What Wenco does

Empresas Wenco is a privately held Chilean plastic manufacturing conglomerate founded in 1954 in Santiago, operating 33 plants across Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia and serving approximately 2,800 business customers. The company is organized as a federation of specialized subsidiaries rather than a unified platform, with each entity focused on a distinct vertical: agriculture (Wenco Bins, Wenco Xpo, Wenco Cartonplast, Wenco Clamshell, Wenco Reutilizables, Envases del Sur), aquaculture (Wenco Sur, Envases Chiloé, Envases Termosur), industrial packaging (Wenco Industria, Plásticos España, Ecocleaner), mass-market consumer packaging (EPT, I-PAC via IML technology), home and household goods (Wenco Hogar, Kendy, Duraplast), and recycling/circular economy (Greenplast at 800 tons/month, Plaz at 600 tons/month, RPCI). Its manufacturing technology stack spans injection molding (up to 6,000-ton clamping force and 80-ton molds), blow molding, rotomolding, extrusion blow molding, thermoforming, and in-mold labeling, supported by an in-house mold facility managing approximately 1,300 active molds and an engineering department established in 2001.

The business model is straightforward B2B hardware sales: Wenco manufactures and sells plastic products to enterprise clients (Nestlé, Unilever, Beiersdorf, Soprole, Watts, Quillayes, salmon industry exporters, fresh-fruit exporters, olive exporters from Tacna) and through retail chains and traditional wholesale channels for household goods. The company does not publicly disclose pricing, but its just-in-time local manufacturing model with 24-hour dispatch and warehouse inventory is a core commercial feature. Certifications across the group include BRCGS Packaging (EPT, Envases Chiloé, Envases Termosur), ISO 9001 (EPT, Plásticos España, Wenco Bins), and FSSC 22000 (Wenco Industria), enabling qualification for multinational food and pharmaceutical customers. Revenue is estimated at approximately USD 400M for FY2023 across the consolidated subsidiary network. In October 2020, Empresas Wenco registered as an issuer of publicly traded securities with the Chilean Financial Market Commission (CMF), while remaining privately controlled by the Palma family.

Name

Wenco

Legal name

Empresas Wenco

Website

https://wenco.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Empresas Wenco is a privately held Chilean plastic manufacturer founded in 1954, operating 33 plants across Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia to serve 2,800 agriculture, aquaculture, industrial, packaging, home, and recycling customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Plastic Packaging

NAICS

All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (32619)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Rigid Plastic Containers (Bottles, Jars, Jugs) Manufacturing (IMANAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blow-Molded Drums, Barrels & IBC Components (IMANAGAE), Plastics Sorting & Reprocessing (PET, HDPE, Film) (BPALADAE), Export & Compliance Packaging (ISPM-15, Heat-Treated Wood Packaging) (IMALAFAL), Consumer Products Injection Molding (Housewares, Toys, Personal Care) (IMANAFAE)

Keywords

• Plastic manufacturing
• Industrial packaging
• Injection molding
• Food packaging
• Plastic recycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices26 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plastic Product Manufacturing and Sales: Wenco generates revenue through manufacturing and selling plastic products across multiple subsidiaries. Products include agricultural bins and crates, industrial containers and drums, household products, aquaculture equipment, and packaging solutions. The company operates with a model of local, specialized companies serving specific industry verticals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wenco manufactures plastic products for agricultural, industrial, retail, pharmaceutical, and mining sectors. Operating 33 manufacturing plants across Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia, the company produces export crates, HDPE drums, food packaging, household items, and provides plastic recycling services. It supplies more than 2,800 businesses with packaging, containers, and reusable technical solutions.

Product overview

Wenco is a diversified plastic manufacturing conglomerate operating across multiple specialized subsidiaries rather than a unified platform. The company serves agriculture, aquaculture, industry, home, and recycling sectors through distinct product lines: agricultural solutions (Wenco Xpo export crates, Wenco Cartonplast corrugated plastic crates, Wenco Clamshell fruit containers, Wenco Bins large containers, Wenco Reutilizables reusable containers, Envases del Sur drums); industrial packaging (Wenco Industria blow-molded containers, Plásticos España resealable containers, Ecocleaner IBC reconditioning, EPT and I-PAC mass-market food packaging); home products (Kendy, Duraplast, Wenco Hogar for organization and household items); aquaculture products (Wenco Sur floats and buoys, Envases Chiloé and Envases Termosur EPS fish export boxes); and recycling operations (Greenplast rigid plastic recycling, Plaz PET recycling, RPCI circular economy solutions). The portfolio spans 33 manufacturing plants across Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wenco Xpo Export crates designed for fresh fruit packaging, serving fruit exporters and agricultural producers.
• Wenco Cartonplast Corrugated plastic crates used for shipping and storage across industrial and agricultural customers.
• Wenco Clamshell PET fruit containers used by produce packers and retailers for fresh fruit presentation and protection.
• Wenco Bins Large plastic bins used for material handling, storage, and logistics by industrial and agricultural operators.
• Envases del Sur HDPE drums used by industrial customers for chemicals, fuels, and food products.
• Wenco Reutilizables Reusable technical containers designed for closed-loop industrial logistics and supply chain applications.
• Wenco Industria Industrial containers and drums for chemical, fuel, and food industry customers.
• Plásticos España Resealable containers produced under the Plásticos España brand for retail and industrial markets.
• Ecocleaner IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) reconditioning service for industrial customers.
• EPT Mass market plastic packaging products sold through retail channels.
• I-PAC In-Mold Labeling (IML) food packaging used by food brands such as Nestlé, Unilever, and Beiersdorf.
• Greenplast Plastic recycling service that processes post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste.
• Plaz PET recycling service focused on processing PET plastic waste.
• Kendy Brand of household plastic products sold through retail channels.
• Duraplast Brand of household plastic products distributed through retail.
• Wenco Hogar Home organization plastic products sold through retail channels.
• Envases Chiloé EPS (expanded polystyrene) boxes for seafood and cold-chain applications.
• Envases Termosur EPS (expanded polystyrene) boxes for cold-chain and seafood packaging customers.
• Wenco Sur Plastic products tailored for the aquaculture industry, primarily salmon farming customers.
• RPCI Plastic industry solutions and packaging products for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Xpo crate weight reduced from 625g to 275g (56% reduction) while maintaining load strength
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PlazcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Since 2019, Wenco has had a stake in Plaz, a company that recycles PET from plastic bottles and other containers, processing about 600 tons per month in Lima, Peru.
• Plásticos EspañacoreOthers · 1 January 2016Wenco acquired Plásticos España between 2016 and 2017. The company has been manufacturing in Chile since 1987 and specializes in 3 to 10 liter resealable containers using extrusion blow molding technology.
• HyBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Wenco and HyB jointly founded Wenco Sur in 2012, with the plant in Puerto Montt beginning operations to strongly support the aquaculture industry with products such as floats and buoys.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inteplast Group: Integrated North American plastics manufacturer with film, rigid containers, and engineered products. Comparable in manufacturing breadth and B2B plastic product portfolio to Wenco.
• ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner: Global rigid plastic packaging specialist with strong blow-molding and injection-molding capabilities serving food, personal care, and household customers. Closely comparable to EPT, I-PAC, and Plásticos España.
• Mauser Packaging Solutions: Global manufacturer of industrial containers, drums, jerrycans, and IBC reconditioning services. Highly comparable to Wenco Industria and Ecocleaner in product range and end-customers.
• Greif Inc: Industrial packaging producer including plastic drums, containers, and IBCs serving chemical and food customers. Direct overlap with Wenco's industrial packaging and reconditioning businesses.
• Berry Global Group: Large-scale plastic packaging manufacturer with rigid containers, consumer packaging, and recycling operations (now part of Amcor following 2024 combination). Comparable in scale, technology breadth, and end-market exposure to Wenco.

Regional players

• Grupo Gondi: Latin American integrated packaging company (paper and plastic) headquartered in Mexico. Comparable as a regional multi-country plastic and packaging platform competing with Wenco's LatAm presence.
• Plastilene Group: Colombian flexible plastic films and packaging producer. Regional peer competing in Andean markets across packaging and agricultural films adjacent to Wenco's product range.
• Inverpack S.A. Latin American rigid plastic packaging converter with presence in Colombia and Central America. Regional competitor in rigid containers and industrial packaging serving similar CPG customers.

Broad incumbents

• Amcor plc: Global packaging leader in flexible and rigid plastic packaging serving food, beverage, personal care, and healthcare. Overlaps with Wenco's consumer packaging business supplying Nestlé and Unilever.
• Sealed Air Corporation: Global protective and food packaging manufacturer (Bubble Wrap, Cryovac, EPS foam). Comparable to Envases Chiloé/Termosur and Wenco Reutilizables in protective and foam packaging applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Wenco