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ZILOR 75 YEARS
2021 is a very special year for us!
Over these 75 years of Zilor, we have produced much more than Energy and Food for society. Reaching the 75th Crop with the strength of a company that represents one of the main Brazilian business names in the agro-industrial sector, which shares wealth with the communities that embrace it, drives sustainable growth, and sees in people the energy that leads us to the future, is a reason for pride and celebration!
In this hot site Zilor 75 years, we gathered the main moments of this admirable trajectory: the history of entrepreneurship of our founders that made us get here, in addition to presenting an agenda with the main commemorative actions.
Zilor has always been committed to the development of the country, by contributing to the growth of communities, and improving people’s quality of life. And this commitment is renewed every day, driving, and motivating new generations.
Come with us and get to know a little more about this trajectory!
FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS
Manifest Zilor
What did we build during our journey, and what do we have planned for the next 75 years?
Check out the message from Zilor’s CEO, Fabiano José Zillo.
OUR HISTORY
How it all began...
Zilor’s path has many milestones that merge with the history of Brazilian agribusiness. Today, the company stands out among the main multinationals in the agro-industrial and biotechnology sectors for its entrepreneurial and value-generating capabilities.
HISTORY OF THE FAMILIES
Families Zillo and Lorenzetti
The union of Italian immigrant families Zillo and Lorenzetti took place in 1904, after the marriage (civil union) of Giuseppe Zillo, known in Brazil as Commander José Zillo, and Angela Lorenzetti, also known as Dona Angelina Lorenzetti Zillo.
But it was in 1939 that the first partnership between the families began, which transformed Zilor into one of the main companies of the agro-industrial sector in the country. The beginning of this trajectory happened through a common dream: to transform a small sugarcane mill, located in the municipality of Macatuba, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo’s countryside, into a sugar plant.
Giuseppe Zillo and his brother Luiz Zillo became partners of his nephews José, Juliano, and Antonio Lorenzetti in the purchase of Patos farm, in Macatuba, which at the time belonged to the Coneglian Family. On the farm, they maintained a small sugarcane cachaça production mill. With the increase in production, in 1945, the partners decided to expand the then small mill. It was the origin of the traditional São José Plant, the company’s first unit, which registered its first Crop in 1946. A year later, Barra Grande Plant went into operation in 1947, thus consolidating the company Zillo-Lorenzetti.
The third plant of the then Zillo-Lorenzetti Group was acquired in 1981, in Quatá. Since then, the company’s production has consolidated, and today it is one of the main Brazilian business names in the agroindustrial sector.
Crop after crop, what we now call the Entrepreneurial Culture has been taking shape through the entrepreneurial spirit and dreams of our founders, based on the commitment to customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and communities.
Learn more about our history and the trajectory of the Zillo and Lorenzetti families.
HISTORY OF THE ZILLO FAMILY
A small spirit mill in Rocinha, located in Lençóis Paulista, was the Zillo Family’s point of arrival in the region, which was formed by small Italian traders who arrived in Brazil in 1896, and which started the family’s tradition in the manufacture and commercialization of derived products of sugarcane.
Click here to learn more about this history.
HISTORY OF THE LORENZETTI FAMILY
The path taken by the Lorenzetti Family, which consists of small Italian farmers who arrived in Brazil at the end of the 19th century, is marked by a trajectory with a strong agricultural vocation that launched them as a protagonist in the construction of one of the main agribusinesses of the sector in the country.
Click here to learn more about this history.
OUR FOUNDERS
The entrepreneurs who built our history
Zilor’s pioneers are remembered with pride and admiration. They are mirrors that reflect the image of Zilor’s work and success, which were built during these seven and a half decades.
Meet the entrepreneurs who dreamed and started our history by placing Zilor on the country’s agroindustrial scenario.
OUR CEO
A special tribute to the entrepreneurs chosen by mutual agreement between the Zillo and Lorenzetti shareholder families. Leaders who have led Zilor over the past 75 years.
Zilor Fouding Partner
Son of the Commander José Zillo
Nephew of the Commander José Zillo
Grandson of the Commander José Zillo
Great-grandson of the Commander José Zillo
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Zilor invests in Corporate Governance good practices, sustaining an ethical and respectful relation with customers and collaborators. In order to reinforce the
commitment with our shareholders and stakeholders, as the business perpetuity is assured, the company keeps an operation based on transparency, sustainability and professionalism principles.
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
The Administrative Council is the collegiate body responsible for the decision-making process regarding Zilor’s strategic guidelines. It is composed of 10 members, including 3 external members (two of whom are independent consultants), all with a 2-year term of office and the possibility of reelection.
The Board of Directors aims at not only discussing and approving the strategic plans, but also following their implementation, promoting sustainable growth, protecting and maximizing the return on investments, and approving policies and guidelines, exercising the role of guardian of Zilor’s principles and values.
Amaury Olsen – Former CEO of Tigre Brasil, is chairman of Zilor Administrative Council. He is also Independent Councilmember of Administrative Councils of Duratex, Klabin and Rotoplas Group. Business Administration graduate with extension at University of Southern California.
Carmen Tonanni – She is Deputy Chairman of Zilor Administrative Council, and also its shareholder. She has a bachelor’s degree in law.
Luiz Zillo Neto – He is also Zilor Councilmember and shareholder, and Copersucar S.A. Councilmember. He worked in Zilor treasury department, and he previously held positions in Cargill and Deutsche Bank. He took Finance MBA at University of North Carolina and is Business Administration graduate.
Miguel Zillo – He is Zilor Councilmember and shareholder, and he was Zilor director for several years. He is an accountant technician.
Mauricio Rosário da Barrosa – Zilor Administrative Council member and Business Director at Biorigin, and Copersucar S.A. Consulting Council member. He held positions in Zilor industrial operation area and in Falconi consultancy. He is a Civil Engineering graduate at Polytechnic School at Universidade de São Paulo and took MBA at Cornell University.
José Roberto Lorenzetti – Zilor Councilmember and shareholder. He is a Civil Engineering graduate at Polytechnic School at Universidade de São Paulo.
Antonio José Zillo – Zilor former CEO and former COO, currently Zilor Councilmember and shareholder, and he was Copersucar S.A. and Alvean (JV Copersucar and Cargill) Councilmember and member of Decision-Making Council of Sugar Cane Industry Union (UNICA). He is a Civil Engineering graduate at Polytechnic School at Universidade de São Paulo.
José Marcos Lorenzetti – Zilor Councilmember and shareholder, Agronomy Engineering graduate at ESALQ, at Universidade de São Paulo.
Britaldo Soares – Zilor Independent Consulting Councilmember, chairman of Administrative Council of Enel Distribuição São Paulo, chairman of Administration Council of ABDIB – Brazilian Infrastructure and Base Industry Association, Independent Councilmember of Administrative Council of OEC – Odebrecht Engenharia e Construção, and Consulting Councilmember of Atiaia Energia S.A. (Cornélio Brennand Group). He previously worked in executive positions in large corporations, including AES Brasil, Prisma Energy, Elektro, Enron Latam, and he held the position of Corporate/Investment Banking VP in Citibank. Metallurgy Engineering graduate at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Post-Graduate in Economic Engineering at Fundação Dom Cabral and Business Management and Administration expert at Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.
André Dias is Zilor Independent Consulting Councilmember, he served as CEO of companies such as Monsanto in Brazil and Nidera Seeds. Currently he serves as CEO of Nutrien Latin America. Mechanical Engineer graduated from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica – ITA, holds a postgraduate degree in business administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, having completed an Executive Development Program from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is comprised by 4 members, elected by the Administrative Council, with two-year mandate, with possibility of reelection. It is responsibility of the Board of Directors to administrate and manage Zilor’s business, in compliance with the policies and regulations established in the Bylaws, as well as the legal provisions and resolutions of both the Shareholders’ Meeting and the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the management, organization and control of Zilor’s daily activities and several areas.
CEO Zilor - Biorigin
Biorigin Director
Chief Financial Officer
Agro-Industry Officer
Fabiano Zillo – Zilor and Biorigin CEO, Master in Agriculture at ESALQ (USP). Took MBA in Business Management at FGV, and extension course focused on strategy and innovation at Wharton Business School.Fabiano Zillo – Zilor and Biorigin CEO, Master in Agriculture at ESALQ (USP). Took MBA in Business Management at FGV, and extension course focused on strategy and innovation at Wharton Business School.
Mauricio Rosário da Barrosa – Member of the Board of Zilor and Business Director of Biorigin, he is a member of the Advisory Board of Copersucar S.A. He held positions in the industrial operations area of Zilor and in consultancy Falconi. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo and an MBA from Cornell University.
Marcos P. de Leon Arruda – Zilor CFO, Economy graduate at PUC-RJ, and took MBA at Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Previously, he held this position in company including Tópico, Lifemed and OAS Arenas. He was also AES Brasil Chief Executive Officer.
Luiz Gustavo Scartezini Rodrigues – Zilor Agroindustry Director, Electric Engineering graduate and Master at UNESP, took MBA at FGV and Leadership and Innovation extension course at Florida International University. He worked as COO in Delta Sucroenergia, Pioneiros Bionergia and Bunge Sugar Division.
ZILOR TIMELINE
Our 75th birthday calls for a special timeline, doesn’t it?
75 years of hard work, challenges, and achievements.
75 Crops planting the future, cultivating dreams, and reaping achievements.
Check below for the main events that marked Zilor’s 75 years.
1946
Zillo Lorenzetti company activities start, by process the 1st crop in Usina São José (Macatuba-SP), to produce sugar.
1950
São José mill starts to produce refined sugar
1955
Usina Barra Grande (Lençóis Paulista – SP) starts to produce ethanol.
1970
Zillo Lorenzetti becomes an innovation survey source, by ESALQ, in the field and industry.
1996
Zillo Lorenzetti is the first sugar company to be certified by ISO 9001.
1999
Agriculture Partnership model gradual deployment start.
2003
Establishment of Biorigin: Natural Ingredients.
2008
Zilor becomes the first Brazilian multinational by acquisition of PTX Food (USA) and Immunocorp Animal Health (Norway).
2010
Zilor achieves ISO 22000: the most significant certification related to food safety.
2016
Biorigin invests in expanding its production capacity at the Quatá (SP) unit.
2019
Biorigin achieves recommendation to ISO 14001.
1947
Usina Barra Grande activity start (Lençóis Paulista- SP), to produce sugar.
1952
Usina São José (Macatuba – SP) starts to produce ethanol.
1959
Zillo Lorenzetti company is the 1st one of the market to hire women to pack refined sugar.
1981
Usina Santa Lina, in the city of Quatá, is acquired by Zillo Lorenzetti, and it is now called Açucareira Quatá.
1998
Usina Barra Grande (Lençóis Paulista – SP) receives investments in cogeneration and starts to market Electric Power.
2001
- Usina São José (Macatuba – SP) starts to market Electric Power.
- Zilor becomes the 1st field company to release Carbon Credit Project.
2007
- Zilor invests in electricity in the São José and Quatá units, industrial and sugarcane expansion in the Quatá unit and Biorigin plant.
- Zilor is the 1st company to adhere to sugar cane 100% mechanized harvest.
- Zillo Lorenzetti brand change to Zilor Energia e Alimentos.
2008
On October 1st, 2008, Copersucar S.A. was established, the largest Brazilian company in the sector and one of the largest exporters of sugar and ethanol of the world, of which Zilor is one of the main shareholders.
2011
- The Ethanol produced by Zilor is certified by the United States Environment Protection Agency.
- The company achieves Bonsucro certification in its three units, assuring sustainable production in sugar cane manufacturing chain.
2017
Biorigin becomes the field 1st company, globally, to achieved Custody Chain – Bonsucro certification.
2020
Zilor achieves ‘RenovaBio Program’ certification in 100% of its industrial plants.