Señorío de Montanera National SME of the Year Award

Señorío de Montanera, a leading brand in the Dehesa de Extremadura PDO, has received the 2019 National SME of the Year Award, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Banco Santander. This award represents firm support for the work of our country's SMEs, the true engine of growth for our economy and job creation.

The creation of permanent employment, respect for the environment, training plans for its employees, its innovation and digitalization initiatives, and its Corporate Social Responsibility projects justify the choice of this Extremadura-based company.

The 2019 National SME of the Year Award was presented on June 29 by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Banco Santander. This award recognizes the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises and their fundamental role in job and wealth creation. This third edition, The SME of the Year Award has been awarded to the Extremadura company Lordship of Montanera, dedicated to the production of 100% Iberian acorn-fed hams and cured meats from the Dehesa de Extremadura PDO. The presentation ceremony, held virtually, was hosted by journalist Pepa Bueno and featured speeches by the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the CEO of Santander Spain, Rami Aboukhair; the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet; the CEO of Prisa Noticias, Alejandro Martínez; and the president of the SME Commission of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce, Isabel Puig.

An emotional Francisco Espárrago, President of Señorío de Montanera, dedicated this 2019 SME of the Year Award to all the people who are part of the Señorío de Montanera family: "to those who are the brand and especially to those who left us but who always were, are, and will always be Señorío de Montanera." Our participation in this competition is supported by an exceptional raw material: the 100% Iberian acorn-fed pig; which also allows the population to settle in rural environments and helps conserve a threatened natural ecosystem such as the dehesa, the last natural Mediterranean forest in Spain. For her part, Minister Reyes Maroto congratulated the winners and described this award as "one of the most prestigious recognitions in the business world."

Lordship of Montanera

Señorío de Montanera is the leading company in the production of pure Iberian ham from the Dehesa de Extremadura Protected Designation of Origin. Over the last year, it has launched a complete range of products. 100% natural organic Iberian products and has consolidated its Corporate Social Responsibility, including the development of social actions in its business strategy. The implementation of a new online store, more intuitive and accessible, has tripled sales to individuals in recent months.

Lordship of Montanera Since 1995, Señorío de Montanera has been producing hams, shoulders, sausages, and meats from 100% Iberian pigs that are raised free-range on their own pastures and fed exclusively on acorns and natural grasses during the montanera season. All of their production processes are integrated into a system of continuous improvement to achieve the highest quality and maintain careful artisanal production. Currently, Señorío de Montanera exports 40% of its annual production and is present in more than 25 countries, The United Kingdom, France, Canada and Japan being some of its main markets.

The main differentiating value of Señorío de Montanera is the control of the entire production chain, from the breeding of the raw material—pure acorn-fed Iberian pigs—to the production of the final product—hams, shoulders, sausages, and meats. All partners are farmers dedicated to raising this breed and fatten the pigs in pastures with grass and acorns, under a free-range diet. Controlling the entire production chain for 100% Iberian acorn-fed products has allowed the company to apply technological innovations to such a traditional sector as the Iberian pig sector in Spain.

About the SME of the Year Award

Banco Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce established the SME of the Year Award in 2017 to recognize the performance and work of small and medium-sized enterprises as creators of employment and wealth. The objective of the SME of the Year Award is to recognize the efforts and contributions made by small and medium-sized enterprises to regional economic development. It also aims to highlight the daily efforts of entrepreneurs who contribute to the economic development of the region. With more than 1,500 companies registered, this third edition of SME of the Year has broken a record for the number of applications. The award is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €50 million.

The SME of the Year 2019 has been selected from among the winning companies of the Territorial Chambers, in which more than 1,500 companies have participated, and Señorío de Montanera was selected Badajoz SME of the Year 2019To award this recognition, the jury considered job creation, with particular attention to permanent employment; employee training; international activity, focusing on the development of exports and the opening of new markets; and innovation and digitalization initiatives, as well as the aforementioned socially responsible projects.