Mexico City, January 30, 2024 – Given the effects of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, two of the most important Mexican food companies in Mexico, Grupo Herdez® and La Costeña®, together with Sanfer®, one of the leading companies in the Mexican pharmaceutical market, join forces and create the “United for Acapulco” initiative in order to support families in vulnerable situations through the donation of 35 thousand pantries made up of 20 kilos of food, medicines, water, and hygiene and cleaning products, benefiting 104,000 people.
The damage caused by Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico, has impacted the economy of the population since several sectors such as tourism and retail trade, which are important sources of employment, are still recovering. Fundación Sanfer assumed the organization and operation of Unidos por Acapulco, achieving the distribution of the pantries in alliance with civil society organizations such as Un Kilo de Ayuda, Fundación Origen, Gilberto and Échale, as well as such as its transportation, which was provided by Grupo Herdez®, UPS®, Alsea and La Costeña®.
Grupo Herdez®, La Costeña® and Sanfer® make up this alliance that brings together private initiatives with civil society organizations to reaffirm their solidarity with Mexican families in vulnerable situations.
Héctor Hernández-Pons Torres, Chairman of the Board and General Director of Grupo Herdez expressed: “The devastating impact of Hurricane Otis highlights the serious consequences of climate change and confirms the urgency of taking decisive action in favor of the environment. At Grupo Herdez, we remain firm in our commitments to social and environmental needs, working every day to forge a more sustainable world.”
For his part, Rafael Celorio, General Director of La Costeña®, said: “Hurricane Otis has left deep marks in Mexico, and at La Costeña® we are committed to contributing to the recovery. As we have done for more than 100 years, we maintain our commitment to Mexican families and in difficult times, solidarity, empathy, and working together are qualities that emerge strongly among Mexicans. We reaffirm our commitment to Mexico, highlighting that the strength of the union will guide us to overcome the challenges and move forward together towards reconstruction.”
Dagoberto Cortés Cervantes, Medical Director of Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Liaison Corporate for Mexico and Latin America of Sanfer, commented: “We joined the United for Acapulco initiative to bring well-being, nutrition and health to those affected by Hurricane Otis, because at Sanfer, we are people committed to health. As a company, we assume co-responsibility to support in emergency situations, especially those who are in a situation of great vulnerability.
“United for Acapulco” is a unique initiative of its kind, but not the first. Previously, Grupo Herdez, La Costeña and Sanfer joined forces to benefit 175,000 people affected by the COVID-19 health contingency.