Maximiliano Leonardo Asturias, Founder of Farmacias del Ahorro, Dies at 96
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Maximiliano Leonardo Asturias, founder of Farmacias del Ahorro, died at the age of 96.
- Asturias, born in Guatemala, migrated to Mexico in the 1950s and began his pharmaceutical career.
- He established Farmacia Regia in Chiapas in 1976 and later founded Farmacias del Ahorro, which grew to over a thousand branches.
Maximiliano Leonardo Asturias, the visionary founder of the prominent Mexican pharmacy chain Farmacias del Ahorro, has passed away at the age of 96. His death was announced on Sunday, August 9, with condolences shared across social media platforms.
Eduardo Ramรญrez, the governor of Chiapas, expressed his deep sorrow, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "I deeply regret his passing and wish for prompt resignation and strength to overcome this very painful moment." He accompanied his message with a photo, offering condolences to Asturias' family and friends.
Born in Guatemala in 1930, Asturias began his medical studies at the Universidad de San Carlos but was forced to abandon them due to financial difficulties. He migrated to Mexico in the 1950s, embarking on a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. He started as a medical representative for Laboratorios Pediatrรญa and later for Farmacรฉutica Lakeside, eventually rising to the position of divisional manager.
In 1976, Asturias settled in Tuxtla Gutiรฉrrez, Chiapas, where he opened his first pharmacy, Farmacia Regia. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Farmacias del Ahorro in 1991. The company experienced remarkable growth, expanding to over a thousand branches and employing more than 14,000 individuals by 2011. Currently, the "Gran Familia del Ahorro" comprises 19,490 collaborators.
Farmacias del Ahorro first opened its doors on September 14, 1991, and has remained operational ever since. The company attributes its sustained growth to the hard work and dedication of its employees.
I deeply regret his passing and wish for prompt resignation and strength to overcome this very painful moment.
Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.