Distribuidora de alimentos José Fontes e Hijos S.R.L.. is a family company founded more than 30 years ago in the village of Paso de Pache, Canelones. Mr. Jose C. Fontes Braida was in life a visionary businessman, who founded on September 12th 1973, in the property of his father, Mr. Justo Candelario Fontes, a modest pork products distribution company which supplied the local market and also sold its products in the weekly Santa Lucia´s fair.
The beginning was hard, specially in the fair but with so much sacrifice he handled with a table, a tent and a scale given by his brother-in-law. The spirit of improvement that Mr Fontes had and the money he gained during those years of hard work made him buy a small 1946 truck , which every inhabitant of Saint Lucia and nearby zones remembers. Whenever we see the truck we see the figure and the still present smile of "El gordo Pepe".
Trying to improve and making a big effort moves his company to the city of Santa Lucia in 1980. There, and always taking care the quality of the products and hygiene, he made his first cold chamber built in 25 de Agosto street.
With his family collaboration (his wife and two children) and his vision in the business area, bought a small ground in Legnani street nº 715 and built what now is the " Distribuidora de alimentos José Fontes e Hijos S.R.L." With one of the most important infrastructure in the south of Uruguay, where more than 18 families work in a direct way selling first quality products.
The effort, dedication, audacity, spirit of improvement, solidarity and love of his family describes "El gordo Pepe" very well. This humble businessman managed to make his small company, which started selling pork products in a fair, into the company that is now, leader in its line of products. The same dedication and determination continues with his sons, Enrique and Daniel.
The current directors, Mr. Enrique and Daniel Fontes, recognizes that besides the whole dedication of their father and mother, this wouldn´t be possible without the permanent collaboration of Clients, Friends, Suppliers and Personnel who accompany us at all time.