Exclusive interview

Since 2018, Gentech Argentina has been an official supplier of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), providing supplements, including their Iron Bar AFA protein bars. While these products are used by the Argentina World Cup and Copa America champions, they are also accessible to the general public.

From Mundo Albiceleste, we interviewed Cecilia Wassouf and Juan Gabriel Iglesias from Gentech Argentina to talk about their partnership with the Argentina National Team.

Gentech Argentina has been part of the sports supplementation market for nearly 30 years. Their Iron Bar series had already gained popularity in Argentina before the collaboration with AFA took place.

“The Iron Bar existed before our relationship with the Argentina National Team. Gentech has been in the market for nearly 30 years, initially importing amino acids and proteins before moving into local production,” explain Wassouf and Iglesias from Gentech Argentina.

There is often a misconception that supplements like Iron Bar AFA are exclusively for professional athletes. However, these products can serve a wider audience, including individuals who engage in various forms of physical activity.

“When you work out, your muscles experience micro-tears that need to be repaired. Protein supplements, like whey protein and amino acids, assist with muscle recovery and provide energy before training,” Gentech representatives explain.

The formulation of Iron Bar AFA was developed by food engineers and nutritionists within Gentech and later refined in collaboration with Luciano Spena, the nutritionist of the Argentina National Team.

“Our goal was to create an energy bar with an optimal balance of protein and carbohydrates, suitable for both pre-training energy and post-training recovery. The players provide feedback on taste and performance, which helps us make adjustments,” they explain.

Gentech had already supplied clubs like River Plate, Racing Club, and San Lorenzo before becoming an official provider for AFA.

“The results seen in club football led to interest from the Argentina National Team, eventually making us official suppliers. In addition to protein bars, we provide whey protein, amino acids, energy gels, and collagen,” they state.

Players from the Argentina National Team have integrated Iron Bar AFA into their routines, with some preferring specific flavors.

“All the players have tried them. Banana and Dulce de Leche are among the most popular choices. There are videos on our Instagram (@gentecharg) showing them consuming the bars in the locker room,” they mention.

The partnership with the Argentina national team significantly boosts consumer trust in Gentech’s products. “When people see that the national team players use these supplements, it reinforces the perception that they are high-quality products. If the best players in the world consume them, why wouldn’t I? The AFA brand adds credibility, and when fans see players like Di María taking an energy gel before stepping onto the field at La Bombonera, it strengthens their confidence in the product,” they explain.

Currently, the Gentech AFA supplements are available in the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia, with future expansion plans targeting Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, and possibly Bangladesh. The latter is particularly interesting given the strong fanbase Argentina’s National Team has in the country.

“The level of support for Argentina’s National Team in Bangladesh is significant, making it a logical market for us to explore,” they add.

One interesting story from the development process shows how specific the Argentina National Team players are when it comes to their supplements. When reformulating their whey protein, Gentech had to conduct multiple taste tests, tweaking the formula down to milligram-level adjustments. Over the course of several days, different batches were sent for testing, with players sampling a new version each day. Eventually, the team finally approved it. That specific formula is now the standard, ensuring that every whey protein supplement produced for the national team is one that has been personally tested and selected by the players themselves.