One of the most beloved families in the Dominican Republic is the Moreno Portalatin family, founders of Helados Bon, the leading Caribbean and Central American ice cream brand. Jatna Tavarez, on occasion of the celebration of the Month of the Family interviewed several members of the family.
The brothers and sisters, Jaime Alfonso, Jesus, Ana Angelica and Jose Martin Moreno Portalatin, offspring of Alfonso Moreno and Ligia Portalatin, shared highlights of the family saga and many instances when they acted to turn adversity into opportunity. These include mentions of their father Don Alfonso being persecuted for his opposition to dictator Trujillo and when he was impeded to practice his chosen career as a lawyer. People in San Francisco de Macoris feared buying the dairy products produced by the family, so he turned the milk into sweets and ice cream. He sold books and magazines and learned the craft of making ice cream from stories in the magazines he imported for sale.
The brothers and sisters reminisced about the RD$6,000 Banco Popular loan that started the production as Helados Bon and the reasons for creating the first local business franchising. The brothers and sister spoke of how the company’s incursion into making firm contributions to the environment became a national game changer. Jesus Moreno said that the macadamia ice cream and organic chocolate ice cream saved the Quita Espuela mountain from where many water sources are born.
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Jatna Tavarez
18 November 2025