Spain awards food industry innovators
second annual food industry awards, recognising the achievements of
companies in the fields of export, innovation, technology, the
environment and rural development.
In a bid to encourage innovation and quality in the country's food industry, two years ago Spain's Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) created a series of awards. This week saw the second annual presentation of the awards, with a wide variety of companies garlanded for their achievements.
According to MAPA statistics, the food industry is the biggest in Spain, accounting for 20 per cent of the country's total industrial output. Companies there have invested heavily in modern technology designed to improve efficiency and quality, and have worked hard to push their products in other countries, both within the EU and further afield.
The awards have already made waves in the Spanish food industry, with more than double the number of companies putting themselves forward this year compared to last year.
Prizes were awarded in a number of categories: export achievement, innovation, technological investment, environmental impact and rural development, with both a first and second prize awarded in each case.
The export achievement award went to Araex, the company which groups together the export activities of nine family-run wine producers in Rioja Alavesa but which adopts a different approach for each producer according to their respective production philosophy and commercial policies.
Along with four wineries from other wine regions - Rias Baixas, Rueda, La Mancha and Toro - whose export operations are also managed by Araex under the Spanish Fine Wines name, they have been so successful on export markets that production has tripled since 1993, making it the biggest independent wine producer in Spain.
The innovation award was given to Michel Etxenike, whose eponymous company produces duck-based delicatessen products. Based in Navarra, the company combines artisanal production methods with the most modern food production technology and in the eight short years since its creation, Etxenike has constantly worked to develop innovative new products and routes to market for the entire range of delicatessen products.
The technology award was given to Agrumexport, a fruit juice processor founded just over 20 years ago in Murcia. The company was awarded an ISO 9002 quality control certificate in 1999 and has a long history of investing in production technology, such as aseptic packaging for both glass and PET bottles - the first such production line in Spain - and a new line which will soon allow it to add cartons to its product range.
The environment award went to COATO, an agricultural co-operative grouping members from Murcia, Almeria, Granada, Jaen, Albacete and Alicante. COATO has pioneered the concept of sustainable agriculture in Spain, and has been awarded two ISO certificates for quality control and environment. Since 1995, its members have gradually been transferring to sustainable and organic growing methods.
Finally, the rural development award was given to Ramaders Agrupats, a meat processor based in Mallorca, for the development of a small island-wide network of delivery vans providing local shops and restaurants with locally-produced meat products.
