A Tradition of More Than 110 Years in the Colombian Countryside

The history of the Group has been built, day after day with the hard, continuous work of several generations of one family. Our history dates back to the origins of agro-industry in Colombia itself. In the early 20th century, Mister Carlos Murgas Puche began this company, dedicated initially to extensive cattle-raising to later venture in transitory crops such as, rice, sorghum and cotton.

In 1975, the company began growing oil palms with its own palms in Hacienda Las Flores farm, owned by the Group and located in the town of Codazzi, in Cesar Department.

In partnership with British multinational New Britain Palm Oil Limited – oil palm seed developer and producer, based in Papua, New Guinea -, the group produces high-yield oil palm seeds known as DAMI- LAS FLORES in its nurseries.

 

Our History

  • 1967

    The partnership that would later become the present day Grupo Empresarial Oleoflores is established.

  • 1974

    In partnership with British multinational Harrison & Crossfield – oil palm seed developer and producer, with production plants in Papua, New Guinea, begin the first imports of germinated oil palm seeds.

  • 1975

    The organization undertakes the development projects required to grow and harvest oil palms, importing and germinating the first palm seeds.

  • 1978

    The first plots of self-owned palm trees are planted in Hacienda Las Flores, owned by the Organization and located in rural Codazzi.

  • 1983

    Extraction activities begin with construction of a palm oil extraction mill built at Hacienda Las Flores in the town of Codazzi.

  • 1985

    Research begins for the production of oil palm seeds and the first Mother Palms Nursery is planted - Nursery I - at Hacienda Las Flores, Codazzi.

  • 1987

    The first refinery for the production and processing of vegetable oils and fats from raw palm oil is built.

  • 1993

    Oleoflores Limitada is established. The company is dedicated to the processing of oil palm fruit and to the industrial transformation of raw palm oil. It was later changed to be a joint-stock company.

  • 1994

    Commercialization of "Dami-Las Flores" seeds begins at Hacienda Las Flores. These seeds came from genetic materials from Papua, New Guinea, where more than 1.000 hectares are dedicated to trials with materials of different origin and generations of crossings and selections of more than 100 years.

  • 1999

    Nursery III of mother palms for the production of oil palm seeds is planted at Hacienda Las Flores.

  • 2000

    Sociedad Promotora Hacienda Las Flores S.A. is established. The purpose of this organization is to promote, plan, implement, manage and oversee the "Productive and Social Alliances", which purpose is the planting, farming and harvesting of oil palm trees.

    Sociedad Promotora Hacienda Las Flores S.A. promotes the establishment of the first "Productive and Social Alliances" partnership with 126 small growers in the rural region of Montes de Maria in the municipality of Maria La Baja, Department of Bolivar.

  • 2003

    The following are ISO-9001 certified: the production and commercialization processes of Oleoflores; production and commercialization of germinated "DAMI-LAS FLORES" - germinated seeds; the establishment and operation of productive and social alliances of Promotora Hacienda Las Flores.

  • 2004

    The first partnership under the "Productive and Social Alliances" is model is formed in the municipality of Tibú, Norte de Santader Department in the Catatumbo Region.

  • 2005

    The first renewal of oil palm trees in 51 hectares takes place at Hacienda Las Flores.

  • 2006

    The Solids and Margarines Production Plant begins operation. Processing capacity of the refining mill is expanded to 300 tons.

  • 2007

    A mill is inaugurated in the Maria La Baja, Bolivar region. It integrates the "Productive and Social Alliances" model towards an agro-industrial level, and where small growers of the partnership take part as industrial partners together with the Partnership Integrator.
    Construction of the first methyl-ester (Biodiesel) production plant in Colombia is finished and it is inaugurated; it begins a testing stage.