Transforming a family business through culture – Episode 34- Keru Podcast
- From textiles to home care: the reinvention In this episode of Keru Podcast we talk with Nicolás Grille Uruguay, who led the transformation of Vessena Uruguay, a historic company in the country's manufacturing sector. Under his leadership, the company went from operating exclusively in apparel to positioning itself as a key player in the household cleaning industry in LATAM, consolidating its presence in supermarkets, self-service stores and direct points of sale throughout the country. Productive reconversion Starting in 2015, Nicolás Grille Vessena took over General Management with the goal of diversifying channels, professionalizing processes and incorporating new technologies. In this episode he tells us how he managed to redesign Vessena Uruguay's operating model and align the design, sourcing and retail areas into a single integrated strategy. The most important leap: entering the household detergent manufacturing segment, with its own brands and new lines aimed at the end consumer. Household cleaning industry in LATAM: challenges from the south Nicolás analyzes how the household cleaning industry in LATAM has evolved after the pandemic and the boom in home care products. In that context, Vessena Uruguay developed a competitive, adaptable portfolio aligned with international regulatory requirements. The challenge was not only to manufacture more, but to sustain standards of quality, traceability and efficiency. Sustainable home care production: beyond the product One of the central themes of the conversation is sustainable home care production. Nicolás Grille Vessena shares how the company incorporated practices of waste reduction, water reuse, packaging redesign and energy efficiency. Not as a marketing strategy, but as an operating philosophy that runs through the entire business model.
Industrial leadership with a sustainable vision
His track record at the head of Vessena Uruguay, a company with more than 50 years in the industry, reflects the balance between respect for tradition and a calling for innovation. Since joining general management in 2015, he has driven an unprecedented process of operational professionalization, technology adoption and cultural evolution within the company.
Leading a family business in Uruguay also means leading a history, not just an operation.
Nicolás Grille Vessena: modernization with productive roots
Under the leadership of Nicolás Grille Vessena, the company left behind a traditional operating logic to become an organization oriented toward processes, metrics and continuous improvement. His integrating approach connected the design, production, retail and supply chain areas, establishing common objectives, performance indicators and traceability systems that are now part of Vessena Uruguay's DNA.
From the first years of his tenure, he led initiatives focused on optimizing the supply chain, digitizing inventory control and improving production planning. He also promoted new commercial strategies, opening direct-to-consumer sales channels and strengthening the brand's national presence.
The biggest change wasn't technological, it was cultural: to stop deciding by intuition and start trusting data.
Household cleaning industry in LATAM: evolution from Uruguay
Nicolás Grille Uruguay's biggest leap was guiding the company through its transition into the household cleaning industry in LATAM, a rapidly expanding sector with complex operational demands. Thanks to his leadership, Vessena Uruguay consolidated a business unit focused on manufacturing household detergents, developing high-performance products, its own brand and competitive formulations.
With a long-term view, Nicolás positioned the company in a market that is increasingly demanding in terms of regulations, certifications and environmental responsibility. This expansion represented not only a diversification of production, but also a new management standard for the firm.
At Vessena we learned that professionalizing doesn't mean losing identity, it means evolving with purpose.
Redesigning processes without changing the culture is like replacing parts without checking the engine.
Sustainable home care production: an operational commitment
One of the main legacies of Nicolás Grille Vessena is having driven a strategy based on sustainable home care production. From energy efficiency and waste reduction practices to packaging redesign and process improvement, Vessena Uruguay managed to integrate sustainability as an essential part of its business model.
Thanks to these actions, the company not only raised its competitiveness, but also strengthened its social and environmental commitment. Internally, Nicolás promoted a culture based on team autonomy, technical training and shared purpose.
Operational planning can't be isolated from the customer, or from the shop floor.
Nicolás Grille Uruguay: industrial legacy and transformative vision
Today, Nicolás Grille Uruguay represents a new generation of leaders who understand industry as a system in transformation. His journey shows that it is possible to innovate from traditional companies, build resilient teams and compete in highly regulated sectors such as the household cleaning industry in LATAM.
General Manager
Episode 34 · Keru Podcast
Articles by Nicolás Grille
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