A year has passed since the announcement, and the merger is now a reality. What was once a negotiation has become the creation of a new giant in the Canary Islands meat industry, with its largest share of business in southern Gran Canaria. The alliance between Vall Companys and Montesano has materialized through Vall's subsidiary, Frimancha Canarias, which has acquired Montesano's business.
Montesano, which is expected to sell before the revised or unrevised renewal of the AIEM by the European Commission, as did many other Canary Islands industries protected by this tariff, is the smaller player in this story, while Frimancha is the larger player. Despite the strong momentum in its inorganic growth strategy, Vall Companys, owner of Frimancha and 75% of Montesano, faces a period of normalization following the peaks in profitability reached in 2023.
The integration of assets such as Montesano into Frimancha Canarias and the acquisition of Ganaderías Casaseca, Comercial Vera, and Paletas Marpa has strengthened its territorial and productive diversification, although the evolution of revenue in 2024 reflects price stability more than an increase in business volume. With a net profit of €279 million and a workforce exceeding 14.400 employees, the Catalan group consolidates its position as the leading Spanish meat operator and one of the largest in Europe, supported by a policy of selective expansion and a model that combines vertical integration and control of the value chain.
The new structure has been precisely configured: Vall Companys owns 75% of Frimancha Canarias, while Montesano Canarias retains the remaining 25%. This same proportion has been applied to the logistics subsidiary, Logística Montesano. An important detail is that Montesano Extremadura, the Iberian pork business, has been excluded from the transaction.
The sum of the parts has yielded an astonishing result. The latest available revenue data shows the magnitude of this merger. If you add Frimancha Canarias' 2022 turnover (€38,32 million) to Montesano Canarias' 2023 turnover (€37,30 million), the combined revenue of both companies exceeds €75 million.
The transaction has been highly valued by companies in the Horeca business in southern Gran Canaria, who thought prices would rise. The new partnership seeks to optimize its operations and become more competitive. In the commercial sector, the most important thing perceived by hospitality customers is that the brands remain. The renowned Montesano brand will not disappear, nor will Frimancha, which will continue to distribute meats and products produced at its facilities in Gran Canaria. This alliance is not just an economic agreement; it is a declaration of intent: a commitment to the future of a sector vital to the islands' economy. It is proof that unity, in the business world, is not a whim, but a necessity.
