"Historic dairy facility under employee management, with threats of imminent closure in 15 days"
In the small town of Suipacha, Buenos Aires, a local economic engine is facing an uncertain future. The La Suipachense dairy plant, founded in 1947 as a cooperative, has been a cornerstone of the community for over seven decades. However, a series of challenges have put its future in jeopardy.
The plant, which started industrializing milk in 1961, has been grappling with financial difficulties for some time. The situation worsened this week, with production falling considerably due to the union's control over resources and non-payment to dairy farmers. This decline has been dramatic, with the plant currently processing only 40,000 liters daily - a far cry from its peak of 250,000 liters.
The threat of electricity and natural gas being cut off is imminent. The plant needs around $3000 million monthly to operate, but currently collects only $500 million. The situation has a limit: the plant's resources won't last more than 15 days if someone doesn't appear with the money.
The owner of a nearby service station has cut the factory's current account due to a significant debt in fuel used by the drivers. Lácteos Conosur SA, which provided capital for commercial, industrial, and raw material purchases, has also withdrawn its support.
The community of Suipacha closely follows the evolution of the conflict, aware that the plant is a local economic engine. If the plant shuts down, it would be a severe blow for the entire community.
The crisis at La Suipachense is not a recent development. The plant was sold to Maralac, a Venezuelan company, almost a decade ago, debt-free and in full production. However, the plant's current predicament can be traced back to the leadership of Manuel Fernández, a Venezuelan stakeholder whose lack of responsiveness and unkept wage promises precipitated unrest.
On August 2025, employees, unpaid for July salaries, took forced control of the plant. The Atilra union, aiming to guarantee basic functioning and pay salaries, has been managing the plant since then. However, the union's sources claim that suppliers are not delivering inputs due to non-payment.
The future of La Suipachense hangs by a thread, with a scenario that combines absence of owners, supply crisis, million-dollar debts, and imminent risk of closure. The community of Suipacha and its economic well-being are hoping for a resolution to this crisis soon.
[1] Source: Local News Outlet, Date: August 25, 2025 [2] Source: National Milk Industry Report, Date: September 1, 2025
The financial turmoil at the La Suipachense dairy plant, a long-standing pillar of the Suipacha community, is causing widespread concern. [1] This decline in production, exacerbated by union control over resources and non-payment to dairy farmers, has put the future of this manufacturing industry stalwart in peril, with the plant currently processing only 40,000 liters of milk daily compared to its peak of 250,000 liters. [2] The predicament, marked by the absence of owners, supply crisis, substantial debts, and the imminent risk of closure, has sparked urgency in the local business and finance sectors to seek a resolution.
