The brewery La Lleldiría, located in San Roque de Riomiera, has been distinguished as the best entrepreneurial initiative in the Alimentos de España 2026 Awards granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, according to the ministerial order released this Monday in the Official State Bulletin (BOE).
The project integrates the transformation of milk from small farms in the area with the recovery of the agricultural and cultural heritage characteristic of the Pasiegos valleys.
The Alimentos de España Awards recognize excellence, innovative capacity, and the commitment of companies, professionals, organizations, and groups that promote the development and prestige of the national agri-food sector.
In this edition, the Extraordinary Alimentos de España 2026 Award has been given to Bodegas Protos, located in Peñafiel (Valladolid), in recognition of a trajectory that has made the company one of the great references of Spanish wine.
The jury emphasized that, on the verge of its centenary in 2027, Protos embodies one of the great stories of Spanish wine, having managed to combine tradition, knowledge, and innovation to strengthen a project of excellence linked to the territory. Founded in 1927 in Peñafiel (Valladolid), the winery has decisively contributed to the prestige of the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) Ribera del Duero and has expanded its projection with initiatives such as its establishment in the DOP Rueda.
The jury also highlighted the winery's ability to sustain a growth model based on quality, innovation, and internationalization, which helps to reinforce the image of Spanish wine in national and international markets and generates wealth and employment in the rural environment.
The award for the best food industry has been given to Galletas Gullón, based in Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia), recognizing the sustained growth and evolution of this centenary company, one of the largest cookie producers in Europe, which maintains its character as a family business.
The company, a leader in sugar-free, organic, and BIO products, stands out for the nutritional improvement of its catalog and its commitment to innovation, digitalization, and opening up to the outside, with exports to 125 countries, being one of the major industrial references of Castilla y León.
The president of Galletas Gullón, Lourdes Gullón, has celebrated this award that "deeply moves them." "It represents a boost to our philosophy for doing things well, for producing quality products with raw materials from our land with a proposal that respects our environment and our people. Today we are an international benchmark that has never lost its roots as a family business and local ties, which is why this award belongs to all those who have been part of Gullón," she indicated.
INTEROVIC, AWARDED FOR THE 'EL PAQUITO' CAMPAIGN
The innovation award has gone to the cooperative Society Oleoestepa, from Estepa (Sevilla), which recognizes its firm commitment to R&D+i to achieve high levels of competitiveness in sustainability, quality, and efficiency, with special attention to environmental protection and adaptation to new climatic conditions. Its project Sapal reuses the pomace to produce biogas and biostimulants.
Provacuno has been distinguished for its work in food internationalization, as the jury has valued its gradual strategy to boost the external presence of Spanish beef, which has allowed for an increase in exports. Likewise, its actions to promote generational change in the sector have been highlighted.
The Interprofessional of Sheep and Goat Meat (Interovic) has received the promotion award for its campaign "El Paquito," launched in 2019, which has managed to consolidate a new product in the market to stimulate the consumption of goat meat in formats adapted to new uses and trends, following models that had already been successful in other meats. The campaign also presents a marked collaborative approach, with the participation of the distribution sector and the Horeca channel.
The award for organic production goes to the cooperative Kikiricoop, from Cabranes (Asturias), which stands out for a highly diversified production of references such as hazelnut cream, organic prepared meals, and processed mushrooms or blueberries, among others, made with local raw materials, such as hazelnuts or milk.
The award for the production of Fishing and Aquaculture has been given to the Brotherhood of Fishermen San José of Cangas (Pontevedra), while the communication award has gone to Opagac (Madrid), for the documentary-report "1.17."
The recognition for restoration has been for Dársena Interior (Alicante), as the jury values the 65-year trajectory of this Alicante restaurant in the defense, research, and dissemination of Spanish rice, a key product of national cuisine. It has also highlighted its work in promoting rice, especially those from Valencia, and its commitment to gastronomic and technical innovation through the development of new preparations and the use of local products with differentiated quality.
The awarded initiative in the area of food waste reduction has been that of researcher Honorato Roig Tierno, responsible for the Redona project (Valencia).
The Ministry of Agriculture has reminded that these awards reflect its commitment to the National Food Strategy and to promoting a sustainable, innovative, competitive, and inclusive food system, capable of generating value throughout the chain and contributing to the economic and social development of rural areas and coastal zones.