The rechargeable siphon is an Argentine invention, and its use in other countries implied the introduction of a new product in different markets. Part of that work does Sidesa company founded in 1997 from the initiative of Cesar Darritchon together with businessmen involved from different areas with the beverage industry and plastic industry, aware of both the high potential and diffusion of soda, as well as the new demands on the part of the consumer, in their persistent and increasingly accelerated tendency to change habits and attitudes.
This company that exports 40% of its production to more than 36 countries It has the double job of going out to sell not only its heads, but also publicizing the use of the siphon itself. In this process, the company had to face the different ups and downs that Argentina went through in the last 30 years.
Sides, which was awarded at the 2026 SME Awards as Gold SME and Exporting SME, produces monthly 12 million heads for disposable siphon in their plant located in the town of Ezeiza, where they work 94 personas. The administration headquarters and base of the company’s commercial team are also located there. From that location, the company has its equipment division for the bottler, where it repairs and manufactures the machinery that the bottler needs to apply the product: the Sides disposable siphon head.
In this way, the company provides the client with a comprehensive “turnkey” solution, by offering not only the product, but also all the machine equipment, and design of production lines that include computers, setters, threaders, fillers and siphon closers.
Héctor GoizuetaGeneral Manager of Sides, acknowledged in dialogue with Clarín that the main challenge to deepen their export process had to do with the type of product in which they specialize. “You have to convince the customer from abroad to bet on a new product, because siphons do not exist in the world,” he said. He explained that the biggest challenge was commercial and that participation in fairs and exhibitions was essential, in addition to the work done through referred clients and personal contact.
“At Sides we have never lost business by operating from Argentina, but we have an extra challenge, we have to work on trust and give the client peace of mind about the solidity of the company,” added Goizueta.
Sides was the winner of the SME Gold and SME Exporter awards in the ninth edition of this initiative. Clarín and Banco Galicia. Upon receiving the awards, Goizueta said: “We hope that all SMEs can be protected by a state policy, since every dollar that an SME brings in is worth the same as a dollar from a multinational.”
The manager recalled that the company is about to turn 30 years old and manufactures a simple product, but it has a lot of work behind it. In addition, he referred to the challenge of positioning this product in foreign markets where the siphon does not exist. Other concepts that the manager said during the award ceremony were the following:
The winners of the 2026 SME Awards were Sides (Exporting SME), Bisignano (PYME Industrial), Eddis Educativa (SME in Commercial Expansion) and Alkemy (SME Digital Innovation). Besides, The Marias received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The shortlists were evaluated on Thursday by a Jury of Honor, in the Plaza Galicia building, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Chacarita. At the end of the day, there was the award ceremony.
The final shortlists were the following:
The 2026 SME Awards had as partners the Association for the Development of Business Management (ADIRAS)the PyME Observatory Foundation (FOP), the business consulting firm San Martín, Suárez y Asociados (SMS) and the Argentine Family Business Club (CANF).
The winners of each category will receive communication spaces in Clarín, consulting from San Martín, Suarez y Asociados (SMS), workshops from the Argentine Family Business Club (CANF) and access to the Executive Education Programs of the University of San Andrés (UdeSA).
Source: www.clarin.com
