With an investment of US$50 million (Q380.5 million), the Guatemalan company Fogel is building a modern production plant for commercial refrigerators in Villa Canales, where the use of cutting-edge technology based on international standards stands out.
This Wednesday, June 10, it was reported that the project has a strategic alliance with the Japanese corporation Hoshizaki. The objective is to double its production capacity and consolidate Guatemala as a manufacturing center to supply markets throughout America.
The new facility will gradually replace the operations currently carried out in Mixco and will allow the annual production capacity to be increased from 216 thousand to 400 thousand commercial refrigeration units.
The company plans to officially open the facilities at the end of July 2026.
During a tour of the plant, company executives highlighted that the project represents a comprehensive transformation of manufacturing processes and a commitment to the incorporation of cutting-edge technology.
The new plant will have 67 thousand square meters of construction, more than double the 27 thousand square meters of the current facility. In addition, it will incorporate automated systems, robotics and artificial intelligence in the different production lines.
According to managers, it is one of the most modern commercial refrigeration factories in Latin America and one of the most advanced on the continent.
Alliance with Japan
Fogel’s expansion is developed hand in hand with Hoshizaki, a Japanese company that is a world leader in the manufacture of ice machines and refrigeration equipment, with a presence in more than 40 countries and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The relationship between both companies began seven years ago, when Fogel began manufacturing products for the Japanese firm. Hoshizaki subsequently acquired a minority stake in the Guatemalan company, becoming a strategic partner to drive growth in Latin America.
They explained that this is Hoshizaki’s first alliance in Latin America, which places Guatemala as a platform to expand operations in the region.
Exports to more than 35 countries
Fogel currently exports to more than 35 countries and maintains commercial, service and reconstruction operations in nine Latin American markets. Its main clients include multinational food and beverage companies, as well as regional companies.
The company produces more than 200 models of commercial refrigerators and has a workforce of approximately 1,800 employees in Guatemala.
The managers explained that the growth in demand, especially in the United States and Mexico, motivated the construction of the new plant.
Currently, the company sells about 20 thousand units per year in the US market and seeks to increase its presence in that country.
Another objective is to strengthen its presence in Mexico.
Guatemala and the nearshoring opportunity
The company believes that Guatemala can take advantage of the nearshoring phenomenon, through which several industries move part of their production from Asia to countries closer to the North American market.
Nearshoring consists of moving services or processes to geographically close locations.
The executives highlighted that Guatemala has competitive advantages, including its geographical location, macroeconomic stability and availability of labor.
However, they recognized that strengthening infrastructure is key to taking advantage of these opportunities.
To read more: 7 reasons to invest in Guatemala, according to the private sector
In this sense, they highlighted the importance of connectivity projects that allow greater logistical integration with Pacific and Atlantic ports.
The new plant in Villa Canales responds precisely to the need to have better mobility conditions for heavy transportation and facilitate the distribution of products to international markets.
More production lines and capacity
Currently, two production lines are already operating in the new facilities and the company plans to add another three or four in the coming months.
The goal is to achieve monthly production close to 17,000 or 18,000 units in a first stage, with the possibility of continuing to increase capacity as demand increases.
The managers indicated that the refrigeration industry requires large storage and logistics spaces, due to the size of the equipment and the need to maintain sufficient inventories to serve the different markets.
In addition to the direct impact on employment, the company highlighted that its products are used by restaurants, supermarkets, stores and small businesses throughout America, so the company’s growth also has effects on other production chains.
The official opening of the new plant will be attended by Hoshizaki executives from Japan and the United States, as well as international clients.
For the company, the project seeks to send a signal of confidence about the country’s industrial potential and demonstrate that Guatemala can become a regional manufacturing platform with the capacity to compete in the most demanding markets.
“This investment reflects our confidence in the industrial potential of Guatemala and capitalizes on its competitive nearshoring advantages. From our new plant, we will be able to offer our clients greater value with the best quality, with shorter and more reliable delivery times, quickly meeting the demand for commercial refrigeration in the American hemisphere. This megaplant is not only an investment by Fogel; it is an investment in the industrial future of Guatemala,” said Jacobo Tefel, president of Fogel.
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