History
Our history is the soul of our company.
We believe that our uniqueness lies not only in our products and services, but also in the journey that has brought us here.
Our origins
1946
Guido De Nadai, an Italian businessman and respected patriarch, founds a fruit and vegetable trading company in Asmara, specializing in imported Italian products and the purchase of local produce, especially bananas.
The company's repertoire soon extends to the Middle East.
1948
De Nadai begins trading with Saudi Arabia and within two years expands its services to other Arabian Gulf countries, while exporting to Italy from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.
1952
De Nadai acquires the company's first reefer freighters and, with other chartered vessels, builds its first fleet, enabling it to export products from South Africa to the Gulf nations.The company grows and prospers, becoming one of the most important players in its sector in the Middle East.
1958
In Elabered, an Eritrean village on the road from Asmara to Keren, De Nadai sets up a plantation to expand his business, building dams and schools to help the local community.
Here he produces preserves, as well as fruits and vegetables, through multiple processing and preservation plants, and a thriving dairy farm and winery.
1960s
Meanwhile, Guido De Nadai's large and lively family continues to grow and, thanks to the coming of age of his children, the company continues to spread its adventures and knowledge to different corners of the world.
1974-1975
With the outbreak of the Ethiopian civil war, part of the family returned to Padua (Italy), while others settled in Saudi Arabia.
The company grows in the Middle East, becoming an important and recognized distributor of food products from all over the world.
1977
De Nadai begins to explore Chile with the intention of expanding the business. He discovers a vast country, rich in fertile land and people eager to supply the Middle East, but also to supply Italy with fresh fruit out of season.
1980s
Driven by its success in Saudi Arabia, De Nadai continues to develop the Chilean project. Under his watchful eye, the company is moving from mere coordination and quality control of fruit supply to a real production activity.
The ultimate goal: to officially re-found the company and create a new, coherent identity, with the aim of guaranteeing increasingly high ethical and product quality standards.
1980
Unifrutti Chile was born as a testimony of vision and commitment to excellence in the fruit industry. Its founding represents a significant milestone in the world of agriculture, marking the beginning of a company dedicated to growing and marketing fruits of the highest quality.
1983
The Unifrutti brand is born, with the Chilean division being the first company of what will later become the Unifrutti Group.
The company soon establishes itself as one of Chile's leading fruit exporters thanks to an efficient, flexible and innovative organization, expanding its business to Europe, North America and South America. The historic logo that defines the Group's communication is also created at this time.
1984
The Unifrutti Chile brand is created.
In short, the creation of Unifrutti Chile marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward excellence in fruit production, where quality, sustainability and innovation converge to offer products that not only delight palates, but also respect and protect our precious natural environment.
1989
Following the death of Guido De Nadai, the second generation takes over his legacy. His heirs are entrusted with key roles in the development and coordination of the group, creating a strong family and professional collaboration that will be fundamental in making Unifrutti a dynamic company rooted in very solid values.
1994
The creation of our sister company, Univiveros, represents an exciting chapter in the trajectory of our corporate family. With strong roots and a shared vision, Univiveros was born as a testament of dedication to the flourishing of nature and commitment to excellence in horticulture.
2003
As a true architect of varietal change, Univiveros is leading the transformation to a more diverse and resilient landscape, providing a lasting legacy of flowers and plants that inspire and enrich our community.
2008
The Teno facility inaugurates a state-of-the-art era with the installation of the most modern Precizer in South America. This technological milestone not only consolidates our commitment to production excellence, but also positions our facility as a leader in innovation in the region.
2017
Pioneering implementation of solar panels on our Unifrutti fields. This bold step reflects our commitment to sustainability and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices. The installation of these solar panels not only represents a significant contribution towards reducing our carbon footprint, but also marks the beginning of a cleaner and more efficient era in agricultural production.
2022
The modernization of our Linares plant marks an exciting chapter in our ongoing quest for excellence. With the recent installation of the advanced Precizer system, we have taken efficiency and precision to new levels. This innovative technology not only streamlines our processes, but also raises the quality of our production to exceptional standards.
2023
ADQ trusted the business and projection of Unifrutti, becoming a 75% shareholder of the company.
ADQ is an Abu Dhabi-based holding and investment company whose mandate is to accelerate the Emirate's transformation into a knowledge-based economy. As an asset owner and sustainable investor, ADQ seeks attractive opportunities in economic clusters that are critical to realizing Abu Dhabi's economic vision, including Energy, Utilities, Food, Agriculture, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Mobility and Logistics.
ADQ is focused on creating long-term value through strategic investments, driving asset transformation and a commitment to a performance-driven culture.
Learn more about ADQ here.
