IDE Electric, Zennio Avance y Tecnología, Joselín Sobaos and División de Inversiones Agrícolas, national runners-up respectively in the Internationalisation, Digitalisation and Innovation, Training and Employment and Responsible Business categories.

Reyes Maroto: “Spain's social and economic reconstruction will be a joint effort we must undertake together with a staunch ally that is Europe, because Europe must save Europe”.

José Luis Bonet: “The work of SMEs helps generate wealth and employment, and it is essential to continue to build this wonderful country, Spain”.

Rami Aboukhair: “Public/private collaboration is essential to turn this situation around as soon as possible and reduce damage to the business fabric to the bare minimum”

Madrid, 29 June 2020 Badajoz company Señorío de Montanera, which produces acorn-fed Iberian hams and pure pork meats as an officially approved Dehesa de Extremadura business, took the Banco Santander and Spanish Chamber of Commerce 2019 SME of the Year Award today. 

The ceremony was attended by the minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; Santander Spain CEO, Rami Aboukhair; and the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet.

The ceremony also included runner-up awards for Internationalisation, for IDE Electric, from Zaragoza; Digitalisation and Innovation, for Toledo company Zennio Avance y Tecnología; Training and Employment, for Cantabrian business Joselín Sobaos y Quesadas and finally, runner-up in Responsible Business for Valencia's División de Inversiones Agrícolas y Ganaderas, part of the Sanchiz Group. 

Spain's minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, congratulated the winners of the third SME of the Year Award, describing it as “one of the business world's most prestigious prizes”.

During her speech she made reference to the crisis brought on by COVID-19 and the measures implemented by the government to help businesses and the self-employed to maintain or recoup their activity. Concerning economic reconstruction in the years ahead, she mentioned the plans to assist tourism and the automotive sector which were presented recently, and called for cooperation by society as a whole, “because this is a task for everyone”, “with a staunch ally that is Europe. At this point in time Europe must save Europe”.

Finally, Reyes Maroto referred to the 2030 Strategic SME Policy Plan, which was approved last year and avails itself of seven levers to assist small and medium-sized enterprises, including digitalisation, internationalisation and multilateralism, sustainability, assistance for talent, the interdependence of global value chains and backing for entrepreneurs. This would be “focused on small and medium-sized enterprises because Spain is a country of SMEs”.

The CEO of Santander Spain, Rami Aboukhair, made clear his support for the business fabric and said that businesses “are the driving force behind our economy and are at the heart of the entire country”. He added that in these times of uncertainty he had full confidence in business, in entrepreneurs and in their ability to overcome difficulties: “public/private collaboration is essential to turn this situation around as soon as possible and reduce damage to the business fabric to the bare minimum, a fabric that is essential for a rapid, sustainable and inclusive recovery”.

The president of Spain's Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, dwelt on the SMEs' struggle for survival, seeking the necessary liquidity to deal with the forced shutdown of activity. “Once again you have shown us your courage, and determination without which there can be no understanding of the work of an entrepreneur”, he said. He urged SMEs to continue along this path, “because your daily toil helps generate wealth and employment, and it is essential to continue to build this wonderful country, Spain. But you are not alone - institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce and Banco Santander will always be at your side”. 

The chair of the Chamber of Commerce's SME Committee and secretary to the jury panel, Isabel Puig, also made a speech in reference to the values considered by the jury in awarding the various prizes this year. 

The panel for the 2019 SME of the Year Award was composed of the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet; Santander Spain CEO Rami Aboukhair; El País's economic correspondent Miguel Ángel Noceda; and the chair of the Chamber of Commerce's SME Committee, Isabel Puig Ferrer, in her capacity as secretary to the panel.

The merits considered by the jury to declare Señorío de Montanera SME of the Year were the creation of jobs in 2018, especially indefinite jobs; the training plans it implemented for employees; its focus on internationalisation, digitalisation and innovation in business and, finally, its participation in socially responsible projects.

SME of the Year Award 2019

Señorío de Montanera was incorporated in Extremadura in 1995 by a group of traditional producers of Iberian hams, concerned with preserving the purity of local products. 

A leading producer of acorn-fed Iberian hams as an officially approved Dehesa de Extremadura business, it operates in more than 25 countries worldwide, and works over 60,000 hectares of "dehesa" grazing land. The Señorío de Montanera production process is 100% artisanal and traditional, a skill passed down from generation to generation to manufacture unique cuts of meat.

The merits considered by the jury to declare Señorío de Montanera SME of the Year were the creation of jobs in 2018, especially indefinite jobs; the training plans it implemented for employees; its focus on internationalisation, digitalisation and innovation in business and, finally, its participation in socially responsible projects.

Runner-up - Internationalisation

IDE ELECTRIC, S.L., a Zaragoza company, manufactures and sells casings for low-voltage electrical distribution and the telecommunications sector, offering global solutions to the electricity sector worldwide.  The company has focused on exports since the very beginning. IDE now exports its products to more than 50 countries, and over 60% of its production is sent to overseas markets. 

Runner-up - Digitalisation and Innovation

Zennio Avance y Tecnología manufactures domotics and technology solutions for the property sector (hotels, private residences etc.), and is a Toledo company with 100% Spanish capital. It is committed to enhancing human comfort and reducing energy consumption, by developing products with cutting-edge technology and design criteria. The firm clearly focuses on innovation and digitalisation, it has installed more than 500,000 products in 90 countries, and has carried out 10,000 projects.

Runner-up - Training and Employment

The story of Joselín Sobaos y Quesadas is the story of three generations of Pas valley artisans, created by the entrepreneurial spirit of Antonia García Mazorra, a native of rural Cantabria from the last century. Excellence in the selection of raw materials, careful handling, strict execution and modern traceability and presentation are the company hallmarks. Joselín has always been close to its employees, and particularly women, both in terms of management and all its staff.

Runner-up - Responsible Business 

División de Inversiones Agrícolas y Ganaderas is a new company forming part of Sanchiz, a family business group with over 20 years' experience in the crop and livestock sector, which has diversified its business to include the generation of renewable energies, such as biogas and photovoltaic appliances. All its activities form part of a SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR ECONOMY which focuses on reducing, recycling and reusing. 

Over 2,300 SMEs took part  

The SME of the Year Award is one of the business world's most prestigious. In its third year in 2019, a total of 1,552 companies entered from the 50 provinces and the Autonomous City of Ceuta, alongside 42 regional Chambers of Commerce. Since the first year of the awards in 2017, 2,303 SMEs have competed.

The fourth SME of the Year Award for 2020 is now up and running, and has been open to businesses since 8 June. In addition to the existing categories, the next awards will feature a Special Mention for the Best Initiative in the fight against COVID-19, in acknowledgement of the commitment of Spanish SMEs during the pandemic and their ability to address the needs that arose during these months of a health and social emergency.