Sugal group’s expansion into Chile

Abstract

This dissertation explores the internationalization of Sugal Group into Chile, one of the world's leading tomato processing companies, with 95% of its production destined for export, exporting to more than 70 countries. Sugal Group achieved its expansion to Chile by acquiring two factories from Tresmontes Lucchetti Agroindustiral (TMLA), making a significant milestone in its internationalization. The primary goal of the case study is to comprehend the motivations that drove Sugal's internationalization to Chile, to comprehend the reasoning behind choosing this country over others, to analyze the defined strategies to enter the country, to analyze how the integration of the acquisition was carried out over 14,000 km away, and to analyze the results obtained with the expansion. This analysis will show how Sugal Group has become the second largest producer of processed tomatoes in the world. The company has managed to create a unique competitive advantage over its competitors by exploiting and carrying out two tomato harvesting campaigns a year, thanks to its strategic presence in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Artificial intelligence assisted in the development of some graphics and the rewording of the text, making it more direct and cohesive for clear and objective communication.

Date of Award	3 Feb 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Cardeal (Supervisor)