Cooperativa de Trabajo 20 de Julio expands in Villa Mercedes

The Cooperativa de Trabajo 20 de Julio Ltda. is entering a new expansion phase in Villa Mercedes, Argentina. Six years after reclaiming the operations of the former Las Camelias bakery, the cooperative now comprises 31 associates and manages nine solidarity franchises operated by local families.

The cooperative's growth includes a commercial node at the Universidad Nacional de San Luis, established through a 2024 agreement. To bolster production, the entity has incorporated machinery acquired during the bankruptcy of another company.

The cooperative originated in July 2020, when 21 workers maintained operations despite labor precarity and pandemic uncertainty. Starting with artisanal production and manual sales, the group transitioned to an associated management model where major decisions are made via assembly and executed by an Administration Council.