In the 90’sa simple snackbut irresistible it became the favorite of Argentine teenagers: the Pipes. This candy, made from sunflower seeds, was created by the Argensun company in 1996 and became popular thanks to the television series “Cebollitas”, starring Dalma Maradona.
The history of Pipas begins in 1989, when hyperinflation hit Argentina and different companies arrived in Argentina to plant confectionery sunflowers and export them to the United States and Europe. It was then when the Diaz Colodrero brothers, Pablo, Javier and Fernando, saw the potential of this business and decided to create Argensun.
One of the keys to their venture was that they sought the production of a sspecial sunflower seed which required it to be big and have the nugget loose inside. From that moment on, Argensun dedicated themselves to export of confectionery sunflower seed in bulk and with own brand.
Seven years later, In 1996, Argensun made the leap to mass consumption with the Pipes. Although this snack was known in some Arab and Jewish communities, its launch was a resounding success among the young public. Las Pipas not only became an icon of Argentine childhood, but also represented a milestone in the country’s food industry.
The name “Pipas” comes from what confectioner’s sunflower seeds are called in Spain.. In Argentina, the brand “Pipas” became a generic term for these seeds due to their popularity. This allowed the name to become widely used and associated with the snack in generalbeyond the specific Argensun brand.
Currently, since The company explains that its brand has more than 60% market share and the rest is divided into about 50 brands that are marketed mainly in the interior of the country.
In this context, the company made a strong rlaunch in 2021 with the aim of seducing the public again young who had not experienced the furor over the Pipes. At the time launched seven new varieties on the market ranging from sweet sunflower seeds to unsalted or unroasted.
The business of Pipes -the company’s only mass consumption- rIt represents between 15 and 20% of the volume sold by the firm, the rest is oriented to the export business.
The company – which has more than 200 employees – currently exports to more than 70 countries on five continents – led by Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Germany, Brazil and North Africa – and owns a seed laboratory. sunflower.
So although The bulk of the company’s business comes from exports, the Pipas brand continues to have a strong presence in the local market and it is also a reminder of a golden era for many Argentines.
