We speak to Soqui Calderon, Regional Director of Sustainability for Grupo Modelo and the Middle Americas Zone. And she reveals how the beverage giant is tackling sustainability from a procurement perspective…
Grupo Modelo is a giant and a leader in the production, distribution and sale of beer in Mexico. Grupo Modelo is part of the Middle America Region (of the AB InBev Group) and boasts 17 national brands. Corona Extra is the most valuable brand in Latin America, and its other brands include: Modelo Especial, Victoria, Pacífico and Negra Modelo. The company also exports eight brands and has a presence in more than 180 countries while operating 11 brewing plants in Mexico.
Through more than nine decades, Grupo Modelo has invested and grown within – and with – Mexico. It has also generated more than 30,000 direct jobs in its breweries and vertical operations throughout the country.
Grupo Modelo, like many forward-thinking companies, is currently focused on a drive towards establishing a truly sustainable business. This endeavour is best exemplified in the Middle Americas Zone (MAZ), where sustainability efforts have been led by for the past five years by Soqui Calderon Aranibar, Regional Sustainability and ESG Director. Ambitious targets have been established for the region, but some remarkable achievements have already been made. As Calderon says: “For our team, sustainability is not just part of our business, it IS our business.”
Sustainability in the MAZ
The Middle Americas Zone is made up of several countries: Mexico, Colombia, Perú, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala + other Caribbean islands. Each territor is home to its own brands that are household names in their respective countries. However, Grupo Modelo’s Corona beer, manufactured in Mexico, is one of the top five best-selling beers globally.
Calderon’s regional role means she travels extensively throughout the territories, engaging with all their businesses and collaborating closely with their partners and suppliers. Her job? To effectively outline their sustainability goals…
