Business · Companies · 2 days ago
Jorge Vergara’s early food businesses preceded Omnilife and Chivas
Jorge Vergara’s career began in business, but he lost his job at Casolar after the company went bankrupt during Mexico’s economic crisis in the 1980s.
He turned to cooking, selling carnitas and delivering food from early morning before opening his own shop.
He later ran an Italian restaurant as well, but the long hours and business setbacks harmed his health and left him feeling unsuccessful.
Vergara moved to the United States, where a friend introduced him to Herbalife, a company that sold supplements through a network of distributors.
At 31, he became the company’s top salesperson in the United States.
In 1989, he joined two US businesspeople to create Omnitrition USA, which brought its business to Mexico two years later.
The company grew into Omnilife, officially taking that name in 2000, and gave Vergara a base for expanding into other ventures, including becoming owner of Chivas.
Jorge Vergara sold pork carnitas after Casolar went bankrupt and he needed another source of income.
He said he got up at 4 a.m. to cook the meat and deliver it to vendors by 6 a.m.
He also opened an Italian restaurant, but said the long hours affected his health.
After moving to the United States, he found success selling Herbalife products.
That sales experience led to business ventures that eventually became Omnilife.
- Who
- Jorge Vergara, the businessman who later built Omnilife.
- What
- He sold pork carnitas after losing his job at Casolar, before moving into direct sales and building Omnilife.
- When
- After Casolar went bankrupt during Mexico’s economic crisis in the 1980s. The exact dates of his carnitas business are not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Casolar went bankrupt, and Vergara needed another source of income.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
At age 23, Vergara became commercial deputy director at Casolar, a company belonging to Alfa.
Vergara sought another source of income and began cooking and selling carnitas.
Vergara opened an Italian restaurant and worked late after his carnitas business.
Vergara became Herbalife’s top salesperson nationally in the United States.
Vergara and two US businesspeople created Omnitrition USA.
The project reached Mexico, with Vergara responsible for its commercial operations.
- Casolar role
- Commercial deputy director from 1978
- Carnitas workday
- Started cooking at 4 a.m. and delivered to vendors at 6 a.m.
- Herbalife sales
- Reached first place nationally in the United States at age 31
- Omnitrition USA
- Founded in 1989
- Omnitrition in Mexico
- Arrived two years after its 1989 creation
- Omnilife name
- Adopted officially in 2000
What people are saying
My hobby was cooking, so I started cooking pork carnitas.
I got up at 4 in the morning to fry the meat, started making the meat and salsa for the torta vendors, delivered it at 6 in the morning, then opened my own little shop, and worked all day.
I went to bed at midnight and slept four hours every day, and that is how I started getting sick, feeling broke and, of course, like a failure.
Sources
Related news
El Niño could put pressure on finances in 10 Mexican states
Mexican peso gains 0.56% against the dollar as US markets close
Mexican businesses say local risks outweigh US tariffs
Mexico cuts its 2026 growth forecast to 1.5%
Violence drives up car insurance costs in Sinaloa
WTTC warns proposed Mexico visitor fee increase could hurt tourism
Mexican peso falls as expected rate gap with the US narrows
Mexico pays higher rates to borrow as fiscal concerns and US yields rise
Banks expect the Mexican peso to weaken further by the end of 2026
Rising US Treasury yields could make borrowing costlier for Mexico
Yucatán reports 11.566 billion pesos in tourism investment
