A group called Flor de Caña Boycott Group has launched a defamatory and unfounded campaign in recent months, mainly through Facebook, against the rum produced by Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua (CLNSA), in an attempt to link this company to the Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI, IRC, CKD, CKF) disease allegedly contracted by former workers of Ingenio San Antonio while they were working for the company.

Although Flor de Caña has no nexus with this problem arbitrarily attributed to Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL), the owner of Ingenio San Antonio, the objective of this boycott group is to pressure Nicaragua Sugar by attacking the Flor de Caña brand in order to obtain unjustified monetary compensation.

This campaign has generated extensive rejection in Nicaragua, where Compañía Licorera, the manufacturer of Flor de Caña, is one of the most respected companies of the country and Central America since it has been profiled for many years as a world-class company.

This level has been achieved thanks to a strategy focused on the human and professional development of its collaborators, a rigorous manufacturing process audited by the most reputable certifying companies in the world, the production of first-quality original products and its Corporate Social Responsibility policies.
 
The search for excellence has led it to implement an efficient productive system, the parameters of which exceed the best world standards of the industry and are best expressed by the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, HACCP and Kosher certifications and innumerable recognitions it has received in the area of occupational health and safety from government agencies, as well as private and non-governmental organizations.

An area that has been predominantly emphasized by the company is eco-efficient production. The plant operation is a closed system, without any negative impact on the environment. To this end, significant resources have been invested. More than $8 million were invested in the construction of a modern and efficient biodigestor, the largest of its type in the world, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a specialized United Nations agency, which allows the company to reuse all waste from raw materials and inputs that intervene in the process.

The programs for recycling and reforestation of river basins and slopes of the region are another component of its eco-friendly production project.

Another important dimension of its business activities is a commitment with the development of the neighboring communities. The company makes significant investments in the areas of health, education, nutrition, recreation and infrastructure construction for improving the quality of life of the population.

Further, Flor de Caña has always characterized itself as having an exemplary marketing conduct to promote a culture of responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The sum of all these efforts, investments and strategies has resulted in the consolidation of a model company in Nicaragua and the construction of a brand well-positioned in the international market.

To make known the truth about this disease, Nicaragua Sugar has established a website titled “Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited and Chronic Kidney Failure” at the following address: www.laverdadnsel.com.
The official website of Nicaragua Sugar also contains extensive information on the company’s production practices and corporate social responsibility policy. The website address is: www.nicaraguasugar.com.
Other interesting links are:

www.youtube.com/grupopellas
http://laverdadchichigalpa.wordpress.com/