Cluster Gray has 160 years of history, and a team of almost two thousand employees in Mexico, the United States (EU) and Spain that They produce a volume of more than 110 million items per year (of which 25 percent are for export).
The company has more than 15 brands, with their respective product lines, both nationally and internationally, and has a presence in more than thirty-five thousand points of sale in Mexico. Grisi Group has demonstrated an exceptional ability to anticipate and satisfy consumer needs in the Beauty and Fragrances, Hair, Skin, Male, Baby, Children, Pets and Pharma.
“Running a company with 160 years of existence is a privilege and a constant challenge. Definitely the legacy of our founder José Grisi is more alive than ever, his pioneering spirit and vision inspire us to evolve along with the lifestyle of our consumers,” explains Alejandro Grisi, general director of Grupo Grisi.
How did Grupo Grisi start?
The story goes back to the initiative of José Grisi, who In 1863 he founded his first laboratory in San Ángel to start the production of the Emplasto Monópolis ointment. Our founder’s bond with natural ingredients, excellence and innovation in the pharmaceutical field laid the foundations for a successful company, which today has a presence in 28 countries and is synonymous with trust and quality.
For five generations, the company works for consolidate a broad product portfolio ranging from specialized pharmaceutical products to those focused on hygiene, hair care and skin care, to name a few.
How have you strengthened your product portfolio over time?
25 years ago we made the decision to start distributing products in Mexico, brands that did not have a presence in the country and could create synergies. Today we distribute many brands that people did not even know that Grisi distributed them.. So, 15 years ago we made the first decision to acquire the Maja brand, then, in 2020, we acquired Hinds – body creams –, Eclipsol sunscreens and Capent ointment from the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. With this acquisition we strengthened our portfolio, which has been strengthened in recent years, since two years ago we bought from the German Henkel, the personal care brands Pert (formerly Pert Plus), Funk and Línea Natural, which are brands with a lot of potential and share Grisi’s DNA, being products with natural and high-quality ingredients.
How did they conquer the Spanish market?
We are a brand with innovation, we were pioneers in natural ingredients. Spain was a rare case, because Aloe Vera became fashionable, which was a product that was not widely used. So, we released a pure Aloe Vera gel product 22 years ago that is only sold there. We enter the Iberian country with specialized products for the parapharmacy sectorwhich are all those products that, not being medicine, are consumed, applied or used by humans, and are made available to consumers under the established standards of the country. Surprisingly, in three years we have grown very well and have an important participation in Spain.
As for the Shampoo segment, we are gradually conquering the market, In some consumer preference studies we are already in the first places. We hope to reach 70 percent of distribution in Spain in the next three years.
What other markets are you betting on?
Mexico for us continues to be the most important market, because we are present in many categories, we are even leaders in some of them, but for almost 40 years we have been going to the United States, a natural market for us because it is a very familiar, household brand, and we are well known by Mexican consumers who They live in the northern country.
It should be noted that The US is our second most important market in the world for two reasons; First, our brands are consumed very well and are very well accepted by consumers. And the second, because a few years ago we became a distribution company.
Our distribution center is dedicated to distributing not only our brands, but other more Hispanic ones in the US market.
Also We are in Central America, which we have developed the market very wellwe are already leaders. As for South America we are in Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia. And in Europe we are present with the Maja product, a very iconic Spanish brand in the Iberian country.
HE SAYS…
“We allocate more than 2% of annual sales
To research and development activities in Mexico”
They announced an investment of 800 million pesos in Hidalgo, what will it be focused on?
In the last five years we have grown very strongly, so we decided to build a production plant in Tepeji del Río, which will generate two thousand direct and indirect jobs in the state. This distribution center will allow us to distribute our cosmetic and pharmaceutical products to the different consumption points in Mexico, this strategic location will allow us to export to other countries more easily.
Tepeji is perfectly located next to the highway that heads towards the United States, and at the same time, it is next to the Arco Norte highway, where you can send products to Veracruz so that leave in containers for the North American marketwithout the need to enter the city.
The Tepeji Industrial Park is very good, we were presented with the opportunity to buy land and we are in full construction. In its first stage it will have an area of close to forty thousand square meters.
Also closing the Amores plant, in Colonia del Valle, to open a new one in Vallejo, and soon We will also be manufacturing products in Guanajuato.
How much do you bet on innovation?
We allocate more than 2 percent of annual sales to research and development activities in Mexicoallowing the creation of new formulas and line extensions that keep Grupo Grisi at the forefront of innovation in the industry. In addition, annually we allocate 150 million pesos for infrastructure. Our dedication to research and development has fueled Grupo Grisi’s ability to offer cutting-edge products that improve quality of life and promote natural beauty beyond borders.
CHC