The group replaces Federation of Spanish Confectionery Associations (FEAD).
The Goal
The new association said in a statement: “PRODULCE is founded in a reassessment of the old FEAD from which we seek to renew bonds and create a new path that leads us to a greater representation in the food industry.”
“The main objectives are to represent and protect the common interests of the confectionery sector and to position the Association as a reference for entities to which we are related, to advertise to opinion leaders and consumers the commitment and responsibility of our industry, besides of the improvement efforts in terms of innovation, food safety and nutrition.”
The organisation will be made up of 62 companies in the chewing gum, turron, marzipan, sweets and biscuit industries.
The companies together represent 85% of the Spanish confectionery market.
The group will become a member of the Spanish Food and Drink Association (FIAB) at national level and will join CAOBISCO on the European stage.
The president
Olga Martínez, communications and public affairs manager at Wrigley has taken the helm as the new association’s President.
“Joining the efforts of a range of different partners in the same sector will allow us to convey most effectively the values and strengths of an industry that provides jobs to more than 115,000 people and represents the 19% of the growth in food and beverage business in Spain,” she said.
Martínez has worked for Wrigley for the past few years after previously holding acting as Southern Europe communications manager for United Biscuits between 2003 and 2007.
The market
Spain is the fifth largest confectionery producer in the EU behind Germany, the UK, France and Italy.
Confectionery is the seventh largest category within the Spanish food and drink sector, a market that employs around 445,475 people.