History

In 1995, Mr. Ricardo Amador Céspedes, founder and current owner, carried the first trials at home with his mother’s support. He used buckets and several barrels. By doing this and using completely artisanal technology, he started to pave his own way in the provinces of San José, Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia.

The company started to diversify products by 1966, thus initiating the elaboration of floor waxes.

Little by little excellent production levels were achieved, together with a good quality control, which had great acceptance among consumers. Therefore, by 1966, “Jabón la Familia” (La Familia Soap) was the leader in the national market, which, at the time, was formed by 25 industries of diverse fields.

Upon the opening of the Central American Common Market, some of the items entering the market had the same names as the national ones. As a result, some of them had to be changed. One of those products was from Guatemala; it was called “Jabón La Familia”, which made Irex become a registered trademark.

This company, Irex de Costa Rica S.A. (Irex of Costa Rica Corp.) elaborates industrial and home products. It follows a vertical integration policy, offering goods and services to meet the internal needs of the Grupo Irex (Irex Group) and of national and foreign customers. Moreover, the company has affiliates such as: Irex Aduanera (Irex Customs, Agencia de Publicidad Signos Creativos (Signos Creativos Advertising Agency) and Alimentos del Trópico (Del Trópico Foods)

New Technology
The new technology for the elaboration of detergents was ignored in the country, thus, investigations to develop the first formulas started in 1970. Selling these was very hard.

The drying tower for the elaboration of powder detergent was installed in 1975.