What Havanna does

Havanna S.A. is a privately held Argentine food manufacturer and café operator founded in 1947 in Mar del Plata by Demetrio Elíades, Luis Sbaraglini, and Benjamín Sisterna. The company produces premium Argentine confectionery centered on its iconic alfajor (round dulce de leche-filled cookies), alongside chocolates, cookies (Havannets, Galletitas), and other products, with vertically integrated manufacturing across two certified plants in Mar del Plata and Bariloche. The brand has operated as a cultural symbol of Argentina for 78 years, holding ISO 22000:2018, Kosher, gluten-free (UCAL-certified), and cage-free certifications, plus the Argentine government's 'Marca País' designation.

The company operates a multi-channel business model combining physical retail (nearly 500 Havanna Café locations across 12+ countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, and the USA), franchise operations (with structured USD-denominated entry fees), direct-to-consumer e-commerce (tienda.havanna.com.ar serving the AMBA region), B2B corporate gifting (four-tier gift box program plus customizable gift cards), and third-party retail/supermarket distribution. Product portfolio extends beyond core alfajores into beverages (Lattes, Frappés), savory items (Haireados), snacks (Barritas de Cereal), and specialty lines including Semilia (gluten-free seed-based), Alfajor Vegano 70% Cacao, and Alfajor Mar del Plata (limited edition).

In 2026 Havanna signed an agreement with Lionel Messi to launch the 'Havanna x LEO' alfajor line and accelerate expansion into Asia and the Middle East, leveraging Messi's global profile as a marketing and distribution catalyst. The company maintains headquarters in Buenos Aires, operates with 1,001-5,000 employees, and reports financials to an investor relations contact (Hernan Campagnoli) with a recent $18.5M funding round in July 2025 supporting international growth.

Name

Havanna

Legal name

HAVANNA S.A.

Website

https://havanna.com.ar

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Havanna S.A. is an Argentine premium confectionery manufacturer and café operator (founded 1947) producing iconic alfajores, chocolates, and cookies at vertically integrated plants in Mar del Plata and Bariloche, serving retail consumers, corporate B2B gifting clients, and franchisees across nearly 500 locations in 12+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Confectionery

NAICS

Cookie, Cracker, and Pasta Manufacturing (31182), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Snack Food Manufacturing (31191)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Confectionery, Snacks & Specialty Sweets Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pastry, Cakes & Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAFAB), Snack Bars (Granola, Protein, Cereal Bars) (CRADABAG)

Keywords

• Premium confectionery
• Argentine alfajores
• Café chain
• Chocolate manufacturing
• Corporate gifting

Headquarters

HQ city

Mar Del Plata

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Store Sales: Revenue from owned cafeteria locations selling alfajores, chocolates, coffee beverages, and other confectionery products directly to consumers.
2. E-commerce Online Sales: Direct online sales through tienda.havanna.com.ar with delivery in CABA and Greater Buenos Aires (AMBA).
3. Franchise Fees: Entry fee of $19,500 USD plus ongoing franchise fees for franchisees operating Havanna Café locations.
4. Corporate Gift Sales: B2B sales of gift cards, special gift boxes, and bulk orders for corporate gifting occasions (Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc.).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Havanna manufactures and sells premium Argentine alfajores, chocolates, cookies, dulce de leche, and café beverages under its own brand, operating nearly 500 branded cafeterias across 12+ countries and selling packaged products through its e-commerce store, supermarket distribution, and corporate gifting channels. The company also licenses its Havanna Café format through a franchise program.

Product overview

Havanna is an Argentine café and confectionery chain with a diversified portfolio centered on its iconic alfajores (round cookies with dulce de leche filling) alongside chocolates, cookies, dulce de leche, and beverages. The company operates a two-pronged model: physical Havanna Café locations serving coffee beverages (Lattes, Frappés) and on-site consumption, plus a retail business selling packaged products. The core products include Alfajores (in classic and specialty varieties including gluten-free Semilia and vegan options), Havannets (chocolate-covered dulce de leche bites), Chocolates (tablets, coronitas, bonbons, truffles), Galletitas (cookies), and Dulche de leche. Recent additions include savory Haireados sandwiches and cereal bars. The company also offers corporate gift services through Gift Cards, special gift boxes, and corporate maletin packages, targeting B2B customers. The Havanna x LEO collaboration with Lionel Messi represents the company's strategic push into international expansion through a branded product line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Semilia: Gluten-free alfajor made with 6 types of seeds and chocolate 70% cacao puro, with 0% fat dulce de leche filling.
• Alfajor Vegano 70% Cacao
• Alfajor Mar del Plata

Products and services

• Alfajores Havanna's signature round cookies filled with dulce de leche and covered in chocolate, available in classic Mixto, 70% Cacao Puro, Merengue, Chocolate, Nut, and Fruit varieties, plus specialty editions (Mar del Plata, Semilia gluten-free, Vegano 70% Cacao). Sold to retail consumers, through e-commerce, and across international cafeterias.
• Havannets Small bite-sized dulce de leche treats covered in chocolate, available in white chocolate, dark chocolate, mixed, and 70% cacao puro varieties. Sold as a standalone snack line at retail and cafeterias.
• Galletitas Baked cookies filled with cream or chocolate, including Lemon, Lemon with Chocolate, and Medallons varieties. Sold to retail consumers and through the e-commerce store.
• Línea Mini Miniature versions of Havanna's alfajores, cookies, medallons, and havannets, all under 100 calories, designed for guilt-free snacking. Launched in 2012 as a standalone portion-controlled line.
• Chocolates Chocolate product category including Tabletas (bars in milk, white, dark, with hazelnuts, almonds), Coronitas (bonbons filled with dulce de leche), Bombones (assorted bonbons), and Trufas (truffles with various fillings). Manufactured at Havanna's own Bariloche chocolate factory acquired in 2003.
• Dulce de Leche Traditional Argentine caramelized milk spread sold under the Havanna brand in 450g, 800g, and 1kg containers. Distributed through retail and e-commerce channels.
• Lattes Coffee beverages in 7 varieties including Dulce de Leche, Chocolate y Avellana, Chocolate Negro, Chocolate Blanco, Vainilla, Almendras, and Caramelo, served on-site at Havanna Cafés with or without whipped cream.
• Frappés Iced blended coffee drinks in 5 varieties: Chocolate, Dulce de Leche, Tramontana, Red Fruits, and Peach and Orange. Served on-site at Havanna Cafés.
• Barritas de Cereal Cereal bars made with chocolate (70% cacao puro, white, or milk chocolate) and grains including quinoa and rice, available in gluten-free versions. Sold through retail and e-commerce.
• Semilia Gluten-free alfajor made with 6 types of seeds (chia, sesame, sunflower, poppy, flax, quinoa), 0% fat dulce de leche filling, and 70% cacao puro chocolate coating. Positioned as a specialty health-oriented sub-brand.
• Alfajor Vegano 70% Cacao Vegan and gluten-free alfajor with buckwheat flour caps, almond milk dulce de leche, and 70% cacao chocolate coating. Targeted at plant-based and gluten-free consumers.
• Alfajor Mar del Plata Special edition alfajor honoring Havanna's hometown of Mar del Plata, covered with 70% cacao chocolate and sea salt crystals, with an extra creamy dulce de leche center.
• Havanna x LEO Special edition alfajor collaboration with football star Lionel Messi, featuring commemorative packaging. Designed as the lead SKU to accelerate Havanna's international expansion into Asia and the Middle East.
• Gift Cards / Tarjetas Regalo Digital gift cards available in custom amounts, redeemable at any Havanna location in Argentina or via the online store, with personalized branding options for corporate clients. Used for B2B corporate gifting and personal occasions.
• Regalos Especiales Corporate gift packages available in four tiers — Deleite, Clásica, Tentación, and Premium — designed for special occasions including Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, and Christmas. Sold to businesses for employee and client gifting.
• Tienda Online Havanna Direct-to-consumer online store for Havanna products, offering the full product catalog with delivery to CABA and Greater Buenos Aires (AMBA) and promotional offers.
• Havanna Café Franchise Franchise program for operating Havanna Café locations, with an entry fee of USD 19,500, estimated build-out and equipment investment of USD 150,000 for a 120m² standard store, and an initial merchandise order of USD 25,000. Active across Argentina and 12+ international markets.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lionel MessicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHavanna signed an agreement with Lionel Messi to accelerate its expansion into Asia and the Middle East. The partnership includes a new line of alfajores tied to the football star with an initial production of 250,000 units. The collaboration celebrates Messi's roots and Argentine heritage, positioning Havanna as an ambassador of Argentine culture globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Guaymallén: Iconic Argentine alfajor brand owned by Molinos Río de la Plata and the most direct domestic competitor to Havanna across mass-market and classic alfajor variants. Directly comparable on product category, Argentine retail channels, and consumer occasion (gifting, mate, tourism).
• Bonafide: Argentine coffee and mate brand with a national chain of branded cafés and packaged consumer goods. Closely comparable on the café-retail-plus-CPG dual model, Argentine heritage positioning, and the consumer segments Havanna serves.
• Cachafaz: Premium Argentine alfajor and chocolate brand competing directly with Havanna in the high-end confectionery segment. Comparable on product mix (alfajores and chocolates), retail distribution in premium delis, and gifting occasion.
• Águila: Long-standing Argentine cookies and confectionery manufacturer (Bagley/Nabisco) with presence in the same supermarket shelves and consumer snack occasions as Havanna's galletitas and alfajores. Comparable on packaged confectionery/cookie category and Argentine mass-retail channel.
• Jorgito: Argentine alfajor and confectionery brand with broad mass-market presence. Directly competes with Havanna in the classic alfajor segment across supermarkets, kiosks and convenience channels in Argentina.

Broad incumbents

• Nestlé: Global packaged food and confectionery incumbent with broad chocolate and snack portfolios. Relevant as a broader incumbent competing for the same chocolate/confectionery consumer wallet and shelf space, though Havanna is a specialized niche player by comparison.
• Mondelez International: Global confectionery multinational (Cadbury, Milka, Toblerone, Oreo) operating in the same broader category as Havanna. Comparable as a large incumbent setting competitive intensity in packaged biscuits and chocolate internationally.
• Starbucks: Global café chain incumbent. Comparable on the café-retail and coffee-beverage experience side of Havanna's business, although Havanna is a much smaller, regionally specialized operator with confectionery as its core differentiator.

Regional players

• Juan Valdez: Colombian-origin branded coffee and café chain expanding across Latin America and Spain. Comparable as a Latin American heritage coffee/café brand pursuing international franchise expansion, though it does not directly compete in Havanna's core alfajores category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Havanna_arg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/havannaargentina
• Facebookfacebook.com/havannaargentina
• Instagraminstagram.com/havannaarg
• TikToktiktok.com/@havanna.arg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/havanna-sa

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Havanna