How did your father begin working in the agribusiness sector?
My paternal grandfather, whose name was Angelo, was originally from San Fili, a town in the Calabria region, province of Cosenza, in southern Italy. He was known for the quality of the olive oil he produced. Together with him, my father, as a child, took his first steps connected to working the land. It was passed down more as a way to connect with something authentic and original than as a way of making a living.
Angelo Calcaterra is an architect and entrepreneur. CEO of San Tonino, specialized in agribusiness.
Once settled in Argentina, and with his construction activity already consolidated, Antonio, my father, bought a farm in the province of Mendoza. That land was later sold, and many years afterward, my brother and I decided to reinvest in that province and continue those early experiences.
Who is Angelo Calcaterra?
In the 1990s, I participated with my father in the acquisition of Alimentos Modernos S.A. Over time, a multinational Dutch shareholder joined, Farm Frites, dedicated to the production of frozen potatoes. During that stage, I was Executive Director of the company and contributed to consolidating the frozen food business in Argentina. The project included operating a 10,000-square-meter plant in the municipality of Munro, Buenos Aires Province, for the production of pre-fried potatoes and their subsequent commercialization. I began in the agribusiness sector alongside my father, at the same time I was taking my first steps as an architect. While my greatest passion is linked to design and architecture, the business world, ultimately, is driven by a backbone common to all fields. In that sense, what I find most challenging is bringing projects to life—whatever the sector—and once they take shape and walk on their own, I like to let them fly. That’s how I’ve come in and out of various diverse business ventures over time.
What is Cool Mind?
Cool Mind is a corporation created in March 2009 to participate in the cold food storage segment, alongside Alimentos Modernos. After the project was consolidated, it was sold to Simplot S.A., and this was the first project that the American company undertook before confirming its large-scale investment interest in the country.
How and when was it created?
It emerged as a need for vertical integration in the frozen food sales business—a way to increase production capacity by having access to a sophisticated cold storage system. With cutting-edge technology, it enabled optimization of product distribution, taking into account the order of entry and expiration dates of each item.
What was your role in the company? Any partners?
I was involved in this company with different levels of shareholding, until the project reached maturity and was sold in 2016 to an American investment group betting on Argentina as a production and distribution hub for frozen food in Latin America.
And today?
Currently, I’m working on the San Tonino S.A. project, a company based in Buenos Aires and operating a farm in San Carlos, Pareditas, Mendoza Province. The land had no electricity or irrigation water at the start. Still, the soil proved to be much more generous than we initially thought. There is water and a channel. San Tonino S.A. has three components: first, the industrial production of various potato varieties; second, intensive beef cattle fattening, which became a key complement to the main activity and is geared both toward export (heavy cattle) and domestic consumption (lighter cattle), using mainly British/European breeds. The third leg of this value-adding project in the Uco Valley is the El Relincho Solar Park, currently under pre-feasibility assessment. What excites us most about the entire project is the opportunity to create jobs, enhance the land’s value, and reduce fossil fuel consumption—all while being competitive. We’re in a moment where sustainability and the ability to grow in that direction are critical. It means responding to a globally emerging need.
Tell us about your personal life
I was born and raised in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. At the age of eight, I moved to the city of Buenos Aires, where I attended Colegio Argentino Modelo. I’m the second of four siblings. My parents, Maria Pia and Antonio Calcaterra, were immigrants who settled in Argentina after leaving Italy. I graduated as an architect from the Universidad de Belgrano (UB) in 1986. On August 29, 1986, I married María Boneo, a sculptor from a Yugoslav family. We had two daughters and one son. After divorcing, I met my current partner, who is a fashion entrepreneur.
Quick Facts
Name: Angelo Calcaterra
Nickname(s): Angelo / Tano
Parents: María Pia and Antonio Calcaterra
Siblings: Emilia, Teresa, and Fabio
Age: 62
Profession: Architect. Graduated in 1986 from Universidad de Belgrano
Born and Raised: Born in Buenos Aires Province; later moved with my family to the city, where I completed my primary and secondary studies at Colegio Argentino Modelo
Passion: Traveling
Trait: Family-oriented
Marital Status: Divorced from María Boneo, with whom I was married for over 20 years. Currently in a relationship with a fashion entrepreneur
Children: 3 (two daughters and a son), and two granddaughters
Distinctive Quality: Dedication to what I undertake and pursuit of excellence
Current Project: Second and third stages of the Art María building complex and agribusiness development in Mendoza
A Dream: To see my two children get married (one of them has already made me that proud!)