Schucry Kafie (born November 11, 1947; spelled Schucrie in some sources)[1] is a Honduran businessman and philanthropist noted for being the founder of Lácteos de Honduras S.A.—better known as Lacthosa—the country's largest dairy company.[2][3][4] He is also a founding member, along with his brothers Luis and Eduardo, of Luz y Fuerza de San Lorenzo Sociedad Anónima—better known as Lufussa—the largest electricity supplier in Honduras.[5][6]
Early life, education, and career
editBorn in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Kafie received a Bachillerato en Ciencias y Letras from the Instituto San Francisco in 1965, and then moved to Washington, D.C., United States to attend Georgetown University. He graduated from Georgetown with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1971.[1] Kafie worked for his parents' business until 1974, when he established New Mark Representaciones S. R. L., which "represented domestic and international companies" conducting business in Honduras.[7] In 1984 Kafie was named "Honorary Consul of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan" in Honduras.[8]
Lacthosa and Lufussa
editIn 1988, Kafie founded Lacthosa, initially as a dairy company, and in 1994, he and his brothers founded Lufussa. In 2004, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central America (FEMAMCO) awarded Kafie the Orden FEMAMCO for promoting and strengthening Central American integration, as operator of Lacthosa.[9] Through these companies, the wealth and influence of the Kafie family substantially increased, to the point that a 2006 study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation named Kafie one of "the most powerful men in Honduras", citing Kafie's role with respect to Lufussa.[10][6] Kafie has also been noted by a number of studies to be influential in a variety of other product categories, particularly including the dairy and fruit juice products sold by Lacthosa.[11][12]
Philanthropy
editIn 2006, Kafie, along with his brothers Luis and Eduardo, established the Fundación Chito y Nena Kafie (Chito and Nena Kafie Foundation), a family charitable organization,[13] named for their parents (using their familiar names).[14] The charity has engaged in a variety of projects aimed at improving the lives of Hondurans. In June 2017, for example the Foundation entered into a collaboration with the San Felipe General Hospital called "La Cajita de Nena" to donate natal care boxes providing supplies for mothers who give birth there.[14]
Personal life
editKafie married Marlene Nasser, a sister of Fredy Nasser in 1982. They have four daughters Stephanie, Elena, Vivian, and Marianne, all four of whom work for Lacthosa.[1] Kafie's daughter Elena is Marketing and Sales Director for Lacthosa,[3] and daughter Marianne is also a Lacthosa executive.[15]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Personal website of Schucry Kafie.
- ^ Rodríguez, Luis (January 19, 2015). "Lacthosa invierte $15 millones para ampliar producción de jugos". El Heraldo.
- ^ a b "Sula Joins Marca Honduras". MarketWatch. October 19, 2016.
- ^ Lacthosa corporate website.
- ^ "Lufussa se prepara para la liberación de 40000 tortuguitas". La Tribuna. November 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Roux, Hélène. "Le "Bolivar" du Honduras s'appelle Francisco Morazán!" (PDF). Recherches internationales, n° 86, avril-juin 2009. p. 11.
- ^ "Schucry Kafie biography, Business". Retrieved July 21, 2017.
- ^ "About the Honorary Consul". Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ Orden FECAMCO 2004.
- ^ Mejía, Thelma (December 15, 2006). "HONDURAS: Governed by Vested Interests". Inter Press Service.
- ^ "Las "10 Familias", O El Reparto De Las Riquezas En Honduras". Mundo Cultural Hispano. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ Centro de Documentación de Honduras, Honduras: poderes fácticos y sistema político (Honduras: Powers and the Political System) (2008), p. 281.
- ^ https://fundacionchitoynenakafie.org/
- ^ a b ""La Cajita Nena" en ayuda al Hospital San Felipe". La Tribuna. June 1, 2017.
- ^ Destephen, Luis (October 3, 2016). "LACTHOSA recibe por séptimo año consecutivo el sello FUNDAHRSE". El Tiempo.
