Berlys

1994

The Berlys Group was set up and began its activity with an output of 3.234 tons at its only plant in Mutilva Baja (Navarra), the first company in the frozen dough sector to produce a genuine Italian ciabatta pre-cooked in a refractory oven. In that first year, there was a staff of 50, and sales amounted to nearly 1,1 billion pesetas.

1995

A second plant was commissioned in Tafalla (Navarra) for baguette production. Considered to be one of the most advanced factories in Europe, it currently has 8 lines in operation and production capacity of 8,5 mt/h.

1996

Berlys positioned itself as outright leader in growth rate on the frozen dough market at an average 33% compared with the sector’s 20%. At the same time it was strengthening its overseas market and, at present, Berlys products are to be found in more than 30 countries: the US, Japan and practically the whole of Europe shape our export activity.

1997

Berlys obtained the ISO 9002 Company Registration Certificate for Quality Assurance granted by AENOR, the first company in the bakery sector to do so. A third plant was inaugurated in Sarriguren (Navarra), this one specialised in the production of frozen pastry. Its capacity at the time was 9.500 mt/annum.

1998

Berlys embarked on a new phase with the modernisation of the company at all levels. The most significant change was the drastic transformation of the company’s corporate image and publication of the first issue of the four-monthly informative Bulletin Berlys HOY, which has now appeared more than 40 times.

1999

The fermented pastry range Berlys has produced since its beginnings was integrated under the PLUS brand. Once more we were the first company in the sector to develop a revolutionary product unique on the market. Berlys was also selected to be exclusive supplier company to the Cycle Tour of Spain.

2000

Berlys Madrid headquarters was relocated to a modern company complex on a site of more than 6.000 square metres on the Alcobendas Industrial Estate, a three-storied building housing the offices and an attached advanced logistic centre.
The world’s best sandwich roll, an award given during the First International Sandwich Championship held in April in Madrid, was made with Berlys’ Ciabatta.

2001

The Berlys Group took a decisive step in its growth strategy with the acquisition of the Alicante company Dela Frío, S.A., recognised on the market for its excellent frozen pastry. Berlys was the first company in the frozen doughs sector to engage in an operation of these characteristics, beginning the commercial concentration in this area of Spanish industry.
The purchase of Dela meant the incorporation of two new plants into the Group’s infrastructure, in Alicante and Noblejas (Toledo).

2002

Europe’s most demanding Quality Certificate was obtained by the Berlys Group, granted by the BRC (the British Retailers Consortium) through the standardisation company EFSIS (European Food Safety Inspection Service) operating in more than 50 countries. Berlys obtained this certificate at the highest level of requirement (Higher Level Approval Certificate of Inspection).
Continuing with its expansion policy, the number of Berlys Regional offices was raised to 15.

2003

Berlys obtained the ISO 9001 Company Registration Certificate from AENOR, as in previous cases, the first company in the bakery sector to secure this accreditation.
PANASA, the Group’s parent company, took total control of Berlys when Puratos assigned its 50% stake to the Navarre company.
The new Betina brand, of functional and nutraceutical products, was introduced at the Intersicop Fair. This launch once more confirmed the pioneering work of Berlys R+D.

2004

As part of the most prestigious International Gastronomy Summit, Madridfusión, in January the company convened the First Berlys Designer Sandwich Competition, still held, with great success in terms of participation and publicity.
“The Book of Sandwiches using Pre-cooked Bread”, published by Berlys appeared to great success, the first and only work of these characteristics. No other of the sort has ever been published until now and dedicated to the perfect coupling: pre-cooked bread/sandwich.
Berlys’ own Regional offices rose in number to 20, and its distributors to 70. This is precisely one of the main factors setting the company off from its competitors, as none other in the sector has such an extensive and efficient commercial and logistic network able to reach any corner of the country.

2005

Four projects started the previous year began to operate in full:

• A new Logistics Centre located in Tafalla, fully computerised and automated with capacity for 10.000 pallets and investment of more than 9 million euros.
• A company Client Relations Centre (CRC) where more than 30 specialists are at work, controlling and monitoring service to clients throughout the country on a single telephone service number 902 32 55 32
• Added to this were two new factories, bringing to 8 the production centres in the Berlys industrial network: the plant in Palma de Mallorca with 3 pre-cooked bread lines able to produce nearly 2 mt/h; and that in Tajonar (Navarre) for frozen pastry with two large lines and close to 6 mt/h output.

2006

Berlys launched Körfest on to the market, a new brand of our most select patisserie, confectionery and delicatessen products. Rigorous selection of raw materials and a careful production process following the recipes of the longstanding artisan masters give these products all the qualities which distinguish them and which are so highly valued by the most demanding palates. With formats especially designed for sale in bakeries, patisseries and traditional shops, as desserts in hospitality and catering.
Körfest offers the most modern and innovative image of select products. A prestige brand with cutting-edge packaging, practical and elegant in design. Very convenient, easily transported and of maximum utility to salespersons and consumers, requiring no handling.

2007

Startup of the major Berlys logistic centre, in the locality of Noblejas in Toledo, attached to one of the 8 production plants the Group has distributed in strategic parts of the country.
This new logistic centre, which complements the first, in Tafalla, was built on an area of more than 5.000 m2, 3.500 m2 for storage and the rest for the unloading and picking area. It has capacity for 12.000 pallets, kept at a constant temperature of -24ºC and moved by automatic forklift trucks.
The Noblejas logistic centre was designed to serve the centre, south and east of the country. Storage capacity, added to that of the Tafalla centre and of the other stores in the company’s 27 Regional offices account for a total Berlys Group volume of 30.000 pallets.

2008

Berlys reached the figure of 28 of its own Regional offices, to which 70 distribution points are added. The new Alicante plant came on line and part of the production began to be relocated. Like its predecessor, this plant, with two production lines, was designed to produce pastries requiring a more artisan treatment. In this way we have considerably improved quality, regularity and capacity, reaching nearly 2 mt/h.
A year with two “star” launches: the Körfest Braid, a classic of German confectionery, and the Payesa, a rustic bread with an intense Mediterranean bread flavour, of excellent characteristics, backed by its own Quality Seal. A small mark on the crust differentiates it from other types available.

2009

In January, Berlys held its Sixth Designer Sandwich Competition as part of Madridfusión 09, with a highly successful response and participation.
The new Alicante plant was in full operation in spring, specialising in pastry requiring more artisan treatment, with capacity of more than  8.000 mt/year.
On 29 April, Berlys called a press conference to present one of its flagship launches, the Campesina Yodada, the first bread on the market made with iodised salt as recommended by the WHO. A complete sales success.
The prestigious Aster Prize given by the ESIC for “Entrepreneurial Record” was handed over on 18 June to the company’s CEO, Felipe Ruano, at a ceremony in Baluarte, the Navarre Palace of Congresses and Auditorium, in recognition of the company’s development and major achievements. Satisfaction added to the BRC Certificate, one of the world’s most demanding, for the Noblejas and Alicante plants, first received by the Pamplona factories.
Also this year, Berlys launched new products, notable among them thanks to their excellent reception, the Körfest brand Muffins.

2010

A key year in the development and expansion of the Berlys Group, as a consequence of three major financial operations which have helped further to consolidate its growth and leadership position:

• 1 July 2010: The new company Nutriva Berlys was incorporated, the result of the alliance between the Portuguese company Nutriva and Berlys, intended to reinforce its positioning and prepare the way to lead the Portuguese market.
• 26 July 2010: Berlys strengthened its presence in the Canary Islands by entering the shareholding of Industria Panificadora JSP, S.L., thereby creating the archipelago’s reference company for frozen doughs.
• 25 October 2010: Berlys boosted its expansion with Mercapital as strategic partner. Mercapital will back the company’s growth by providing the resources needed for the successful implementation of its strategic plan. This operation was implemented through the Panasa Group, Berlys’ parent company, which decided at its General Meeting of Shareholders on 15 October to unanimously approve the majority entry of funds manage by Mercapital into its shareholding.

This year Berlys launched “The authentic Baguette”, a unique product on the Spanish market, a brand registered by Berlys, with all the excellent qualities which have made this variety of bread so popular.