Brazil and Louis Dreyfus Company: A history of partnership
The company’s story started in 1851, when Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, the son of a farmer, entered the France-Switzerland grain trade. The Group consolidated its presence in Brazil in 1942, with the acquisition of Comércio e Indústrias Brasileiras (Coinbra).
Brazil and Louis Dreyfus Company: A history of partnership
The company’s story started in 1851, when Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, the son of a farmer, entered the France-Switzerland grain trade. The Group consolidated its presence in Brazil in 1942, with the acquisition of Comércio e Indústrias Brasileiras (Coinbra).
1942-1979
Arrival in Brazil
After the death of company founder Léopold Louis Dreyfus, in 1915, a second generation of the business, led by his sons Charles and Louis, decides to expand the activities to the Americas and beyond.
Disembarking in Brazil
The Group acquires Comércio e Indústrias Brasileiras (Coinbra), which operates in the sugar, citrus product, oilseed, and coffee trade.
New frontiers
The Group’s main export offices establish themselves in New York, Chicago, Winnipeg, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Saigon, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Bombay, and Melbourne.
Expansion of the oilseed value chain
The company starts processing soybeans, with its first plant in Ponta Grossa (PR).
On the tables of the Brazilian people
The proprietary Vila Velha and Valência refined soybean oil brands are launched on the market.
Disembarking in Brazil
The Group acquires Comércio e Indústrias Brasileiras (Coinbra), which operates in the sugar, citrus product, oilseed, and coffee trade.
New frontiers
The Group’s main export offices establish themselves in New York, Chicago, Winnipeg, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Saigon, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Bombay, and Melbourne.
Expansion of the oilseed value chain
The company starts processing soybeans, with its first plant in Ponta Grossa (PR).
On the tables of the Brazilian people
The proprietary Vila Velha and Valência refined soybean oil brands are launched on the market.
1980-1996
Expanding our business
New challenges have always been part of the company’s history. The 1980s and 1990s were marked by entry into new businesses, as well as by our increased presence throughout the country.
Establishing the head office in the country
The company moves its head office to Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, in São Paulo, one of the main commercial areas of the capital city.
Entering the juice market
The Group acquires Frutropic Agropecuária, in Matão (SP), making its debut in juice production operations.
The Group enters the coffee trade
The company starts trading coffee through an office located in Santos (SP).
New operations in Brazil
The grain-processing unit is inaugurated in Jataí (GO) and, a year later, coffee operations get underway in Espírito Santo (ES).
Another unit for juices
The company acquires its second juice plant, Coopercitrus Industrial Frutesp, located in Bebedouro (SP).
Growing its presence in the value chain
The company buys the factories of Gessy Lever (formerly Anderson Clayton), increasing its soy crushing capacity, and starts producing its own fruit in orange orchards.
Establishing the head office in the country
The company moves its head office to Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, in São Paulo, one of the main commercial areas of the capital city.
Entering the juice market
The Group acquires Frutropic Agropecuária, in Matão (SP), making its debut in juice production operations.
The Group enters the coffee trade
The company starts trading coffee through an office located in Santos (SP).
New operations in Brazil
The grain-processing unit is inaugurated in Jataí (GO) and, a year later, coffee operations get underway in Espírito Santo (ES).
Another unit for juices
The company acquires its second juice plant, Coopercitrus Industrial Frutesp, located in Bebedouro (SP).
Growing its presence in the value chain
The company buys the factories of Gessy Lever (formerly Anderson Clayton), increasing its soy crushing capacity, and starts producing its own fruit in orange orchards.
2002-2010
Investing in the future
After a period consolidating its activities, the company resumed its growth and expansion throughout the country, inaugurating new industrial units, warehouses and trade offices and operating at port terminals in Brazil.
Entering the state of Minas Gerais
A coffee warehouse is inaugurated in Varginha (MG).
Growth in oilseed
The company builds a soy processing plant in Alto Araguaia (MT).
New juice and coffee operations
The company starts operating its third juice plant, in Engenheiro Coelho (SP), and starts commercial coffee operations in Nova Venécia (ES).
Presence in Bahia and commitment to sustainability
The company opens its cotton office and warehouse in Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA). It also signs the Soy Moratorium, an initiative under which LDC undertakes not to market soybeans produced in deforested areas in the Amazon biome.
Operating in new business
The company inaugurates the juice terminal in the Port of Santos (SP) and starts trading fertilizers in Brazil.
Strategic partnerships
The company starts operating the Guarujá Export Terminal (TEG) and enters the rice market. It also begins a joint venture in the grain origination business, forming Amaggi & LD Commodities.
Committed to the best business practices
We contribute to a sustainable future by signing the UN Global Compact: A set of ten business principles covering human and worker rights, environmental principles, and the fight against corruption.
Entering the state of Minas Gerais
A coffee warehouse is inaugurated in Varginha (MG).
Growth in oilseed
The company builds a soy processing plant in Alto Araguaia (MT).
New juice and coffee operations
The company starts operating its third juice plant, in Engenheiro Coelho (SP), and starts commercial coffee operations in Nova Venécia (ES).
Presence in Bahia and commitment to sustainability
The company opens its cotton office and warehouse in Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA). It also signs the Soy Moratorium, an initiative under which LDC undertakes not to market soybeans produced in deforested areas in the Amazon biome.
Operating in new business
The company inaugurates the juice terminal in the Port of Santos (SP) and starts trading fertilizers in Brazil.
Strategic partnerships
The company starts operating the Guarujá Export Terminal (TEG) and enters the rice market. It also begins a joint venture in the grain origination business, forming Amaggi & LD Commodities.
Committed to the best business practices
We contribute to a sustainable future by signing the UN Global Compact: A set of ten business principles covering human and worker rights, environmental principles, and the fight against corruption.
2011-2017
A new chapter
The company continues writing its story with a focus on sustainability and on building strong trust-based relationships. Its performance in the country is consolidated through new partnerships and acquisitions. To mark this new chapter, the Group is renamed Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC).
Strengthening its performance
The company starts operating fertilizer-mixing units with the acquisition of Macrofértil in Brazil. It becomes the Country’s cottonseed processing leader, with the purchase of a Maeda Group unit in Itumbiara (GO) and, by means of the Amaggi & LD Commodities Port Terminals joint venture, it wins a bid for a lot to build a bulk terminal at the Port of Itaqui (MA).
Expansion at full steam
The company buys the fourth citrus juice plant in Paranavaí (PR). It inaugurates a coffee warehouse in Nova Venécia (ES), starts operating a cotton warehouse in Cubatão (SP), and purchases a soybean warehouse in Rio Verde (GO). It starts building another warehouse in Jataí (GO) and acquires a new fleet of barges and pushers for the Tietê-Paraná Waterway, thus growing its logistics capacity.
Entering a new market
With the acquisition of Kowalski Alimentos, with two units, one in Apucarana (PR) and another one in Rio Verde (GO), the company marks its entry into the processed corn market, with products for both the industry and the end consumer, and in the small animal and fish feed market.
Investing heavily in logistics
The company wins a bid, in a partnership, to operate the solid bulk terminal at the port of Santos for 25 years. It completes the expansion of a coffee warehouse in Nova Venécia (Espírito Santo), builds grain warehouses in the states of Mato Grosso, Goiás and Paraná, and retakes trading metals.
A new name for a new era
Throughout the globe, the company enters a new era in which we grow by means of trust-based partnerships, leveraging our ability to deliver a full, high-level service focused on our customers and not just on a product or commodity. To reflect this commitment, the company’s name becomes Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC). The company also initiates studies for a sustainable logistics solution implementation project in the state of Pará.
Marking its history in the country
The company celebrates its 75-year presence in Brazil, with important milestones such as the upgrade of the oil processing unit in Paraguaçu Paulista (SP) and of the soy oil bottling line at the Jataí unit (GO); the expansion of warehouses in Mato Grosso and Goiás, and the creation of a company for the direct hiring of freight transport for grain distribution.
Strengthening its performance
The company starts operating fertilizer-mixing units with the acquisition of Macrofértil in Brazil. It becomes the Country’s cottonseed processing leader, with the purchase of a Maeda Group unit in Itumbiara (GO) and, by means of the Amaggi & LD Commodities Port Terminals joint venture, it wins a bid for a lot to build a bulk terminal at the Port of Itaqui (MA).
Expansion at full steam
The company buys the fourth citrus juice plant in Paranavaí (PR). It inaugurates a coffee warehouse in Nova Venécia (ES), starts operating a cotton warehouse in Cubatão (SP), and purchases a soybean warehouse in Rio Verde (GO). It starts building another warehouse in Jataí (GO) and acquires a new fleet of barges and pushers for the Tietê-Paraná Waterway, thus growing its logistics capacity.
Entering a new market
With the acquisition of Kowalski Alimentos, with two units, one in Apucarana (PR) and another one in Rio Verde (GO), the company marks its entry into the processed corn market, with products for both the industry and the end consumer, and in the small animal and fish feed market.
Investing heavily in logistics
The company wins a bid, in a partnership, to operate the solid bulk terminal at the port of Santos for 25 years. It completes the expansion of a coffee warehouse in Nova Venécia (Espírito Santo), builds grain warehouses in the states of Mato Grosso, Goiás and Paraná, and retakes trading metals.
A new name for a new era
Throughout the globe, the company enters a new era in which we grow by means of trust-based partnerships, leveraging our ability to deliver a full, high-level service focused on our customers and not just on a product or commodity. To reflect this commitment, the company’s name becomes Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC). The company also initiates studies for a sustainable logistics solution implementation project in the state of Pará.
Marking its history in the country
The company celebrates its 75-year presence in Brazil, with important milestones such as the upgrade of the oil processing unit in Paraguaçu Paulista (SP) and of the soy oil bottling line at the Jataí unit (GO); the expansion of warehouses in Mato Grosso and Goiás, and the creation of a company for the direct hiring of freight transport for grain distribution.
Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, leveraging its global reach and extensive asset network to deliver for its customers around the world - safely, responsibly and reliably. Today we help to feed and clothe some 500 million people, originating, processing and transporting approximately 80 million tons of products annually.
Phone: + 55 11 3039-6700
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