With the goal of further boosting the nut market in Spain, Importaco has decided to expand production capacity at its snack factory in Carlet (Valencia). This new production line will join the five existing lines at the facility.

Specifically, this production center, one of the 17 owned by the company, covers an area of 6,135 square meters and specializes in developing snacks such as popped popcorn and nut mixes. Currently, it has a production capacity of more than 7,600 tons per year, and with this investment, the intention is to increase its production volume by 60%, reaching 10,400 tons by 2030.

The new line will be dedicated to increasing the production of corn, chickpeas, and beans. It will be installed in an allergen-free area and will feature state-of-the-art technological solutions, as well as comply with the highest standards in hygienic design and energy efficiency. Not only will it allow a 60% increase in business capacity, but the workforce is also expected to grow by 6%, reaching 130 employees.

The expansion of the facilities will take place during the next fiscal year of 2025 and will be the largest investment made by the company in this factory to date. “We are currently working on expanding our corn product range,” Importaco sources explain to this newspaper.

This important move will be carried out through Importaco Nuts, a subsidiary created in 2019 to consolidate the group’s entire nut business under the umbrella of the parent company, Importaco SA. In addition to nuts, the food company also has a mineral water division, managing brands like Aguas de Cortes and Bronchales.

In this way, the company, headquartered in Beniparrell, Valencia, continues to drive its growth in the Spanish nut market, where it has a strong presence as a supplier to Mercadona, a major food retailer with operations in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Germany, France, and Poland, among others.

The company, led by Toño Pons, has been focused for years on product specialization and diversification to meet new market demands. One of its focuses in recent years has been the development of a healthier range with innovations such as peanut protein powder and a line of nuts enriched with probiotics. They have also recently launched chocolate-covered nuts.

“We are committed to continuous investment in our factories, as it allows us to maintain the highest standards of quality, food safety, and sustainability. Our snack factory is an example of our commitment to excellence and the incorporation of the latest decarbonization technologies,” said Toño Pons, President of Importaco, to this newspaper.

Quality and Sustainability

In recent years, this snack production center in Carlet has been renewed to meet the highest sustainability standards. Importaco has invested €870,000 in energy efficiency improvements and the installation of renewable energy sources to advance the decarbonization of its processes.

In addition to the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, the plant has a unique solar thermal energy installation in Spain, intended to replace natural gas consumption with renewable energy in frying processes. Thanks to the use of renewable energy and efficiency improvements, it has reduced CO2 emissions per ton produced by 10%. In fact, it is certified under the most rigorous standards in quality, sustainability, and safety, including IFS Food, ISO 14001, Zero Waste, and ISO 45001.