Lorenzo Alejandro
Mendoza Fleury
"An entrepreneurial, intuitive, enthusiastic spirit
and
always oriented to excellence".
1897
Everything has a beginning
Born in Caracas in 1897. He obtained his law degree and in 1924 his Doctorate in Political Sciences from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. He combined the practice of law with the management of Mendoza & Compañía, a family-owned candle and soap factory.
1941
A cornerstone
In 1941, he took the first step towards the establishment of Cervecería Polar C.A., the initial pillar of Empresas Polar and the basis for its consolidation as an industrial corporation. He organized not only the production infrastructure, but also the efficient network of companies dedicated to the commercialization of beer and malt throughout the national territory. He promoted business growth by reinvesting profits in the country, constantly generating new sources of employment.
1943
International career
His extensive career also included the diplomatic field. He represented Venezuela ad honorem abroad for 14 years, starting in 1943, as consul in Philadelphia, and since 1948 as alternate ambassador to the United Nations.
His extensive career also included the diplomatic field. He represented Venezuela ad honorem abroad for 14 years, starting in 1943, as consul in Philadelphia, and since 1948 as alternate ambassador to the United Nations.
1954
Homemade
He promoted the construction of a corn processing plant to produce the flakes used in the breweries, which until then had been imported. This would be the beginning of operations with cereals. In the 1950s, he also founded Compañía Espectáculos del Este, S.A. (Cedesa), to carry out the advertising campaigns of the brands and would begin to produce the movie theaters and television micro documentaries called “Traveling with Polar”, to showcase the natural beauties of the country, as well as its traditions and cultural expressions.
1960
Innovation with vision
One of the most important legacies left by him and his son Juan Lorenzo, was the creation of pre-cooked corn flour, with the objective of making the preparation of the arepa easier, preventing its disappearance from the Venezuelan people’s eating habits. He delegated the control of the company to his son Juan Lorenzo, who died prematurely in 1962. He then took over again for seven more years, until his physical disappearance in 1969.
One of the most important legacies left by him and his son Juan Lorenzo, was the creation of pre-cooked corn flour, with the objective of making the preparation of the arepa easier, preventing its disappearance from the Venezuelan people’s eating habits. He delegated the control of the company to his son Juan Lorenzo, who died prematurely in 1962. He then took over again for seven more years, until his physical disappearance in 1969.
1982
Leaving footprints
In recognition for his concerns for social, cultural and scientific issues, the prestigious “Fundación Empresas Polar Lorenzo Mendoza Fleury Award” was created in 1982, as a stimulus to researchers dedicated to the basic sciences in Venezuela, thus leaving footprints both in the history of the organization and in the integral development of the country.
