Retail, department stores, and franchise management.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El Salvador’s economy revolved almost entirely around coffee production. A group of roughly 14 families controlled the vast majority of the land, financial institutions, and political leverage [1].
Old Spanish aristocracy; former presidents of El Salvador. Power Base: Automotive (Grupo Q), Cement (Cementos de El Salvador - CESSA), and Free Zones. The confusion: The Dueñas split into two branches. The Dueñas-Ruano branch controls automotive (Toyota, Nissan, Ford). The Dueñas-Poma branch is arguably the most powerful. They own Grupo Poma , which operates the luxury Hotel Real Intercontinental and a construction empire. They are the "best" in terms of political survival—having navigated the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) government and the current Nayib Bukele administration seamlessly.
Historically, these families gained power through the cultivation and export of coffee, which once accounted for 90% of the nation's export earnings. The list of influential families associated with this era includes: Salaverría Quinóñez Transition to Modern Business Groups
During the coffee boom, these families controlled nearly half of the land in El Salvador and established a feudal-like system of influence. Names synonymous with this era include:
The Henríquez family is a prominent wealthy family in El Salvador, with an estimated net worth of over $250 million. The family's fortune was made through their interests in the manufacturing industry, particularly in the production of textiles and food products. The family's patriarch, Roberto Henríquez, is a well-known businessman and entrepreneur, who has founded several successful companies.
