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Perspectives on global sourcing, international trade, protein markets and business growth across Central America and the Caribbean.
Why American chicken leads the Central American market
The USDA standard is not just a seal. It is a production, traceability and control system that opens doors in …
Cold chain: the backbone of protein distribution
From the plant in Delaware to the warehouse in San Salvador, maintaining −18 °C is not a detail: it is the qua…
The regional exclusivity model: beyond the generic intermediary
An exclusive representative is not an importer. It is the local operational arm of a global brand, with everyt…
110 years of Mountaire Farms: the supplier behind Mezal
From a small family operation in the 1900s to 8.2 million birds processed per week. Meet the company that prod…
Central America + Caribbean expansion: Mezal's roadmap
El Salvador and Honduras are the beginning. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and the Caribbean are the next step.…
USDA Certification: what it really means for your business
A practical guide on what USDA certification is, why it matters in CA markets and what competitive advantages …
Central America + Caribbean expansion: Mezal's roadmap
The Mezal model is designed to replicate. It's not a business built around a single market or a single relationship. It's an operational architecture (brand exclusivity + local presence + cold chain) that can be deployed in any market in the region that meets certain parameters.
El Salvador and Honduras were the initial markets for specific reasons: market size, logistics infrastructure, port access, and pre-existing relationships with key distributors and buyers. Two years of operations in these markets have given us the playbook for expansion: we know which channels to prioritize, what volumes are viable from the start, and how to structure agreements with local distributors.
Guatemala is the natural next step: the largest market in Central America, with a robust middle class and modern retail chains that already know the USDA standard. Costa Rica and Panama represent premium markets, with consumers with higher purchasing power and willingness to pay for guaranteed quality. Nicaragua and Honduras are volume markets with price penetration potential.
The Caribbean (the Dominican Republic in particular) is a medium-term target with high priority. Per capita consumption of poultry protein in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean is among the highest in the region, and demand for certified American product is significant. The logistics are more complex than the continental route, but the model is the same.