The Gipuzkoa Business Awards ceremony was held at the Gipuzkoa Branch. In this thirty-first edition, the Board of Gipuzkoa named the company Elmubas Petfood Group from Azpeit as the "Company of Gipuzkoa" in 2023. Oñati LANA S. Coop. awarded the company the "Enterprise Internationalization" award, the Ezarri company from Lazkao, the "ETE Enpresa Industriala" award, the GUREAK company from Donostia, the "Service Company" award and the IRISBOND company from Donostia, the "Innovation Company" award. In this edition of the awards, those who create wealth and employment in Gipuzkoa the challenges that the companies have overcome have been valued and for the tenth year in a row, they have received the support of SABADELL bank.

Awarded Companies

The company Elmubas Petfood Group from Azpeit received the 2023 "Company from Gipuzkoa" award, for its national reference position in its sector, for the significant investment effort that has led it to become the largest dry food production facility in Europe and for its innovative efforts to develop a wide range of diversified products. Elmubas Petfood Group from Azpeit is a leading company in the production of food for pets. It exports 55% of its production, thanks to the innovation work carried out in its laboratories to develop premium products; in fact, these products are the most suitable for export, as they have the highest value. In this way, pets, dogs and cats from Argentina, Israel, Korea or Australia, among others, consume food prepared in the Azpeiti facility.

With 230 employees and an annual turnover of 125 million euros, the company exports 55% of its production. Located in the consumer sector, its products adapt to the characteristics of each pet, especially dogs or cats: according to breed, sedentary lifestyle or sports lifestyle, but also according to the new consumption habits of vegan products or high protein product ranges.

Today, Elmubas Petfood Group is incorporating the most advanced sustainability criteria into its management model, with three projects aimed at reducing the environmental footprint:

• Green mobility project in the facilities of Elmubas Petfood Group, based on the use of low-emission forklifts and the application of intelligent logistics, to reduce the transport of loads in the plant.
• Project to minimize the use of plastic, based on the addition of materials based on degradable carbon compounds.
• And the energetically balanced plant project aims to transform the Elmubas Petfood Group into a company that produces the equivalent of the energy it consumes through energy of renewable origin.

Today, Elmubas continues its efforts to innovate and diversify its product, to include a variety of wet food and snacks in its product portfolio and to become a comprehensive supplier of pet nutrition of international importance.

"Company Internationalization" award LANA, S. Coop. It was awarded to the company for its exemplary efforts in the development of its international business, which has been sustained over time, despite the poor state of the sector and market at the time of the investment. From being a leader in the national market, it has managed to change its focus and embrace Europe as a local market.

LANA S.Coop, a company specialized in the production of boards and beams for formwork, has succeeded in promoting its activity and business model thanks to its internationalization efforts, giving it a projection and strength that few imagined fifteen years ago. As a result of the situation and the success achieved when the company began its internationalization effort, LANA S. Coop. she is an example of resilience and courage.