OUR STORY
How it all began
ALMACENES BARRAGÁN ESPINAR
DISTRIBUTION ESTABLISHED
In 1969 José Barrragán Rabaneda and Angustias Espinar Ramos opened the doors of Almacenes Barragán Espinar S.L. in Granada, specializing in the distribution of sweets, confectionery, nuts and snacks.
TOSTADEROS SOL DE ALBA MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHED
In 1978 we expanded our business beginning to manufacture our own nuts and snack foods, which we began to distribute directly through Almacenes Barragán Espinar and through other partners across the domestic market.
EXPORT ACTIVITY BEGINS
The time has come to open our doors to the international market. We initiate cooperation with our distributors in Ceuta and Melilla, thanks to them our products become successful across the Moroccan border.
LAUNCH OF ‘PIPAS DE LA PAZ’ SUNFLOWER BRAND
In 1991 we began to expand our our catalog, offering the consumer different varieties and new formats. The Pipas de la Paz Brand is born, which will accompany us throughout our trajectory in both the domestic and international markets.
LAUNCH OF ‘POTAJE’ NUT MIX BRAND.
Following the trend of expanding our catalog with the aim of giving more options to our consumers, we present to the market our first mix Potaje seed and nut mix.
EXPORT ACTIVITY EXPANDS TO EUROPE
Our products were already distributed throughout much of the domestic Spanish market and we were also beginning to expand our presence in Morocco through our partners in Ceuta and Melilla. In 1996 we expanded our reach and began our export activity in Europe through the first order shipped to the Netherlands.
DIRECT EXPORT TO MOROCCO
It is time to make the leap to Africa. Thanks to the work via Ceuta and Melilla, demand for our products increases across the border, so in 1997 we decided to begin exporting directly to Morocco.
‘P.I.P.E.’ EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN BEGINS
After having begun our export activity in Europe and Africa, we observed that our products are highly valued abroad and we decided to start the government backed Plan for Initiating International Development (Plan de Iniciación a la Promoción Exterior or P.I.P.E. in Spanish Language) to enhance commercial development through exports.
CREATION OF EXPORT DEPARTMENT
In 2000, after having joined P.I.P.E. and having some experience in exports to Europe and Africa, we decided to professionalize our export efforts and created a specific department to this end.
ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION
We obtain the ISO 9001:2000 certification, a standard of Quality Management Systems (QMS) allowing us to improve our products and services.
LAUNCH OF ‘DAKOTA’ SUNFLOWER BRAND
In 2003 we resumed the expansion of our product catalog and launched Dakota brand sunflower seeds. We introduced a new sunflower seed variety that would become our star brand in both the domestic and international markets.
KOSHER CERTIFICATION
In 2011 we obtained Kosher certification guaranteeing our products are suitable according to Jewish dietary standards.
SUBSIDIARY IN MEXICO
After initiating exports to the Americas, we opened a commercial office in Mexico to support our Spain-based Export Department.
LAUNCH OF ‘CALENTITAS’ MICROVAVE SUNFLOWER SNACKS
In our continuing effort to expand our catalog and of constant innovation offering novelties to our end consumers, we launched Calentitas Brand sunflower snacks to microwave at home in just a few minutes.
INNOVATIVE SME AWARD
Following the launch of Calentitas and given our philosophy of seeking constant innovation and improvement, in 2016 we obtained the INNOVATIVE SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) seal awarded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
LAUNCH OF ‘GRANAÍNAS’ SUNFLOWER BRAND
After more than 40 years of history, we wanted to pay tribute to the city where our work is possible, our people, our land: GRANADA. For that reason we decided to launch Granaínas, a brand that has become our hallmark.
HALAL CERTIFICATION
Given our strong presence in Morocco and other Muslim countries, we obtained Halal Certification guaranteeing our products are suitable for Muslim dietary standards.
