Mexico is home to some of the wealthiest people on the planet, such as Carlos Slim, Germán Larrea, María Asunción Aramburuzabala, and Carlos Hank, who regularly appear in international rankings and compete directly with magnates such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Ballmer.
Coahuila is one of Mexico’s most important states in the business world due to its strong industrial presence, strategic border location, and developed infrastructure. It is a key driver in sectors such as the automotive, metalworking, textile, and mining industries, hosting important plants for national and international companies.
Furthermore, it has been the birthplace of influential business families, such as the Martín Bringas (Soriana) and the Arizpes, who have significantly contributed to regional and national economic development. Its job security, modern industrial parks, and proximity to the United States consolidate it as a hub for investment and sustained growth.
Such is the case of the Arizpe family, considered the second richest in the state of Coahuila, behind only the Martín Bringas family, owners of the Soriana supermarket chain. This company has experienced accelerated growth in recent years, especially after the acquisition of stores such as Gigante and Comercial Mexicana, strengthening its position in the Mexican retail market. If you want to know all the details about these important families from the north of the country, stay with us.
Who is the richest family in Coahuila?
Context: In Mexico, many business families have managed to transcend generations by inheriting solid businesses that continue to grow over time. A clear example of this is the Martín Bringas family, who run Soriana, a supermarket chain that began in Coahuila and is today one of the most recognized and frequented in the country. Its presence is so strong that for millions of Mexicans, it is a regular part of their daily lives, being one of the preferred places to do basic household shopping.
Soriana’s history began in 1905, when Don Pascual Borque founded a fabric store called La Soriana in Torreón. Beginning in 1930, his descendants Armando and Francisco Martín Borque took over the business and gradually transformed it into a commercial empire.
Over the decades, the company expanded its offerings and national coverage, achieving key milestones such as the purchase of 206 stores from Grupo Gigante in 2007 and the acquisition of 160 units from Comercial Mexicana in 2015.
Thanks to this sustained growth, the family is ranked 30th in the Forbes 2023 ranking of Mexican millionaires, with a fortune valued at $1.625 billion, a 25% increase compared to 2022.
Coahuila, the state where this emporium was born, is consolidating its position as one of the most competitive states for doing business in Mexico. According to the IMCO 2023 State Competitiveness Index, it ranks fourth overall, behind only Nuevo León and Mexico City, and sixth in innovation.
This favorable business environment has been key to local initiatives like Soriana’s growth to become national benchmarks, demonstrating that the north of the country is a fertile ground for economic and business development.
What other wealthy entrepreneurs reside in Coahuila?
In many Mexican homes, milk is a constant presence on the table, especially during breakfast or dinner. Whether whole, lactose-free, light, or with added protein, this product has gained an important place in people’s daily lives, and its variety in supermarkets reflects the growing consumption. Among all the available brands, Lala has established itself as one of the most recognized, not only for its commercial presence but also for the impact it has had on business development in Mexico.
Lala’s origins date back to 1949, when the Torreón Milk Producers Credit Union was founded, and a year later, the first pasteurization plant in Coahuila was opened. Over time, the brand evolved, and by 1967, it was already selling milk in cartons.
The Lala Foundation was created in 1985, reflecting a social commitment beyond business. Today, this company not only leads the dairy market in Mexico but has also been instrumental in positioning the Tricio Haro family as one of the most influential in the country, ranking 28th in the 2023 ranking of the most important businessmen, with sales approaching 100 million pesos.
Eduardo Tricio Haro, current president of Grupo Lala, has recounted in columns for Forbes that his early inspiration was his father, Eduardo Tricio Gómez. At 25, he was invited to join the company’s Board of Directors, and in 2000, he assumed the presidency. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding the company and strengthening his family legacy, turning Lala not only into an everyday brand, but also into a symbol of the business success forged in northern Mexico.
Who are the Arizpes and what business has led them to amass their enormous fortune?
In April 2023, Forbes announced that the Arizpe family, originally from Saltillo, Coahuila, had an estimated fortune of $882 million, reflecting a 26.1% growth compared to the previous year. This wealth placed them 36th among the richest in Mexico and is largely due to their participation as major investors in Arca Continental, one of the largest bottlers in the world and the second largest for The Coca-Cola Company in Latin America.
Arca Continental serves more than 125 million people in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, northern Argentina, and the southwestern United States, operating as a powerful Coca-Cola franchise. In addition to traditional soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta, it also produces and bottles brands such as Ciel, Topo Chico, Ades, Del Valle, Monster Energy, and Santa Clara. The company also has a strong focus on snacks, distributing the Bokados brands in Mexico, Inalecta in Ecuador, and Wise and Deep River in the U.S. Since 2011, Arca Continental emerged from a merger between several regional bottlers, including those of the Arizpe family, Barragán, Fernández, and Grossman.
Currently, Luis Arizpe Jiménez directs the family’s operations within Arca Continental, while Jorge Humberto Santos Reyna serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Another key member is Alejandro José Arizpe Narro, who serves as an asset advisor and sits on the planning and finance committees.
This family structure demonstrates how the Arizpes have managed to position themselves as one of the most solid business dynasties in the north of the country, playing a strategic role in one of the most important companies in the international food and beverage industry.
Source: lasillarota
