Founded in 1919 as a small pharmacy in Joinville, Santa Caratina, Laboratório Catarinense has built a century-old trajectory full of purpose and reinvention. Today, under the command of Alexandre Bornschein Silva, representative of the fourth generation of the family, the company is one of the most recognized in the country in the pharmaceutical sector, with iconic brands including the traditional Mel Agrião, which predates even the official creation of the company.
“The most curious thing is that MelAgrião came before the laboratory itself. It is a product that has passed through generations: everyone has a story with it”, says Alexandre.
The businessman participated in the program From Zero to Top and told a little about the history of the company that has remained in the family for 100 years and maintains tradition and innovation.
The history of the laboratory is also an example of well-managed succession. According to the executive, the secret to balancing family ties and business lies in governance and constant dialogue.
“We started working at the company early. Every Tuesday, family lunch is also a meeting and this helps to let everyone know what is happening. Anyone born into an entrepreneurial family ends up having the business environment there on a daily basis from a young age”, says the businessman.
With professional management, the company has been expanding its portfolio and investing in supplements, innovation and technology, without losing the DNA of a close and accessible brand. “Our purpose has always been the same: to be a source of health. The form changes, the audience changes, but the essence remains.”
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During the pandemic, Alexandre faced his biggest challenge since assuming the presidency in 2020. Demand for medicines soared, and the input chain suffered a global impact.
“It was a test of leadership. We need to take care of people, keep the team together and still guarantee supplies. We grew in the midst of chaos, and this showed the strength of our culture.”
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A company was born from Melagrião
Almost 80 years later, Catarinense is one of the largest national pharmaceutical laboratories. The plan is to double revenue by 2029 and reach the first billion reais in revenue. Currently, the company continues to invest in new product lines and sustainability, focusing on innovation without losing ties with its origins.
“I often say that Catarinense is an 80-year-old startup. We maintain a restless and entrepreneurial spirit, even with a century of history”, says the CEO.
Headquartered in Santa Catarina and with a consolidated national presence, the company is preparing for the future with one foot in legacy and the other in modernization. A combination that has kept the Catarinense Laboratory relevant for more than a century.
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Watch the full episode on the YouTube channel From Zero to Top or on the main podcast aggregators.
To find out more details about the company’s history and learn about its strategy for the future, watch the full episode on . The program is available in and in its podcast version on the main streaming platforms such as , , , , and
About From Zero to Top
O podcast From Zero to Top is a production of InfoMoney and brings, every week, the stories of prominent women and men in the Brazilian market to tell their story, sharing the biggest challenges faced along the way and the main strategies used in building the business.
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The program has already received names such as the founder of Brisanet; , from Grupo Simpar; founder of XP Investimentos; , chairman of Cogna; co-founder of the Supley Group; CEO and founder of 3tentos; CEO of Rei do Mate; one of the founders of Mercado Livre; the businessman; , founder and CEO of Cobasi; executive responsible for Renner’s rise; and told dozens of success stories.
