The hat was an essential accessory to dress in the 19th century. In 1888, Mr. Calixto Romero Hernández identified this opportunity and had the vision to export toquilla straw hats from Catacaos (Piura) to the world.

He and his partner Manuel Torres settled down in Peru.

Calixto Romero Hernández, the eldest son of a family of peasants, left Spain to trade in Central America and The Caribbean when he was only sixteen years old.

Mr. Calixto Romero Hernández started new businesses such as the export of cow and goat leather.

Cotton, whose quality is recognized worldwide, was permanently cultivated in Piura due to the fertility of its lands and excellent weather. 

Mr. Calixto Romero Hernández acquired shares of the Banco Italiano named as Banco Crédito del Perú in 1942.

 Mr. Calixto Romero Hernández acquired San Jacinto farm.

Mr. Calixto Romero Hernández stopped doing business and came back to Spain. Feliciano del Campo Romero, Dionisio Romero Iturrospe, and María Francisca Romero de Onrubia assumed the responsibility of the business (second generation).

 They bought the first group of farms in Piura.

 The company C Romero y Cía. was incorporated in order to install a factory of oils, soaps, and lards, a refinery, and a cotton gin.

La inmobiliaria S.A. (Lisa) was incorporated. Its name was changed to Inversiones Centenario S.A.A. in 1986.

El Pacífico Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros was incorporated. Its name was changed to El Pacífico Peruano Suiza Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A. in 1992.

Industrias de Aceite S.A. was incorporated in Bolivia.

They bought the second group of farms.

Almacenes Romero was incorporated. Its name was changed to Interamérica de Comercio S.A. in 1978 and Plaza del Sol in 2004.

Banco Continental was incorporated.

Universal Textil was incorporated and its name was changed to Compañía Universal Textil S.A. in 1999.

Naviero Peruano S.A. was incorporated.

Alma Perú S.A. was incorporated.

Dionisio Romero Seminario, José Antonio Onrubia Romero, Calixto Romero Seminario, and Manuel Romero Seminario assumed the management of the Romero Group.

 The Grupo Romero was subject to expropriation of lands. Despite an adverse environment for business activity, it decided to strengthen trade and manufature of oils and to start new activities using the bonds of the land reform to create Industria Textil Piura.

 The conglomerate Anderson Clayton & Co. S.A., Industrias Anderson, Clayton & Co. S.A. (incorporated in 1956) was acquired and it was called Compañía Industrial Perú Pacifico. Its name was changed to Consorcio de Alimentos Fabril Pacifico S.A. in 1995, Alicorp S.A. in 1997, and Alicorp S.A.A. in 2002.

Reprensa Algodonera y Almacén Nacional S.A. (Ransa), Fábrica de Aceites Shapaja S.A., Agencias Ransa S.A., and Compañía Almacenera S.A. were acquired.

Industria Textil Piura S.A. was incorporated.

Corporación General de Servicios S.A. (Cogesa) was incorporated.

Palmas del Espino S.A. was incorporated.

Aero Transporte S.A. (Atsa) was incorporated.

The Romero Hernández Foundation was incorporated.

José Antonio Onrubia was kidnapped by terrorists and kept captive for more than six months.

Terrorists attacked the facilities of Palmas del Espino, which resulted in significant damages.

Orus S.A. was incorporated.

Vidal y Vidal S.A. was acquired. The name was changed to WITT S.A. in 1992. The shares of Banco de Crédito were sold to the workers.

Trabajos Marítimos S.A. (Tramarsa) was incorporated.

Industrias del Espino S.A. was incorporated.

Samtronics Perú S.A. and AFP Unión S.A. were incorporated.

Romero Trading S.A. resulted from the merger of Peruana de Industrias y Servicios and Selva Industria S.A.

Multimercados Zonales S.A. (Minka) was incorporated.

Terminal Internacional del Sur S.A. (Tisur), concession of Matarani Port, and MC Autos S.A. were incorporated.

 Dionisio Romero Paoletti assumes the management of the Romero Group.

Romero Trading associated with ENAP of Chile and purchased the stations of Shell Perú. The name of the company was changed to Distribuidora Petrox and to Primax S.A. in 2005.

AFP Prima S.A. was incorporated and Sitel S.A., a telecommunications company, was acquired.

30% of the shares of Ambev Perú were acquired. The biogas and biodiesel projects were consolidated. Agrícola del Chira S.A. was incorporated.

Digital Way S.A., a telecommunications company providing broadband wireless connectivity services, was acquired. Its name was changed to WIGO.

Alicorp acquired the Argentinian company The Value Brand Company (TVB) and the Colombian company Propersa. Primax purchased the chain Repsol in Ecuador. Multimercados Zonales inaugurated Plaza del Sol mall in Ica.

Corporación Pesquera Giuliana purchased the companies Pesquera Lila and Pesquera Hamer.

Alicorp purchased the Argentinian company Sanford.

Multimercados Zonales inaugurated Plaza El Sol in Huacho. Shared Services Center (PRIOX), dedicated to provide accounting, treasury, staff administration, systems and other services, was created.

Alicorp continued the expansion process in Argentina and purchased the companies Italo Manera and Pastas Especiales.

Ransa inaugurated a distribution center in Quito, Ecuador.

PRIMAX, through NEXO, became one of the main distributors of Shell lubricants in the world.

 Alicorp entered Chile in the category of animal nutrition, acquiring the company Salmofood. In Peru, the brands Ucisa S.A. (oil and fat derivatives), Incalsa S.A., (Alpesa sauces), and Industrias Teal S.A. (Sayón sweets) were acquired.

The Palmas Group expanded operations in Loreto, inaugurating its palm oil extracting plant at the Shanusi plantation.

The Romero Foundation made a national call to young entrepreneurs named “Para Quitarse el Sombrero”, as a tribute to the first business of the Romero Group: the production and export of toquilla straw hats from Piura.

Ransa acquired the logistic company DEPSA in Peru and consolidated its leadership. In addition, it purchased Colfrigos in Colombia and started operations in a new warehouse in Quito, Ecuador. The construction of the first logistic hub in Lambayeque started.

WIGO started its growth plan providing free wi-fi service in different points of Lima such as the national stadium, Kennedy and other parks, beaches in Miraflores, malls in Asia, etc.

PRIMAX got shares of ENAP of Chile in the distribution chain and became a 100% Peruvian company.

126th Anniversary of the Romero Group. A ceremony with the collaborators, managers, executives, and directors took place in the refurbished national stadium.

Shared Services and Systems joined the Romero Group Corporation to provide the companies of the group with better services. Also, new facilities for Systems were inaugurated in Jesús María.

TISUR reported a significant increase in the flow of Bolivian cargo through Matarani Port in Arequipa.

Ransa acquired three hydraulic cranes and specialized software for transport in order to guarantee a comprehensive service in the automotive sector. It also purchased DAF trucks to support clients of the mining and hydrocarbon sectors.

BCP turned 125 years and today it is the leading bank in Peru.