The COC company workshop has become a paradise for lovers of croquettes. From the most classic stew, ham or vegetables to the most innovative, fried eggs, chistorra and fried potatoes. The firm even makes sweet, chocolate and orange croquettes or Jijona nougat, now that the Christmas season has started.
“Our catalog exceeds fifty flavors. Every day we produce a total of 16,000 units a day, which is equivalent to about 400 kg a day or one million kg of croquettes a year”, says Imma Pardos, owner of the business together with her husband, chef Iñaki Escuer. They both created the business 16 years ago in Vilassar de Mar. They opened a small store and, seeing the success of their product, they decided to increase production with a 350 m2 workshop in Mataró.
From there they began to produce for hotels, bars and restaurants with a focus on the high-end. “We became manufacturers of frozen croquettes but maintaining the artisanal and gourmet character. In addition, we also enter into the production of fritters, cannelloni and churros”, says the owner.
Over the years, the company has managed to expand beyond the Catalan market, reaching Valencia, Murcia and the Basque Country. In addition, COC also distributes to gourmet stores, a sales channel that already accounts for 10% of sales.
“Despite the crisis we are growing year after year. In 2021, we billed 1.5 million euros; this year, we expect to exceed 1.8 million euros and for the 2023 financial year we expect to reach 2 or 2.5 million”.
Projecting future needs, the company has just invested half a million euros in a new workshop in the municipality of Arenys de Mar. "It will have a surface area of about 1,000 m2 and we will move at the beginning of next year," says the owner of the company. , whose team employs a total of 19 people. With this capacity expansion, the firm plans to continue responding to current demand and enter Madrid and its surroundings. The business model will remain the same, selling to companies in the hospitality and retail channel. In fact, the company transferred the small shop in Vilassar five years ago due to the growth of the workshop.
Throughout its 16 years of life, COC has always been financed with its own and bank resources. For this reason, the business continues to be 100% family-owned.
