Almost 240 years of experience add up to the six companies awarded by EL PERIÓDICO
The 2021 awards are above all a sign that innovation is not at odds with antiquity and that the Catalan business fabric is full of success stories that reach all over the world
From cooked ham that is now combined with vegetable protein, to female leadership in the construction sector, to a urine test that can detect cancer. The company of the year awards THE NEWSPAPER They recognize the activity of six companies that coincide in their manifest will to innovate, four of which have between 30 and 80 years of experience.
Noel, the food group from La Garrotxa that sells in 66 countries
is the Company of the Year 2021 according to the jury. And it is because of its trajectory, its growth and its social projection. Noel Food began its activity in Olot (Girona) more than 80 years ago, essentially focused on selling the cooked ham of Isidre Bosch, its founder. Although this is still the flagship product, the company has become a giant that sells vegan products, pizzas, vegetable creams or croquettes.
All this is made in 16 plants, exported to 66 countries, employing 2,200 people and resulting in sales that in 2020 reached 371 million euros.
Girbau, state-of-the-art technology for laundry
What began 62 years ago as a factory for industrial washing machines today is a hive of state-of-the-art technology for the laundry sector in general. the family company Girbau, Digitize award, develops machines connected to the internet that provide information to clients (hotels, laundries, etc.), as well as systems to digitize and modernize the operations of these establishments. The company is headquartered in Vic (Barcelona), and has plants in Spain, France and China.
GPA Innova, respirators that save lives
They were dedicated to developing machinery to treat metal surfaces and naval robotics, but when confinement stopped everything, the company decided to expand this list and put a foot in the medical industry. The Innova award has received it GPA Innovates by Respira, some machines that automate the manual ventilation of patients that they designed in just ten days and that already have the approval of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).
Carinsa, aromas that reach 57 countries
Carinsa It has been clear since it was born, almost 30 years ago, its innovative and international vocation. This group based in Sant Quirze del Valles (Barcelona), project award from 2021, is dedicated to the development, manufacture and marketing of aromas, functional ingredients, food additives and fragrances for perfumery and cosmetics, and has been exporting since year one. The company is today present in 57 countries (the last to be added to the list were Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo) and billed last year around 45 million euros.
The blue box, detect breast cancer quickly
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A box that can efficiently, quickly and painlessly detect breast cancer is the award starts of 2021. The Blue Box, the start-up behind the invention, mimics the biological capacity of dogs (able to “smell” cancer) to detect possible cases: the invention performs a chemical analysis of urine and sends the conclusions to the cloud. Currently, the company is studying the best way to land in the market.
Anna Vallés, leadership and parity in Sorigué
She has been the president of the group since 2011 and had been running through different management positions almost twenty years before. Anna Vallés, head of the engineering and construction company Sorigué and Lead Award in the awards of EL PERIÓDICO, she bases her leadership on responsible business, innovation, constant work, continuous learning and the defense of the female presence in senior business positions.