Florida Ice & Farm Co.
A Costa Rican multinational holding company whose businesses span beer, beverages, food, bottling-related investments, and resort properties.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Florida Ice & Farm Co., commonly abbreviated as FIFCO, is a Costa Rican food and beverage corporation headquartered in Heredia Province. Although its contemporary identity is associated primarily with beer, refreshments, packaged foods, and related consumer businesses, the company originated as an agricultural and ice-making enterprise in Costa Rica’s Caribbean region. The Lindo brothers, who were of Jamaican origin, established the business in 1908 on a property called La Florida in Siquirres, Limón. The property’s name became the source of the company’s English-language name, reflecting the linguistic and cultural environment of Caribbean migrants in the region. FIFCO entered the beverage sector in 1912 when it acquired the brewery and beverage operation of José Traube. This move began the company’s transition from a primarily agricultural concern into a producer and distributor of beverages. A major consolidation followed in 1958, when FIFCO acquired Cervecería Ortega, a brewery founded by the Ortega family in 1910. The transaction brought together important Costa Rican brewing interests, including brands such as Imperial and Bavaria, and supported further investment in domestic brewing and bottling capacity. In 1966, the company opened the Cervecería Costa Rica brewery and bottling plant in Río Segundo de Alajuela. The company became publicly traded in 1979 through the Bolsa Nacional de Valores, Costa Rica’s national stock exchange. During the following decades, FIFCO expanded beyond traditional beer through new beverage formats, acquisitions, distribution agreements, and international investments. In 1995 it launched Rock Ice, a beer marketed around an ice-brewing process. The company acquired Cervecería Tropical in 1998 and introduced the Tropical fruit-refreshment line in 2001, while also beginning local distribution of Tampico products. FIFCO’s diversification accelerated in the 2000s. Its 2006 acquisition of Industrias Alimenticias Kern’s y Compañía S.C.A. brought the Kern’s and Ducal brands, including canned beans, sauces, and pasta. In 2007 it acquired SABMiller’s Costa Rican operations, gaining local Pepsi distribution rights and associated real-estate interests. A 2008 agreement with Tsingtao supported beer and refreshment exports to China and the importation of Chinese beverages into Costa Rica. The company subsequently expanded into bakery, dairy, and international brewing assets through the acquisition of Corporación Musmanni in 2011, Coopeleche in 2012, and North American Breweries Holdings later in 2012. FIFCO is organized as a holding company with businesses described under Florida Bebidas, Florida Capitales, and Florida Inmobiliaria. Florida Bebidas covers food and beverage activities; Florida Capitales invests in bottling facilities and related assets; and Florida Inmobiliaria invests in resort hotels and other real estate. The company has reported a portfolio of more than 2,000 products distributed across more than 15 countries. Its portfolio has included Costa Rican beer brands, soft drinks and fruit refreshments, packaged foods, dairy products, bakery products, and beer brands sold in the United States. FIFCO also brews Heineken under contract at its La Ribera de Belén facility. In 2015, it obtained the essential COSTA RICA country brand, an official national-brand designation. The available reference material does not establish a complete current executive roster, ownership structure, or detailed present-day geographic breakdown.
History
Florida Ice & Farm Co. began in 1908 in Siquirres, in Costa Rica’s Limón Province. The Lindo brothers established the enterprise on a property known as La Florida. Their Jamaican background and the English-speaking character of the Caribbean region help explain the company’s English name. The original business combined agriculture with ice production. In 1912, the company acquired José Traube’s brewery and beverage business. This acquisition moved FIFCO into beverages and created the foundation for its later importance in Costa Rican brewing. In 1958, FIFCO purchased Cervecería Ortega, a brewery founded in 1910 by the Ortega family. The consolidation strengthened its position in the national beer market and included brands such as Imperial and Bavaria. The company subsequently invested in a new brewery and bottling operation, Cervecería Costa Rica, which opened in 1966 at Río Segundo de Alajuela. FIFCO became a public company in 1979, beginning trading on Costa Rica’s Bolsa Nacional de Valores. Its growth thereafter combined internal product development with acquisitions and distribution partnerships. In 1995, it launched Rock Ice beer, whose market proposition emphasized an ice-brewing method. In 1998, it acquired Cervecería Tropical. In 2001, it introduced the Tropical fruit-refreshment range and began distributing Tampico products in Costa Rica. The 2000s marked a major diversification phase. In 2006, FIFCO acquired Industrias Alimenticias Kern’s y Compañía S.C.A. for a reported US$86 million, adding the Kern’s and Ducal packaged-food brands and categories including beans, sauces, and pasta. In 2007, it purchased SABMiller’s Costa Rican operations for a reported US$116 million. The transaction included Pepsi-Cola distribution rights in Costa Rica and real-estate investments. In 2008, following improved political relations between Costa Rica and China, FIFCO signed an agreement with Tsingtao covering exports of beer and refreshments to China and imports of Chinese beverages into Costa Rica. The company continued expanding into adjacent consumer categories. Its 2011 acquisition of Corporación Musmanni added a large bakery chain with franchisees in Central America and the Caribbean. In March 2012, FIFCO acquired Coopeleche and entered the dairy market, creating additional competitive pressure for Dos Pinos, a long-established Costa Rican dairy cooperative. In October 2012, Cervecería Costa Rica acquired North American Breweries Holdings from KPS Capital Partners for a reported US$388 million. This added United States beer operations and brands including Genesee, Labatt, Magic Hat, and Pyramid. FIFCO’s structure includes Florida Bebidas, Florida Capitales, and Florida Inmobiliaria. The first covers food and beverage activities, the second investments in bottling facilities, and the third resort-hotel and other real-estate investments. FIFCO also produces Heineken under contract at its facility in La Ribera de Belén. By the period covered by the reference material, the company described a portfolio of more than 2,000 products sold in more than 15 countries. In 2015, it obtained the essential COSTA RICA country brand. The available sources do not provide enough verified information to describe later leadership changes, current ownership, or the company’s precise present operating footprint.
- 2015
Essential COSTA RICA designation
[1]FIFCO obtained the essential COSTA RICA country brand.
- 2012
Expansion into dairy and United States brewing
[1]FIFCO acquired Coopeleche and North American Breweries Holdings.
- 2011
Expansion into bakery
[1]FIFCO acquired Corporación Musmanni and its bakery and franchise network.
- 2006
Expansion into packaged foods
[1]FIFCO acquired Kern’s and added the Ducal and Kern’s food portfolios.
- 2001
Tropical refreshment line introduced
[1]The company launched Tropical fruit refreshments and began local distribution of Tampico.
- 1995
Rock Ice launch
[1]FIFCO introduced Rock Ice beer, promoting an ice-brewing concept.
- 1979
Public listing
[1]The company began trading on the Bolsa Nacional de Valores in Costa Rica.
- 1966
Cervecería Costa Rica opens
[1]FIFCO opened a brewery and bottling plant at Río Segundo de Alajuela.
- 1958
Acquisition of Cervecería Ortega
[1]The transaction consolidated important Costa Rican brewing operations under FIFCO.
- 1912
Entry into brewing and beverages
[1]FIFCO acquired José Traube’s brewery and beverage business.
Products and positioning
A diversified Costa Rican consumer-goods and investment group anchored by beer and beverages, with additional positions in packaged food, dairy, bakery, bottling infrastructure, hospitality, and international brewing.
Beer
Imperial
Imperial is one of the Costa Rican beer brands associated with FIFCO’s historical brewing portfolio. The brand entered the company’s sphere through the consolidation of Costa Rican brewing operations, particularly the acquisition of Cervecería Ortega in 1958. Detailed current product variants are not established by the supplied reference material.
Beer
Bavaria
Bavaria is a Costa Rican beer brand linked to the brewery operations consolidated by FIFCO. It was among the brands associated with Cervecería Ortega before that business was acquired by FIFCO. The supplied sources do not document the full current range or market positioning.
Beer · 1995
Rock Ice
Rock Ice was introduced in 1995 as a beer emphasizing an ice-brewing process. Its launch represented FIFCO’s effort to develop differentiated beer products within the Costa Rican market. The available material does not specify its current distribution or product variants.
Fruit refreshments · 2001
Tropical
Tropical is FIFCO’s fruit-refreshment line, introduced in 2001 as part of the company’s move beyond beer. The line broadened FIFCO’s presence in non-alcoholic beverages and complemented its broader distribution activities. Current flavors and markets are not specified in the supplied sources.
Packaged food
Kern’s
Kern’s became part of FIFCO’s portfolio through the 2006 acquisition of Industrias Alimenticias Kern’s y Compañía S.C.A. The acquisition added packaged-food categories including canned beans, sauces, and pasta, helping transform FIFCO from a beverage-centered company into a broader food and consumer-goods group.
Packaged food
Ducal
Ducal was added to FIFCO’s portfolio through the Kern’s acquisition. The brand is associated in the supplied material with packaged food, particularly canned beans and related grocery products. Its exact current ownership and geographic footprint are not detailed beyond its connection to FIFCO’s food operations.
Bakery
Musmanni
Musmanni is a bakery business acquired by FIFCO in 2011. The acquisition included a large Costa Rican bakery chain and franchisees operating in Central America and the Caribbean, extending FIFCO’s consumer reach into fresh and prepared bakery products.
Beer
Genesee, Labatt, Magic Hat, and Pyramid
These beer brands entered FIFCO’s international portfolio through the 2012 acquisition of North American Breweries Holdings. The group included established American beer operations and craft or small-batch brands, giving FIFCO a material presence in the United States brewing market.
Brand decisions
2012
Acquisition of North American Breweries HoldingsM&ABackground
FIFCO pursued international scale in beer and access to United States brewing assets.
Action taken
Cervecería Costa Rica acquired North American Breweries Holdings from KPS Capital Partners.
Aftermath
FIFCO added Genesee, Labatt, Magic Hat, and Pyramid to its international beer portfolio.
Reported acquisition price. US$388 million (October 2012)
2007
Acquisition of SABMiller’s Costa Rican operationsM&ABackground
FIFCO expanded its domestic beverage and distribution platform.
Action taken
It purchased SABMiller’s Costa Rican operations, including Pepsi distribution rights and real-estate investments.
Aftermath
The deal broadened FIFCO’s local distribution capabilities and asset base.
Reported acquisition price. US$116 million (2007)
2006
Acquisition of Industrias Alimenticias Kern’sM&ABackground
FIFCO sought to diversify beyond beverages into packaged food.
Action taken
It acquired Industrias Alimenticias Kern’s y Compañía S.C.A., bringing Kern’s and Ducal products into the group.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded FIFCO into beans, sauces, pasta, and other packaged-food categories.
Reported acquisition price. US$86 million (2006)
Sources2 sources
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