Sergio Martínez, Director General of Innolact: “ Our history as a company began with the support of CDTI Innovation ”
In 2006 Innolact sounded like a spin-off of a research project of the university of Santiago de Compostela. Since then, constant innovation has enabled it to manufacture a number of high value-added dairy product and be one of the biggest exporters of cheese spanish to countries such as China, Japan and korea
Sergio Martínez, Director-GeneralInnolact, ensures that beginnings were not easy for this sme very linked since its inception to research andCDTI Innovation: “ the business project arose from certain results of research and development of a specific technology for development of cream cheese and since then we have not ceased in the development of new products to meet new demands of consumers ”.
“ i would like to stress that our history as a company was created in 2006 with a Neotec project managed by the CDTI Innovation whose support was essential to establish europe as smes. Throughout this process the CDTI remains for us a leader in promoting R + D + I corporate governance ”.
Origins
Traditionally, the dairy sector english has been characterized by a sector not too inventive whose one of its rapeseed mazada such as milk, obtained for the development of butter, is being dumped. Also known as buttermilk, traditionally has had a great acceptance in some countries like Germany, belgium, holland and Denmark, among others.
“ for a long time – said Sergio Martínez – informal enterprises did not know how to give added value to this food slightly creamy texture and gently sweet taste. In this situation, with a dairy factory in Galicia we proposed a challenge. Our experience and technological knowledge in techniques as ultrafiltration and high-pressure homogenization has served us well to develop a technology that has allowed us to develop using milk cream cheese mazada of high nutritional value. Without doubt, at that time, it was opened to us a great opportunity for our development as a company and we become Only researchers to become entrepreneurs. That was our objective: to innovate in order to develop healthier products and sustainable ”.
Image of packaging of cream cheese
Innovative path
In this constant commitment to innovation,Innolacthas developed in recent years several technological projects with the advice and financial assistanceCDTI Innovationsome of which have received funding from the ERDF funds.
“ In 2017 we completed a project for the manufacture of mascarpone cheese and whose natural conservation remains up to nine months. Given its optimum qualities, is having a great acceptance in some asian countries like China. We must bear in mind that many of our projects are aimed at increasing the useful life of our dairy to reduce food waste ”.
“ on the other hand, we will soon draw to the market, also with the assistance ofCDTI Innovationa new type of cream cheese with very specific characteristics. We must not forget that in recent years the dairy sector has had to adapt to new demands of consumers and, therefore, is being very active in the development of innovative food dishes prepared, sauces, desserts, etc. ”
R & D and quality control of a dairy product
Eurostars project
Among the many projects developed by this sme include the so-called “ New eco-efficient processes for the production of mature cheeses improved functional properties ”, held in the framework of the european programme of support for innovative smes, Eurostars.
On this occasion, Innolact in collaboration with research Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique french (INRA), has designed and developed a new technologies for hard cheese and who do not need semi-duros ripening or was significantly reduces. this way, we optimise the useful life of these cheeses and provide a sensorial more in line with the new demands of consumers.
“ we believe that this innovation will generate new business lines of fair return and will enable us to have access to new international markets. Lead this project and collaborate with our partner french has given us, as well as technological knowledge, numerous advantages ”.
Image of the facilities
International expansion
At the beginning of 2010 the company started its international projection. Today exported to 45 countries, mainly China, france, saudi Arabia, Portugal and United arab emirates, representing 90 per cent of their sales and are accessing new markets in Jamaica, Philippines, and canada.
“ last year we invoice about 25 million and €this year we intend to grow a 20% more. Our main clients are concentrated in the sector Horeca (Hotels, restaurants and Café) but we are also very present in supermarkets and in the food industry that, increasingly, use the cheese as one of its main ingredients ”.
Our key feature is that we create custom-made products. Each country has its settings. For example, in the case of China our cheese that can be traded on tarrinas are having a great acceptance in this market.
New tastes
For the Director-General of Innolact, increasing numbers of consumers seeking natural products and for years: “ develop, with the help of CDTI Innovation, a cheese made with kéfir untable which has been very successful. Now we want to enhance a line of cheese untables entirely of vegetable origin. We Use ingredients which give a very pleasant texture the palate and the point is very similar to cream cheese. All this is aimed, in part, to meet the demand of flexitariano segment, growing in number, which wants to reduce the consumption of animal protein ”.
CDTI Innovation
The CDTI innovation is the public funding of innovation of the ministry of science, innovation and universities that promotes innovation and technological development of spanish companies, channeling requests for funding and support for r & D & I projects of spanish entities at the state and international levels. We Contribute to the improvement of the technological level of spanish companies and drive and, with an international network with coverage of 51 countries support the spanish participation in international programmes for technology cooperation and the international transfer of technology. The CDTI also supports the creation and consolidation of technology-based enterprises in Spain.
The centre for technological development and innovation, E.P.E. (CDTI) is a public entity under the ministry of Science, innovation and universities.
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