OUR HISTORY
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| UNIASA Administration Council 1958 |
Around the middle of the 50’s, and due to health reasons, legislation is introduced in Spain regarding the necessity of guaranteeing the supply of sanitized milk. It is in this era, specifically 1954, when the Union changed its name to UNIASA (Industrial, Agricultural and Livestock Union), a company that applies for and obtains the status of Dairy for the city of Granada, thereby adapting their social statutes to the new activity that began in 1958, it being only the second Dairy, after the one in San Sebastian, to begin this activity in our country.
The very first facilities were located in Camino de Ronda; facilities that permitted the production of 20.000 litres/day of pasteurised milk, with a regular supply of prime materials from the milk industries located in Vega de Granada.
There are currently four production centres located in: Granada, Nadela (Lugo), Mollerussa (Lérida) and Alcalá de Guadaira (Sevilla).
The difficulties in obtaining a steady supply of prime materials, variable depending on the season of the year, with stable demand in constant growth, made a series of expansions necessary in 1961, 1966, 1968 and 1970.
All of which made possible the production of other products with an extended expiry period such as powdered milk, butter and, a little later, Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla Milkshakes which, together with sterilised milk in glass and plastic bottles, completed the range of dairy products up to the end of the 60’s.
During this decade, the capacity of the primitive plant increased until it reached a daily production of 200.000 litres. Subsequently, rapid expansion within the Andalucian provinces and thereafter the remainder of the Spanish regions, led the company to the creation of a new dairy industry more in tune with the basic concepts required at that time.
This new project became reality in 1975 when the current plant at Camino de Purchil was inaugurated, and which through successive phases of development went from a treatment capacity of 400.000 litres/day to the 1.000.000 litres/day that it produces currently.
This project merits a special mention as it was carried out wholly by UNIASA’s own technical team.
In 1976 it was listed on the Stock Exchange; in 1979 the shares were awarded the title of Active Stock and in 1981 the Ministry of the Treasury declared them to be of apt value for Insurance Company Technical Reserves and Other Funds.
In 1982, 100% of the Compañía de Dietéticos y Alimentación S.A. (EDDA) was acquired, thereby initiating their entry into the Infant Nutrition sector.
The EDDA factory was located in Campello (province of Alicante).
Their initial premises and facilities permitted the manufacture of two types of products: milk for infants, baby food and infant formulas.
During this same year the Department for livestock development was created through the installation of nuclei of cow’s milk production, after a few years amassing some 10.000 heads of Friesian cattle with a high genetic value. In doing so, a large investment was required together with a detailed study for the design and modernization of farms and livestock feeding systems.
Also during this year the construction of a cheese factory was completed, with a production capacity of 1.000.000 Kg/year. Towards the end of the decade, between 1987 and 1988, the industrial assets and commercial brands of the La Merced Cooperative Livestock, the Cadiz Dairy with head office in Jerez de la Frontera; the Comercial Malagueña, S.A. (COLEMA); Andalucian Dairy Production (PROLAN) in Sevilla and LEDESA, S.A. in Salamanca were acquired.
The last decade of the XX Century began in 1992 with the inauguration of a new Infant Nutrition factory with the very highest technology, making it one of the most advanced factories in Europe, within this sector.
Also in 1992 the inauguration of the cogeneration plant took place, better known as Grelva (Granada, Electricity and Vapour).
In 1994 an event took place which, over the passage of time, was to become crucial for the future of the Company, and that was the promotion of activities of the Department for Research and Development, thereby becoming the first company within the sector at that time to have its own R&D and Quality Control Departments whose own policy held with, and still holds today with, differentiation and technological innovation permitting the development of quality products that satisfy the requirements of the consumer and at the same time are able to improve wellbeing.
All this made possible the collaboration with public organisms and private research centres, by means of the development of agreed research projects that permit both the improvement of product quality as well as meeting the new challenges of the market.
Since 1996, PULEVA has put into place its new strategy, based on research and development, as a factor of technological differentiation; based on positioning within the functional foods sector and strengthening of the brand, identifying it as a company linked to Wellbeing, health and quality.
From this strategy, concepts and products such as PULEVA A+D, PULEVA Calcium, PULEVA Omega 3, PULEVA Mum and PULEVA Toddlers have arisen; all products conceived to satsify the requirements of the consumers.
In 1999, PULEVA acquired 75% of the Leyma/Ram group, which was completed with the purchase of the remaining 25% in June, 2000. It also acquired the Grupo Granja Castelló in the year 2000, thereby forming the leading group within the dairy sector in Spain.
In the year 2001, a new subsidiary is created called Yofres whose purpose is the development and commercialisation of fresh yoghurts and dairy desserts.
On the 23rd of October of the year 2000, PULEVA and Azucarera Ebro Agrícolas announce their merger agreement, and on the 13th of December of the same year the Board of Shareholders of both companies approve the operation. After the merger of PULEVA and Azucarera Ebro, the PULEVA FOOD S.L. company was formed, 100% subsidiary of the Ebro PULEVA Group.
In July 2003, Ebro Puleva bought from Abbott Laboratories the PULEVA brands in infant nutrition (baby food and infant milks), from that point onwards developing a new range of infant food under the denomination PULEVA Peques (Little'uns).
In both cases, PULEVA’s interest is in completing its range of functional and healthy products.