Where is the Bic brand from?
Bic, has been the subject of a peculiar perception by consumers in different countries. Although the company does not have its roots in Mexico, a significant number of people in this country mistakenly identify it as a Mexican brand.
“In Mexico there are many people who believe that the company is Mexican,” Ramírez said.
However, the manager also stressed that Mexico is not the only country where this confusion has been generated. During a visit to Brazil, he noticed a similar situation: “When I went to Brazil, people thought the same thing, that it is a company from there,” he commented.
But Bic is a brand of French origin. It arrived in Mexico in 1973, almost thirty years after it was founded in France, and today it has its largest plant in the world in the country, in the industrial zone of Cuautitlán Izcalli, State of Mexico.
In the country, the French company, in addition to the plant in the State of Mexico, also has a plant in Ramos Arizpe, in Coahuila, where it manufactures razors, a product that it integrated into its global product portfolio in 1975.
What does BiC do in Cuautitlán Izcalli?
The Bic factory in Cuautitlán Izcalli produces eight million products a day, including crystal pens, round stic pens, round stic with spring, mechanical pencils and correction tapes of two different sizes.
“Mexico is our second largest country as a client, after the United States, which takes 64% of the total volume of what is manufactured in the complex. Another 18% stays in Mexico and the rest in the other countries”, he declares.
The plant is also one of the most sustainable. Since January of this year, it has been operating entirely with renewable energy. “As a company we are completely hooked on what environmental protection is,” said Rafael Ramírez.
Bic has also set clear goals for the near future. With a view to 2025, the company has proposed that all of its packaging, whether cardboard or plastic, be recyclable. Looking even further, by 2030, Bic has set a goal for 50% of its packaging to be made from recycled material.
Looking back to school
After having recovered from the effects of Covid-19, which resulted in the closure of educational centers and workplaces, the plant’s production has been fully restored. At the moment, the complex is preparing to reach its maximum production, which will start with the next school year.
Rafael Ramírez comments that the potential of the plant towards the end of this year is 1.6 billion products, in line with last year’s volumes. The record production year for the Cuautitlán plant was in 2018, when they manufactured two million products.
“We had a recovery and growth last year. On average, among all the products, we recovered 38% of volumes, with honestly very good sales and the number one category, the one that supports sales in Mexico, are ballpoint pens”, declares the manager of the Cuautitlán Izcalli plant.
This factory, which represents more than 33% of Bic stationery production globally, has a workforce of 1,150 employees, of whom 63% are women and 37% men.
“The philosophy that has made Bic great, and that continues to make it great, is the note that founder Marcel Bich made when he said that what we must do as a company is honor the past to create your future,” said the manager.