first job after graduating was with Subsole and I’m not alone in my longevity of tenure at the company. The value of the enduring relationships we’ve built together is incalculable. We move as one through challenging, as well as excellent times, and I’m grateful to do so with the team of extraordinary people at Subsole.

It doesn’t seem possible that I’ve been here for two decades. Because we are constantly trying to improve and grow, our work is always interesting and feels fresh. Subsole’s history of progress is now amplified by our association with Frutura and their family of companies. Our team is grateful for the many new opportunities we share and together, we look ahead to a very bright future.

Ricardo Budinich
Ricardo Budinich

CFO


I grew up in Northern Chile as ‘Ricardo, the doctor’s kid.’ My dad provided care to the residents of our town and through him, I met an incredibly diverse range of people. He later worked for the World Health Organization, focused on the underserved throughout LATAM.

I continued with my public school education at the Universidad de Chile and got a degree in Industrial Engineering. I wanted to solve complex business problems, so I worked in banking, energy and retail.

My early lessons about service, and my experience managing complexity, have come full circle at Subsole. We have many constituencies to consider, but under Juan’s leadership, we’re united in a focus on service of our customers. If we concentrate on them, all other cups will be filled.

I’m grateful to work with such a tremendous group of people, who also share having a great sense of humor. Humor may seem like a small thing to be thankful for, but it helps Subsole be a company of adept problem-solvers who are never defeated. Together, we can do anything.

Locations

Región III Atacama
  • FRIGORÍFICO LA CANTERA
    km. 40 Copiapó, Tierra Amarilla Atacama, Chile
  • PACKING TINAMOU
    Las Juntas, Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • PACKING HORNITOS
    Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • DON ALFONSO
    Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • LAS JUNTAS
    Las Juntas, Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • PARRONALES TINAMOU SPA – JUNTAS
    Las Juntas, Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • PARRONALES TINAMOU SPA – LAUTARO
    Las Juntas, Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • TERRAFERO SPA – TERRAFERO
    Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
  • Región IV Coquimbo
  • CARÉN
  • SEMITA
    Semita, Monte Patria, Coquimbo
  • MOSTAZAL
  • LA PALOMA
  • EL MIRADOR
  • PACKING CARÉN
    Monte Patria, Coquimbo, Chile
  • PACKING LA CAMPANA
    El Palqui, Monte Patria, Coquimbo
  • Región Metropolitana
  • EXPORTADORA SUBSOLE
    Av. Luis Pasteur 5655, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
  • PLANTA ISLA DE MAIPO
    Balmaceda 6475, Isla de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile
  • LOS TERRONES
    Balmaceda 6475, Isla de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile
  • SUBSOLE COMERCIAL
    Balmaceda 7200, Isla de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile
  • PLANTA SAN MIGUEL
    Balmaceda 7200, Isla de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile
  • LOS ACACIOS
    G-506 506, Buin, Región Metropolitana
  • AGROSERVICIOS LONQUÉN (VILUCO)
  • PARRONALES TINAMOU SPA – LONQUÉN
    74HQ+5G Isla de Maipo, Chile
  • Región V Valparaíso
  • AGROSERVICIOS LONQUÉN (SAN FELIPE)
    Santa María, Valparaíso
  • PLANTA HIJUELAS
  • SUBSOLE SERVICIOS PORTUARIOS
    Blanco Encalada 1663 of. 701 – Valparaíso, Chile
  • FUNDO DOÑA HELENA SPA – DOÑA HELENA
    San Felipe, Valparaíso, Chile
  • AGRÍCOLA EL RETORNO SPA – EL RETORNO
    Camino a, E-77, Santa María, Valparaíso
  • Región VI O'Higgins
  • MAITENCO
  • PORVENIR LAINCA
  • LAINCA
  • EL CARDAL
  • EL ALAMO
  • PLANTA EL OLIVAR
  • PACKING LAINCA
  • PARRONALES TINAMOU SPA – LA PUNTA
  • PARRONALES TINAMOU SPA – EL OBISPO