The Government of Navarre has declared the company’s expansion initiative as being “of regional interest”, under which it will increase production from the current 16,000 tonnes to 32,000 tonnes by 2030. According to Mikel Irujo, Minister for Industry, Ecological Transition and Business Digitalisation, Grupo Monbake “is undergoing a phase of industrial growth, producing highly technical, high value-added products that have been very well received by companies in the sector”.
The company currently operates a frozen pastry production plant with two lines manufacturing a range of products (croissants, pain au chocolat, pastries, etc.) in the Tajonar industrial estate in the municipality of Aranguren. The planned expansion aims to boost production capacity by introducing innovative processes that reduce production costs while developing new, high-value products with excellent quality and organoleptic properties (taste, aroma, colour, and texture).
The company plans to invest €20 million, primarily to add a third production line within the existing premises, aiming to increase production from 16,000 tonnes in 2024 to 28,000–32,000 tonnes by 2030 – nearly a 50% increase.
Details of the expansion
Irujo also noted that Monbake is among the top five companies in its sector. Its core business includes the manufacture, development, production, and marketing of fresh and frozen bakery, pastry, and pizza products.
The planned expansion at Tajonar constitutes a substantial modification of the plant’s activities, requiring an Integrated Environmental Authorisation, various construction permits, and legalisation of several installations.
The civil works, installation of new machinery, expansion of general services, assembly of the new line, and testing are expected to be completed in the coming months, with production slated to begin in the second half of the year.
Of the €20 million investment, €18.3 million will be allocated to equipment and machinery. The civil works will cost €2.3 million and include extending the Tajonar facility to house a new palletising building, constructing a smaller building for yeast tanks, and developing the surrounding area to facilitate vehicle access, tank foundations, and improvements to the drainage network. An additional €2.1 million will be used to adapt the general services required for the new production line.
The increased activity and additional shifts are expected to create 35 new jobs over the coming years.
About Monbake
Monbake Grupo Empresarial S.A.U. was established in February 2018 when investment group Ardian acquired Berlys Corporación. The origins of Berlys date back to 1897 with the founding of several family bakeries in Navarre. In 1968, a group of Navarrese bakers from those original bakeries joined forces to create Panaderías Navarras S.A. (Panasa).
Berlys Corporación was later established in 1994. As such, the company has deep roots in Navarre, and numerous families and businesses have benefited from its development over the years.
The Importance of the Agri-food Sector
Navarre’s companies cover the entire agri-food value chain, from primary production to processing. Key players include Spain’s two largest frozen vegetable producers (Ultracongelados Virto and Congelados de Navarra); the largest cereal cooperative group (Grupo AN); the global leader in the production and sale of food casings (Viscofan), which exports to over 100 countries; and the top Spanish producer of fresh, ready-to-eat salads and vegetables (Florette). The region also hosts major multinationals such as General Mills, Gelagri, Mondelez, and Agrozumos. More information is available via the following link.
Source: Noticias de Navarra