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Felipe Chamorro
“I believe the business consists of workers, partners, and family. My goals are to improve the quality of life of our workers, grow our partners, and pass the business to the next generation.”
- Felipe Chamorro Argeñal
Felipe Chamorro, a native of Managua, had been unemployed for 6 months before he purchased Maya. Despite his lack of formal business training when the Maya was offered to him at a great deal, he jumped at the opportunity.
That was ten years ago and Maya has since grown from 6 employees to over 50, becoming the largest packager of condiments, spices, and snacks in Nicaragua in the process. Its recognizable label can be found on the shelves of supermarkets in about 70% of the country.
Felipe, with the help of his wife, now sits behind his desk working on a new website for Maya, with the goal to start exporting his products to other countries in Central America within the year. What really makes Maya and Felipe special, is his desire to see his workers succeed. Felipe believes firmly that hiring a great team of employees is what has allowed Maya to succeed. He is confident this team will keep the business growing and will provide more Nicaraguans with jobs. This faith in his employees is why he offers great compensation and prioritizes an improved standard of living for all Maya staff.
Looking ahead, Felipe is in the process of implementing a manufacturing standardization system that will guarantee consistent quality, safety, and cleanliness of his products. “Standardization of the product is one of our biggest challenges. I want to guarantee that the quality, taste, and consistency of the next product is equal to the last,” says Felipe.
Consulting Focus:
Recognizing Maya’s valuable contribution to the small business community in Nicaragua, Agora has been working with Maya for just over a year. Felipe recalls a helpful small business seminar organized by Agora during the financial crisis, in which strategy and guidance was provided on managing cash flows and purchases. With Agora’s help in providing networking resources and entrepreneurial education, Felipe hopes to obtain the venture capital needed to take his business to the next level.