Our History
Founded in 1971 as a warehouse for the Coca-Cola franchise, Refrescos Ipiranga, the company became a factory in 1976. Since 1987, Uberlândia Refrescos has been under the command of the visionary CEO Alexandre Biagi, who is a reference on the national scene for his dedication to sustainable practices and human development in his business. Learn more about our history:
The 1940s decade
Coca-Cola arrives in Brazil during World War II, initially to serve the soldiers of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB). Maurílio Biagi becomes one of the brand’s first franchisees in the country.
Businessman Maurílio Biagi installs the Coca-Cola Refrescos Ipiranga franchisee's warehouse in the city of Uberlândia.
1971
1976
Growing sales and the perception of a more promising market made it possible to install a factory in Uberlândia, still a branch of Refrescos Ipiranga. The photo shows the first Coca-Cola bottle produced by the factory.
Refrescos Ipiranga became Uberlândia Refrescos. Company management passed into the hands of Alexandre Lacerda Biagi, one of Maurílio's sons.
1987
2000
Implementation of the Solomon information control system, interconnecting areas and units.
Elaboration of the first strategic planning with the support of SQS consulting. Implementation of the Six Sigma project for Green Belt training.
2006
2009
Superintendence passed to the management of Sergio Gallo, until then operations manager. Implementation of SAP, which also made it possible to prepare the first budget by cost center and company account.
Conducting the first performance evaluation. Acquisition of a modern and sustainable production line that tripled PET bottle filling capacity.
2012
2013
Uberlândia Refrescos ranked among the top 5 franchises in the country in market execution. Implementation of the matrix budget methodology, supporting the strategy to achieve results.
Implementation of the "Novos Rumos" project.
2014
2015
Development of the Vision 2020 strategic plan, which is being reviewed annually.
Start of construction of the new complex Alexandre Biagi (ALB).
2016
2017
Uberlândia Refrescos receives the Prêmio Mineiro da Qualidade (Minas Gerais Quality Award) – Towards Excellence. Construction work on the new complex ALB delivered for the start of management activities.
Uberlândia Refrescos is recognized by the Great Place to Work Award.
2018
2019
Uberlândia Refrescos receives the Best Companies to Work For Award from Great Place to Work and Você S/A. In addition to these, it also wins the following awards and certifications: Supply Chain, Compliance 2019, Conecta Sustainability Award, Child-Friendly Company Seal, Citizen Company Seal, and Zero Energy Certification Beginning of the construction of the 2nd Stage - Alexandre Biagi complex and Construction of the DC in the Uberaba unit.
Uberlândia Refrescos is recognized by the Great Place to Work Brazil Award, Minas Gerais and in the Industry category; Alexandre Biagi complex receives LEED Zero Carbon certification; Receives the Coca-Cola Brazil Quality Award Cycle 2019 / 1st place; Earns the Monster Scorecard Award 2019.
2020
2021
Recognition, for the 4th time, as one of the best companies to Work for in Minas Gerais by GPTW; 3rd place in the Compliance 2021 Award; Creation of the Social Responsibility Committee; Renovation of the headquarters' lounge; Expansion of the photovoltaic plants at UALB, Uberaba and Patos de Minas; Expansion of the premium beer portfolio; Recertification of the accredited standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and migration from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001; Hiring of a new and more complete HR system; Recertification of Leed Zero Energy; Awarded the FAPI (Fiscalização Ambiental Preventiva na Indústria) Seal.
Awarded the Best Coca-Cola Franchise in Latin America in growth performance; Awarded the ESG Excellence certification; Launch of the book: "Diversity: lessons and dialogues with the young apprentices of Uberlândia Refrescos"; Completion of the 2nd stage of construction of the ALB complex.
2022
Born in November 4th, 1958, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state, Alexandre Lacerda Biagi (ALB) is a brazilian entrepreneur with a business mindset and an extensive internacional livingness. His primary education in Brazil was at Santa Úrsula, Guimarães Rosa and Vita et Pax elementary schools and at Santo Inácio and Nova Friburgo high schools. After that he moved to the USA where he collects experiences at Phillips Academy prep school and also Harvard, MIT and Yale University, and filmmaking courses in Los Angeles, wich made him build a solid career in business and entrepreneurship.
He holds with great value his family origins and parents’ history. Famous for his visionary ideas, is a great enthusiast of visual arts, literature and culture in general and is always searching for new businesses in technology and digital innovation. He is always up to date with market movements and likes to be present in his clients daily routines. ALB is also an environmental activist with many projects regarding water, energy and solid waste. Among his ventures are Uberlândia Refrescos – a Coca-Cola manufacturer – and agrobusiness companies, like Alebisa Empreendimentos.
His other fiel of business is with people’s socio-environmental development. In 2009 he founded the Alexa Institute, that is the fulfilment of his hild dream. The project is a dream come true for Biagi and it works with kids and teenagers from ages 6 to 16. It aims to integrate education, culture and environmental care to improve their consciousness and social responsibility. The Institute is also a partner in the preservation of the Pau Furado State Park, located between the cities of Uberlândia and Araguari.
ALB’s and Uberlândia Refrescos’ paths crossed right at the beggining of the endeavor, in 1971. In 1987, he was named Chief Executive Officer/Chairman (CEO) and now the company is a reference in integrated management. His work values are based in ethics, transparency and always thinking about people and the environment first. He believes that every transformation is solid because it comes from the inside out, from the inside of the departments of the company through the end of the work chain.
Under his supervision, quality, environmet, food safety and safety and labor health combine proceedings, processes and practices to achieve the company goals, making sure it its certified in every official regulations like iso 9001, iso 14001, fssc 22000 and ohsas 18001 and going foward with the consolidation of the The Coca-Cola Company’s QSE Culture (Quality, Safety and Environment).
Uberlândia Refrescos’ high degree of management maturity is a direct result of more than 30 years of work from the CEO, that day after day makes sure to develop trust and motivation in its employees, working to maintain the company as an exceptional workplace with high talent retention.
All of the efforts lead to many acknowledgements and awards like the Coca-Cola Brasil Quality, Mineiro Award of Quality, Quality Award from the International Quality Company, Compliance Brasil from Verde Ghaia, Best Companies to Work from Great Pleace To Work (GPTW) and Você S/A magazine. There are also certifications like LEED Platinum and LEED Net Zero from the Green Building Council Brasil and Zero Energy from the United States Green Building Council that certifies nationally and internationally sustainable buildings.
Through his personal actions and with his role at Uberlândia Refrescos, Alexandre Biagi aspire to help reduce Brazil’s social inequality with projects and opportuninites that can transform people’s lives, based on his father lesson that we must believe in men’s capacity. For him, seeing a better world is not an ideal dream, but an achievable reality build day by day, with a lot of commitment. “Together we are stronger!”.
Ver um mundo melhor não é um sonho ideal, e sim uma realidade possível, construída diariamente, com muito trabalho.
Alexandre Biagi, CEO
