The ice cream shop that ranked 4th in the world is opening its first branch in Córdoba with craft-made products and ice cream for pets
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Portho Helados, the San Juan-based brand that reached 4th place at the 2024 Gelato World Cup, has opened its first store in Villa Allende. With more than 70 craft-made flavors and an exclusive line for pets, it promises to become a new local attraction. The business was born in the 1990s as a family project during a time of crisis.
The company's story began when the founder's father, Fernando Nieto, accepted a freezer full of ice cream as payment. That fortuitous event became the starting point for a brand that today creates jobs, exports Argentine quality, and represents the spirit of private enterprise. "It wasn't luck, it was persistence," Nieto says.
Portho Helados, la marca sanjuanina que alcanzó el 4° lugar en el Mundial de Heladerías 2024
In 1996, they started selling ice cream door to door and, two years later, opened their first store in their living room. Today, Portho employs 190 people and has 13 branches in San Juan, in addition to its recent opening in Córdoba.
Con más de 70 sabores artesanales y una línea exclusiva para mascotas, promete convertirse en una nueva atracción local.
A growth model based on merit
The arrival in Córdoba was carefully planned by the Nieto family, prioritizing human relationships over immediate profitability. The first franchise was granted to a couple from San Juan who had known the brand since its beginnings. "We move forward slowly but steadily," Fernando Nieto explained.
All the products offered in the province are made at the central plant in San Juan, which guarantees the quality and control of every recipe. From ice creams to brownies and pound cakes, everything comes from the family factory. This decision reinforces a production model based on personal effort and craft-made excellence.
The new Portho store is located at Avenida Sáenz Peña 238, Villa Anita station, and offers coffee, pastries, and more than seventy flavors. The opening reflects the expansion of the private sector, which grows based on merit and genuine work, without subsidies or government shortcuts.
Portho emplea a 190 personas y cuenta con 13 sucursales en San Juan, además de su reciente apertura en Córdoba.
craft-made ice cream and an innovative proposal
Among its standout products is Portho Pet, a line of ice creams specially created for pets. Made with coconut oil, apple, and egg, with no preservatives or added sugars, they were designed to include all household members. The proposal has already caused great interest among Villa Allende residents.
The menu also features classic flavors such as pistachio, vanilla, or flan, along with innovative creations like lemon crock or quince with cream. They have even developed a salmon ice cream with spicy chocolate, reserved for gourmet events. Each flavor reflects the company's commitment to innovation without losing its Argentine roots.
"We no longer imitate Italy; Argentine ice cream has its own identity," Nieto says. The company remains under family control: Fernando manages the company, his sister Eli runs the factory, and his father continues on the board of directors. With social commitment, they support clubs and youth training programs.
El arribo a Córdoba fue cuidadosamente planificado por la familia Nieto, priorizando vínculos humanos sobre la rentabilidad inmediata.
