THE BRAND of the PIONEER SPIRIT

Jalles Machado is a result of the entrepreneur spirit of Otávio Lage de Siqueira. The company was born with a social mission: generate more jobs and income for Goianésia-GO. And today, is reference in quality, preservation of the environment and social responsibility, besides of being present in several parts of the world with the brand Itajá. Today, there are two industrial units which generate approximately 3,700 direct jobs and make of the cane the main economic activity of the municipality.

The beginning

The beginning was in 1980, when Jalles Fontoura, son of Otávio Lage, was the mayor of Goianésia. Cattle breeding were not enough for employing everyone in the City and Otávio Lage began to articulate the implantation of an alcohol distillery in the region, satisfying the call of the Government. In that time, to face the Oil Crisis, the Federal Government, using the National Alcohol Program (Proálcool), invested in the production and encouraged the consumption of the cane fuel.

Then, with the leadership of Otávio Lage and the participation of the land owners, was created in July 16th, 1980, the Cooperativa dos Produtores de Cana de Goianésia Ltda (Cooperálcool) and, in November 14th, 1980, was founded the Destilaria Goianésia Álcool S/A. Thus, the farmers of the region produced cane and supplied the raw material for the industry. The Distillery made the processing of the cane and made alcohol.

In 1990, the price of cane decreased and the producers stopped planting due to lack of incentives. Then, Cooperálcool sold the entire cane field to Goianésia Álcool S/A, which also became the owner of the cane fields. 

The Consolidation

In 1993, the agro-industry began a new phase and began to produce crystal sugar. Goianésia Álcool S/A changed its name to Jalles Machado S/A Açúcar e Álcool, a homage of the company shareholders to Otávio Lage, using the name of his father. The crystal sugar brand was called Itajá, native name of the first farm in which Jalles Machado settled in Goianésia with his children.

In 2000, the company was pioneer in Goiás in the cogeneration of energy from cane bagasse and changed its name to Jalles Machado S/A. Also was the first company of the sugar-ethanol industry to sale Carbon Credits and, in 2003, began to produce organic sugar, which today is one of its biggest differentials. Jalles Machado expanded its businesses and, in 2011, inaugurated the Otávio Lage Unit, also located in Goianésia.

Reference in Quality and Sustainability

Today, Jalles Machado has its production of ethanol, industrial and hydrated anhydrous, conventional and organic sugar, hygiene and cleaning products, electrical energy, yeast and latex growing each year. Also have several prizes and certifications, which prove the quality of Itajá products, sold in the Brazilian market and exported to Europe, Japan, United States, Canada, China and the Jew and Muslim Communities.

So, the history of Jalles Machado is characterized by the pioneer spirit. The company constantly invests in technology and innovation and is reference in quality, respect to the environment and social responsibility. The valorization of the human being and the promotion of the sustainable development are its biggest pillars.