Levapan
Levapan is a privately held Colombian multilatina founded in 1953 that manufactures yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, sauces, gelatin, beverages, and bioingredients, serving bakeries, food manufacturers, Horeca operators, agroindustry clients, and consumers across six Latin American countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Levapan does
Levapan S.A. is a privately held Colombian multilatina food company founded in 1953 by Guillermo Ponce de León, headquartered in Bogotá. It manufactures and commercializes yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, and a wide range of raw materials for the food industry, bakery, and pastry sectors, alongside consumer-facing products such as sauces (San Jorge), gelatin and desserts (Gel'hada, Levacol), nectars, compotes, and aloe beverages (Panal/Respin), and bioingredients for animal and plant nutrition (Nutritec, Terramia, Biolev). The company operates production facilities in Colombia (Tuluá, Rionegro, Fontibón, Yumbo, Suba), Ecuador (Quito), Venezuela (Barquisimeto, where it is the sole yeast producer), and the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), and runs a Centro de Experiencia Gastronómica training academy in Bogotá alongside the trade publication Revista Pan Caliente and the Más Para Ti loyalty program.
Levapan runs a multi-brand, multi-channel commercial model spanning B2B sales to industrial food manufacturers and Horeca operators, distributor-led reach to bakeries and mass consumption (over 100 authorized distributors across Colombia), and direct-to-consumer e-commerce for household products. Revenue is generated through one-time sale of branded and industrial product lines, with pricing not publicly disclosed and contracted via sales teams or distributors. Strategic growth has been driven by acquisitions (San Jorge and Panal/Respin in 2017, a 60% stake in Nutritec in 2018), international expansion (Ecuador from 2010, broader exports from 2017), and capital investment in the Tuluá plant — including a 35,910-panel solar farm that supplies 70% of energy from renewables — under a sustainability agenda tied to Fundación Levapan and programs such as Hacemos Pan, Hacemos Paz. The company reports no external institutional ownership, no parent entity, and no public listing.
Levapan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Levapan
- Legal name
- Levapan S.A.
- Website
- https://levapan.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Levapan is a privately held Colombian multilatina founded in 1953 that manufactures yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, sauces, gelatin, beverages, and bioingredients, serving bakeries, food manufacturers, Horeca operators, agroindustry clients, and consumers across six Latin American countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Levapan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Ingredients Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941), Dry Pasta, Dough, and Flour Mixes Manufacturing from Purchased Flour (311824), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins (Packaged) (CRADAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin) (CRADAOAD), BBQ Sauce & Marinades Manufacturing (AFAKADAH), Plant-Based & Dairy Alternative Beverages (Oat, Almond, Soy, etc.) (CRADAHAM)
Keywords
Where Levapan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bogotá
- HQ country
- Colombia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Levapan business model
Business model- 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
- Yeast and Yeast Extracts: Production and commercialization of yeast and yeast extracts as core product lines for bakery, food industry, and mass consumption markets.
- Flavor Enhancers and Raw Materials: Sale of flavor enhancers and raw materials for the food industry, panadería, and pastry sector.
- Mass Consumption and Gastronomy Products: Consumer-facing products including gelatin, flans, puddings, sauces, canned goods, and beverages sold under brands San Jorge, Gel'hada, and Respin for mass consumption and foodservice.
- Agroindustry and Bioingredients: Products for agroindustry including animal and plant proteins under the Terramia and Nutritec brands.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Levapan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Levapan manufactures and commercializes yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, baking powders, pre-mixes, gelatin desserts, sauces, preserves, fruit nectars, beverages with aloe, and bioingredients for animal and plant nutrition. The company serves industrial food manufacturers, bakeries, foodservice operators, agroindustry buyers, and household consumers across Latin America through multiple owned brands (Levapan, San Jorge, Gel'hada, Respin, Panal, Levacol, Nutritec, Terramia, Biolev) and a six-country manufacturing footprint.
Product overview
Levapan is a Colombian multilatina food company founded in 1953 specializing in the production and commercialization of yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, and raw materials for the food, bakery, and pastry industry. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio strategy with Levapan as the core brand, supported by sub-brands including San Jorge (sauces and preserves), Gel'hada (gelatin and desserts), Respin (essentials), Panal (beverages), Levacol (dry products), Nutritec/Terramia (animal and plant nutrition), and Biolev (bio-ingredients). The product portfolio spans consumer goods for households (Respin, Gel'hada products) as well as professional/institutional products for the Horeca channel, agroindustry, and food manufacturing sector. Levapan also provides a loyalty program (Mas Para Ti), training through its Centro de Experiencia Gastronomica, and sustainability initiatives through Fundacion Levapan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- San Jorge: Marca de salsas, conservas y liquidos para uso gastronomico y consumo masivo con mas de cincuenta anos en el mercado colombiano. Cuenta con ocho sabores incluyendo tomate, mayonesa clasica, mayonesa baja en grasa, mostaza, BBQ, napolitana, mayonesa y mostaza con especias y pasta de tomate. Tiene linea profesional para chefs.
- Gel'hada
- Respin
- Biolev
- Nutritec
- Panal
- Pan Caliente
- Levacol
- Terramia
- Mas Para Ti con Levapan
Products and services
- Levapan Yeast and Yeast Extracts Core line of fresh and dry yeast for bakeries, pastry shops, food manufacturers, and household consumers across Latin America; includes yeast extracts and derivatives for industrial food applications.
- San Jorge Sauces and Preserves Sauces (tomato, classic mayonnaise, low-fat mayonnaise, mustard, BBQ, Neapolitan, spiced mayonnaise and mustard, tomato paste) and preserves for mass consumption households and a professional chef line for foodservice operators.
- Gel'hada Gelatin and Desserts Mass consumption gelatin products, traditional gelatin for home use, and instant flans and puddings for household consumers.
- Respin Food Essences Essential oils and food essences for household consumption, including infant food products acquired with the Panal plant.
- Panal Beverages and Compotes Fruit nectars, sauces, compotes, and aloe-based beverages for mass consumption households.
- Levacol Dry Products Dry product line including gelatin, flans, puddings, micro-pulverized sugar, baking powder, and dessert bases, produced at the Fontibón (Bogotá) plant under strict food safety standards.
- Nutritec and Terramia Agroindustry Bioingredients Innovative animal and plant nutrition products using proprietary biotechnology for the agroindustry segment, including animal and plant proteins, distributed in partnership with Protécnica Ingeniería S.A.S.
- Biolev Bio-Ingredients
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,700+ people trained through social programs since 2017
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Levapan
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Levapan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Levapan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Protécnica Ingeniería S.A.ScoreThe bioingredient unit of Levapan signed a corporate alliance with Protécnica Ingeniería S.A.S to distribute and commercialize bioingredients in Colombia and Latin America for the animal and plant nutrition segments. This partnership extends the reach of Nutritec/Terramia bioingredient products through Protécnica's distribution network.
- ABACO (Asociación de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia)minorCollaboration with ABACO to reduce food waste and improve nutrition for vulnerable populations. Levapan donates food products that would otherwise be destroyed, benefiting 63,000+ families across six Colombian cities. This initiative aligns with Levapan's 'Ningún producto se vence y nada se destruye' (No product expires and nothing is destroyed) philosophy.
- Universidad de EmorycorePartnership with Universidad de Emory for implementation of the SEE Learning (Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning) program at the Colegio Guillermo Ponce de León and across public schools in Tuluá. The company also partners with Celsia, the municipal government, and Universidad San Buenaventura in this public-private alliance.
- United Way Colombia, Fundación Scarpetta Gnecco, ICBFminorPartnership to implement the KIWI program — a socio-emotional learning (ASE) program for preschool children designed to help young children learn about emotions — in Early Childhood Development Centers (CDI) through training of educational agents.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Levapan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AB Mauri: Associated British Foods' yeast and bakery ingredients division operating globally including LatAm. Direct competitor in yeast, bakery pre-mixes, and ingredient systems for industrial and craft bakeries.
- Dawn Foods: Global bakery ingredient manufacturer offering pre-mixes, fillings, and toppings for retail bakeries and foodservice. Comparable in bakery pre-mixes and Horeca ingredient solutions.
- Lesaffre: Global leader in yeast and fermentation products headquartered in France, with extensive operations in Latin America. Directly comparable as a yeast, yeast extract, and bakery-ingredient producer serving industrial and artisanal bakery customers.
- IREKS: German family-owned bakery ingredients manufacturer with broad portfolio of malts, pre-mixes, and sourdough products. Comparable as a multi-category bakery ingredients specialist serving professional bakers.
- Puratos: Belgian bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients company with strong presence across Latin America. Comparable in pre-mixes, flavor enhancers, and bakery technical support for Horeca and industrial customers.
- Lallemand: Canadian yeast and biotechnology company producing yeast, yeast extracts, and fermentation solutions. Directly comparable to Levapan's yeast extract and Biolev bio-ingredient offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Grupo Bimbo: World's largest baked-goods company and dominant LatAm bakery incumbent. Operates across the value chain Levapan supplies (yeast, ingredients, finished baked goods) — a major customer and indirect competitor.
- Diana Food (Symrise): Symrise's natural ingredient division producing flavors, plant-based proteins, and fermentation-derived ingredients for food manufacturers. Comparable to Levapan's Biolev bio-ingredients and flavor enhancer business.
Regional players
- Alicorp: Peruvian multilatina CPG company with leading positions in mass consumption foods including sauces, noodles, and bakery ingredients across Andean markets. Comparable as a LatAm multi-brand food manufacturer operating in overlapping geographies.
- M. Dias Branco: Brazil's largest pasta and bakery products company, with vertically integrated flour milling and baked-goods operations. Comparable as a vertically integrated LatAm food manufacturer with strong regional brand portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Levapan social profiles
Digital presenceLevapan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Levapan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Levapan subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Levapan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Levapan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Levapan
What does Levapan do?
Levapan manufactures and commercializes yeast, yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, baking powders, pre-mixes, gelatin desserts, sauces, preserves, fruit nectars, beverages with aloe, and bioingredients for animal and plant nutrition. The company serves industrial food manufacturers, bakeries, foodservice operators, agroindustry buyers, and household consumers across Latin America through multiple owned brands (Levapan, San Jorge, Gel'hada, Respin, Panal, Levacol, Nutritec, Terramia, Biolev) and a six-country manufacturing footprint.
Is Levapan a public or private company?
Levapan is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Levapan founded?
Levapan was founded in 1953. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Levapan based?
Levapan is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, in the Latin America region.
How does Levapan make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Yeast and Yeast Extracts are the primary driver. The others are flavor Enhancers and Raw Materials, mass Consumption and Gastronomy Products and agroindustry and Bioingredients.
Who are Levapan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AB Mauri, Dawn Foods, Lesaffre, IREKS, Puratos and Lallemand. Broad incumbents are Grupo Bimbo and Diana Food (Symrise). Regional players are Alicorp and M. Dias Branco.
Does Levapan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Levapan.
What industry is Levapan in?
Levapan's product category is Food Ingredients Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAAAH, Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins (Packaged), with a secondary code of CRADAOAD, Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.