The Zeta Group has its origins in Milan, Italy, where in 1950’s and 1960’s Renzo Zingone founded the companies Zingone Iniziative Fondiarie (ZIF), Zingone Strutture (ZS) and Banca Generale di Credito (BGC).

    ZIF dedicated itself to numerous real estate developments in northern Italy; among the most important were the construction of the Quartiere Zingone , a neighborhood in the outskirts of Milan, and the city of Zingonia , an industrial, commercial and  housing complex, located between Milan and Bergamo, that today houses more than 50.000 habitants.

 Zingone Strutture was the pioneer company in the production of pre-cast concrete structures for construction. It operated two plants and supplied great part of the structures for ZIF’s real estate developments. ZS created the famous “Y” structure for the mass production of industrial warehouses.

Banca Generale di Credito was the most active private commercial bank in Italy during the second half of the sixties. The bank, through its investment division, served as the financial branch for the real estate developments of ZIF.

    Renzo Zingone began his investments in Central America in 1976, first in Guatemala with a plant of pre-cast concrete structures and subsequently in Costa Rica (1978) in the same sector with ESCOSA. In the late 70’s he expanded into other sectors, such as real estate development with the Zeta Investments Company, agribusiness and pig breeding .

   In 1981 Donatella Zingone assumed the presidency of the companies and, in 1982, reorganized the conglomerate into the Zeta Group, where the “Z” stands for the initial letter of Zingone.

   

 

 

In 1984 the Group opened the first Free Zone Industrial Park in Cartago (Costa Rica), followed by other two at the end of the eighties and one in Guatemala. This way the Zeta Group became the Central American leader of Free Zones.

In 1989 the Group acquired Arrocera Costa Rica (rice mill) and vertically integrated its rice operation, becoming the largest rice business in Costa Rica. During the mid nineties the Group expanded its rice activity in Nicaragua, through the acquisition State rice company. Due to several challenges, the Group decided to withdraw from the agricultural sector of Nicaragua in the year 2005.

 

   

 

 

In 1999 the Zeta Group decided to convert a small business of supermarkets (opened in 1983) in a massive retail operation, with the creation of Megasuper supermarket chain. Through a sound organic growth and a series of acquisitions, Corporación Megasuper presently operates over 60 stores and has become the second largest retailer in Costa Rica.

 

 

 

The year 2006 marks the beginning of the Group’s real estate developments in tourist zones, with the development in Jaco Beach of Jacó Bay Condominiums and Resort Ramada in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

 

The project includes seven high-rise condominium towers, a Ramada Hotel and shops – rising amid a lush tropical garden, built around a spectacular swimming pool and entertainment area.