About Us

History

In the year 2002 and inspired by his childhood memories of the Canary Islands where for over 2,500 years the presence of goats have made of this area a place for cheese production, Don Agustín Cullen González resolves to begin a rural project for raising goats.

Since he already had a piece of ground in Malinalco, in the State of Mexico, it is here where he places the ranch. However, with the future intention to eventually move to his birth state, the State of Guanajuato, an ideal location for the care and breeding of goats.

Already having the raw material, Don Agustín begins a small artisan gourmet cheese production which quickly draws the attention of the dairy production and distribution company Quesos Esmeralda who expresses an interest to introduce the mild flavored cheese into the main supermarket chains on a national level.

It is with this risen opportunity that a much greater production of fresh goat cheese begins and our two brands are born: Vistalegre and Lanzarote, both names obtained from regions of the Canary Islands and Spain.

Because of the commercialization strategy implemented, the demand for cheese quickly surpasses the milk production of Don Agustínâ??s goats, for this reason, it becomes necessary to acquire milk from suppliers selected because of their high quality.

From the very beginning, Agustín Cullen Jr., moves to the ranch in Malinalco to personally take charge in the care of the animals, as well as the production of both the milk and cheese.

By July of 2003, Vistalegre enters the main supermarket chains of Superama, Super Walmart Center and Comercial Mexicana, and since then and to this date it remains the preferred option for these stores customers.

Unfortunately, in November 2003, Don Agustín Cullen is diagnosed with cancer that has metastasized to the bones, which ends his life on March 17th, 2004. From that moment, another one of his sons, Jerónimo, takes his place in all commercial aspects of the business.

By 2006 it becomes increasingly clear that the factory in Malinalco is no longer capable of supplying for the ever increasing demand of the Vistalegre and Lanzarote products. For this reason, Jerónimo and Agustín begin searching for a new lot to build a second industrial plant. And what better place than where their milk providers where located, and the place where Don Agustín always dreamt to return, the State of Guanajuato.

The State of Guanajuato is the third in milk production nationwide, with 24,599,000 liters produced annually.* Both the climatic and geographic conditions are ideal for the production of the highest quality milk, and the freshness is now guaranteed thanks to the close proximity to the new factory, located in the town of Villagrán and in operations since February of 2011.

* Source: Secretaría de Desarrollo Agropecuario, State of Guanajuato.

Our Accomplishments

• Presence, distribution and leadership on a national level on the main self-service and food-service chains.
• Construction of two production plants; one in Malinalco, State of Mexico, and the other in Villagran, State of Guanajuato.
• We attained a 92% on the Quality Audit performed by Arguilea.
• A whooping growth of 600% from March 2004 to March 2011.
• We have participated in state and federal programs such as Firco in the State of Mexico, Activos Productivos from the Secretaria de Desarrollo Rural in the State of Guanajuato, Cofoce and Pymes Gacelas.
• The creation of over 110 jobs, both direct and indirect, from the rural sectors in the States of Mexico and Guanajuato.
• Manufacture of Kosher KMD Fresh Goat Cheese.