Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda., CALS

What Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda., CALS does

Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda. (CALS) is a Chile-based private agricultural cooperative founded in September 1935. It serves dairy producers and other agricultural producers, with a stated member base of 35 dairy producers and 65 other agricultural producers. CALS operates 29 retail branches from Arica to Frutillar and commercializes more than 12,000 agricultural products across at least 12 categories, serving members and non-members. Its activities include veterinary services, dairy-herd-management support through PCDART, a pre-mix feed plant, and distribution of products including Kalvolac CAIR and SUSTAIN.

Its stated operating model is agricultural-input retail to members and non-members, supplemented by veterinary services, feed production, dairy-herd-management support, and distribution arrangements; pricing, margins, and contract terms are not disclosed. The supplied record describes a 5,000 m² distribution center at ENEA that opened in May 2026, alongside historical branch and channel expansion. Revenue, margins, and customer-level revenue mix are not disclosed, so the available evidence establishes operating breadth rather than financial performance.

Name

Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda., CALS

Legal name

Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda.

Website

https://cals.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chile-based agricultural cooperative founded in 1935 that supplies dairy and other agricultural producers through 29 branches and more than 12,000 products, complemented by veterinary, feed, software, and distribution services across Chile.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Supply Cooperative

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEALAJ

Animal Nutrition & Feeding Support Services (On-Farm Feeding, Feed Management)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

SECONDARYAFAEALAK

Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

SECONDARYAFAEACAM

Dairy Farm Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Programs

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Dairy Cattle Farming

SECONDARYAFAEACAG

Dairy Housing, Milking Systems & On-Farm Infrastructure Operations

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Dairy Cattle Farming

SECONDARYAFADAAAB

Dairy Cattle Feed (Lactation, Transition, Dry Cow)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Feed Manufacturing/Ruminant Feed (Cattle, Sheep, Goats)

Keywords

• Agricultural inputs retail
• Dairy cooperative services
• Crop protection products
• Animal nutrition products
• Agricultural supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Inputs Retail: CALS commercializes over 12,000 agricultural products across its 29 branches nationwide, including fertilizers, phytosanitaries, seeds, veterinary products, agricultural hardware, irrigation equipment, and machinery. This is the primary operational activity of the cooperative, extending beyond cooperative members to the broader agricultural market.
2. Dairy Production: Historically, CALS operated its own dairy plant in El Monte (1985-2006), producing dairy products under the Los Fundos brand including fine cheeses. Dairy production was part of CALS's historical business but the plant has since ceased operations.
3. Services to Cooperatives: CALS provides specialized services to its dairy producer members including accounting and tax services, dairy herd control using PCDART software, milk quality testing, mechanical milking support, animal health monitoring, and barley grain by-product (orujo) distribution from CCU.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CALS is an agricultural supply cooperative that commercializes more than 12,000 products — including fertilizers, seeds, phytosanitary products, veterinary pharmaceuticals, animal nutrition, agricultural hardware, technified irrigation equipment, and agricultural machinery — through a nationwide network of 29 retail branches spanning Chile from Arica to Frutillar. Beyond retail, CALS provides cooperative services to its 100 members, including dairy herd management via PCDART software, accounting and tax support, milk quality testing, mechanical milking support, animal health monitoring, feed solutions from its Talagante pre-mix plant, and negotiation leverage with dairy processors.

Product overview

CALS operates as an agricultural supply cooperative offering a broad portfolio of products organized into distinct categories across its 29-branch retail network (from Arica to Frutillar). The product range covers the full spectrum of agricultural inputs: Fertilizers (granulates, monogranules, solubles, amendments), Seeds (cereals, forages, vegetables, wheat, corn, rapeseed, peat), Veterinary products (pharmaceuticals, milking equipment, horseshoeing, animal nutrition), Agricultural Hardware (tools, clothing, safety equipment, plastics, machinery), Personal Protective Equipment, Fences and Wires, Phytosanitary products (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, biostimulants), Technified Irrigation (over 4,000 products including PVC, emitters, filters, drip tapes), Animal Nutrition (concentrated feeds and supplements), Agricultural Machinery (tractors, implements, accessories), Environmental Hygiene (insecticides, rodenticides), and Pruning Tools. Notable branded sub-products include Sustain® (a pine-resin-based coadjuvant for organic farming) and Kalvolac CAIR (a premium milk substitute for calves with exclusive distribution through CALS). The cooperative also operates a virtual online store and a new 5,000 m² distribution center in the ENEA Industrial Park as its central supply hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fertilizers Complete fertilizer product line including granulates (urea, diammonium phosphate, triple superphosphate, potassium nitrate, blends), monogranules, solubles (potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, phosphoric acid, magnesium nitrate), and amendments (calcium sulfate, Pampa 34, agricultural lime). Sold to agricultural producers through CALS branches.
• Seeds Seed products including alfalfa, cereals (barley, oats, triticale), lawn and crop bags, vegetables (tomatoes, onions, squash, lettuce, melons, watermelons, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, cilantro, carrots, peppers), forage crops (ballicas, clovers, fescues, orchard grass), home garden seeds, corn, wheat, peat, rapeseed, and seedling trays.
• Veterinary Products Veterinary pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements for companion animals and livestock, including mechanical milking equipment, horseshoeing, instruments and accessories, animal nutrition, feed additives, veterinary pharmacy, and electric fencing for animals.
• Agricultural Hardware Tools, work clothing, safety equipment, agricultural plastics, and a complete range of machinery, smaller equipment, and accessories for fields and gardens.
• Technified Irrigation Irrigation equipment and accessories including PVC hydraulic, electrical systems, polyethylene lines, pools, valves, hydraulics, iron fittings, emitters, measurement and control devices, filters, hoses, California irrigation, drip tapes, and flexible tanks — over 4,000 products.
• Animal Nutrition Animal feed and supplements providing essential minerals and vitamins for healthy animal growth and full development, including products from CALS's own pre-mix plant in Talagante.
• Phytosanitary Products Pesticides including insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, herbicides, foliar fertilizers, biostimulants, and plant growth regulators for pest and disease control.
• Agricultural Machinery Tractors, implements, equipment, and accessories including sprayers, atomizers, nebulizers, fuel, agricultural tractors and carts, accessories, tires, lubricants, and components.
• Sustain® Coadyuvante A natural agricultural coadjutant derived from pine resin that forms a protective film over crops, extending the useful life of phytosanitary products. Increases initial phytosanitary deposit by 30-450%, protects against UV radiation, heat, rain, and wind erosion. Listed by SAG (Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service) for organic agriculture use.
• Kalvolac CAIR Premium milk substitute for calves enriched with CAIR — a blend of natural herbs and essential oils developed by Nutrifeed (FrieslandCampina). Promotes respiratory health, reduces coughing by 33%, reduces antibiotic use for respiratory issues by 33%, increases concentrate intake by 15%, and improves calf growth by 10%. CALS holds exclusive sales rights in Chile.
• CALS Virtual Store (Tienda Virtual) Online e-commerce store selling household, garden, and pet products, as well as specialty agricultural products such as the SUSTAIN coadjutant. Operational since 2016.
• Cooperative Member Services Specialized services for cooperative members including accounting and tax services, dairy herd control using PCDART software, milk quality testing, mechanical milking support, animal health monitoring, barley grain by-product distribution from CCU, and access to oncology health insurance through Fundación Arturo López Pérez.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% less coughing in calves using Kalvolac Cair vs. control
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major and moderate.

• Deportes Santa CruzminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2023CALS became an official sponsor of Deportes Santa Cruz football club in April 2023, entering its second year of sponsorship in December 2024. The partnership aims to build community engagement and brand visibility for CALS in the central zone of Chile where Santa Cruz is located.
• Consorcio LecherocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022CALS became member #20 of the Consortium Lechero in August 2022. The Consortium brings together 20 organizations representing the entire dairy sector chain including dairy producer associations, dairy processing industry, research centers, universities, and supplier companies of inputs, technologies, and services. CALS is represented by President Juan Carlos Prieto and former Consortium President (2012–2014) Guillermo Jiménez.
• Nutrifeed / Nutregreen (FrieslandCampina)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022CALS has exclusive sales rights in Chile for Kalvolac Cair and Kalvostar premium milk substitutes for calves, developed by Nutrifeed (a FrieslandCampina company). Nutrigreen representative Cesare Majima provides technical support, training, and joint customer visits with CALS sales teams in the Osorno, Los Lagos, and Los Ríos regions.
• Fundación Arturo López PérezminorOthers · 1 January 2022CALS provides cooperative members with access to an oncology health insurance agreement with the Arturo López Pérez Foundation, offering the broadest coverage in oncological treatments, hospital, and outpatient care.
• Semillas TunichemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CALS partners with Semillas Tuniche to provide technical content and guidance on maize hybrid selection for silage. Semillas Tuniche focuses on genetic development of crop hybrids including vegetables, grain, and silage varieties, and provides CALS with technical articles for its customer base.
• FENALECHE (Federación Nacional de Cooperativas de Leche)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1960CALS played a founding role in creating FENALECHE (National Federation of Dairy Cooperatives), which united dairy cooperatives across Chile. FENALECHE was instrumental during the era of government-set milk prices, has been key in campaigns to promote dairy consumption, and serves as the trade association for dairy producers organized in cooperatives. The organization remains active today.
• SOPROLE (Sociedad de Productores de Leche)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1948In 1948, CALS together with other producers formed SOPROLE (Society of Milk Producers), which today is a significant player in the dairy products market in Chile. CALS had an equity stake in SOPROLE until the 1980s when it was divested, leading to CALS building its own dairy plant in El Monte.
• CCU (Compañía Cervecerías Unidas)moderateOthers · 1 January 1935CALS participates annually in a bidding process with CCU to acquire barley grain by-product (orujo de cebada), which is obtained as a sub-product of beer brewing. This by-product is high in crude protein and energy and is distributed weekly to CALS cooperative members who are dairy producers, serving as a lactogenic feed supplement.
• Foro CooperativomoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1935CALS is a member of the Foro Cooperativo (Cooperative Forum), a Chilean cooperative association and advocacy group. The cooperative is listed as a member of this organization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cooperativa-agr%C3%ADcola-lechera-santiago-ltda-cals

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Cooperativa Agrícola Lechera Santiago Ltda., CALS