What Congelados de Navarra does

Congelados de Navarra is a privately held Spanish frozen food manufacturer founded in 1998 and headquartered in Navarra, operating across three business units: Retail, Food Service and Industry. The company produces frozen vegetables, fruits, prepared dishes and organic lines under multiple brand tiers — CN for foodservice and B2B, Verleal for consumer retail, BIO for organic, and the recently launched Gratinados and Gama Gratines for prepared gratin products. Core production technology is IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) processing at -40°C using air flow to rapidly freeze vegetables to -18°C, preserving nutritional properties and texture; the company supplements this with optical/laser sorting, automated electro-rail cold storage at -22°C, and full field-to-factory batch traceability across its 24,000-hectare supplier base of 1,500+ farmers.

The company runs six production plants in Spain (Arguedas, Fustiñana, Olmedo, Alfaro and additional acquired sites) and wholly-owned international subsidiaries including CN Frozen Foods in New Jersey (USA/Canada, est. 2016) and CN Deutschland (est. 2019), distributing to approximately 70 countries. Revenue is generated through direct enterprise sales to retail chains (private label and own brands), hospitality operators (CN brand with rapid delivery network) and industrial food manufacturers (custom cuts, calibers and thermal processes). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company has consolidated the business through acquisitions — Alcorioja (2017), Congelados de la Vega and CN Deutschland (2019), and Tastia Group (2024) — while expanding prepared-dish capacity and ESG positioning (Bureau Veritas SDG-aligned CSR certification in 2022; four photovoltaic parks by 2023; 12.2% scope 1+2 emissions reduction per tonne in 2025).

Governance is family-controlled under founder/CEO Benito Jiménez Cambra, with no disclosed institutional or private equity ownership. The company is the youngest in the European frozen vegetable sector yet has become Europe's largest frozen broccoli producer, holding IFS, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001 certifications across its facilities. Public funding from EU (FEDER, FEADER, Next Generation EU), Spanish national (CDTI, Ministerio de Economía) and regional (Gobierno de Navarra) programs supports ongoing R&D, photovoltaic and competitiveness initiatives.

Name

Congelados de Navarra

Legal name

CONGELADOS DE NAVARRA, S.A.

Website

https://congeladosnavarra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Vegetable Manufacturing

NAICS

Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing (311411), Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Fruit & Vegetable Processing (IQF, Frozen Blends) (AFAKAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Prepared Foods & Meals Manufacturing (AFAKACAH), Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals (CRADADAA), Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA), Frozen Side Dishes (Vegetables, Potatoes, Grains) (CRADADAI)

Keywords

• Frozen vegetable manufacturing
• IQF frozen produce
• Foodservice frozen vegetables
• Private label frozen foods
• Organic frozen vegetables

Headquarters

HQ city

Fustiñana

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Frozen Vegetables Manufacturing and Sales: Core business manufacturing and commercializing frozen vegetables including broccoli, peas, artichokes, and various mixed vegetables. Products sold to retail, foodservice and industrial customers.
2. Value-Added Prepared Dishes: Prepared vegetable-based dishes including sautés, braised dishes, pasta and rice products. Custom product development services for specific client requirements.
3. Private Label Manufacturing: Custom product development and manufacturing under client brands with various packaging formats (pillow, BB, microwaveable, bowl, etc.)
4. Consumer Brand Products: Verleal consumer brand positioned as modern, different frozen vegetable brand with retail presence in various product categories including organic.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Congelados de Navarra manufactures and commercializes frozen vegetables, fruits, prepared dishes and culinary aids using Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology at -40°C. The company operates across three distribution channels — Retail, Food Service and Industry — supplying national and international retail chains, hospitality operators and industrial food manufacturers with its CN corporate brand, the Verleal consumer brand, private label products, and the BIO/organic line.

Product overview

Congelados de Navarra operates as a leading European frozen vegetable and prepared foods manufacturer offering a multi-brand portfolio across three distribution channels (Retail, Food Service, and Industry). The core CN brand provides essential frozen vegetables, premium Esenciales+ line, culinary aids, prepared dishes, garnishes, and fruits under a single unified offering. The Verleal sub-brand targets modern/consumer-facing markets with contemporary positioning. The BIO/organic line serves health-conscious consumers. The recently launched Gratines line expands into prepared gratin products. The company also acquired Alcorioja (2017), Congelados de la Vega (2019), and manages plants including Iberfresco (Olmedo, Valladolid) and maintains 6 production plants in Spain plus a US subsidiary (CN Frozen Foods).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Verleal: A modern and different proposition in the frozen vegetable category, featuring traditional Mediterranean vegetables with contemporary preparation styles

Products and services

• Esenciales (Core Frozen Vegetables)

Quantifiable outcome

• Preserves nutritional properties equal to freshly harvested vegetables due to small ice crystal formation preventing cell wall damage
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerio de Economía, Industria y CompetitividadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Receives support and financing through State Program for Research, Development and Innovation Oriented to Society Challenges for R&D projects and innovation activities.
• CITA (Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research collaboration on agricultural technology and food innovation projects.
• Universidad de NavarraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic collaboration for research and development projects in food technology and innovation.
• CNTA (Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on food technology and safety research and development initiatives.
• IRTA (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on food technology research and agricultural research projects.
• Cámara de Comercio de NavarraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Awards and recognition programs supporting business excellence and entrepreneurship recognition in Navarra region.
• Tastia GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Congelados de Navarra acquired Tastia Group which was undergoing insolvency proceedings. The acquisition includes two production units as part of strategy to boost growth in organized catering and food manufacturing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ardo: Belgian family-owned frozen vegetable, herb, and fruit producer with deep European footprint and direct presence in retail, foodservice, and B2B ingredient supply. Direct competitor in IQF vegetables with similar multi-channel model.
• Bonduelle: French global leader in processed vegetables (canned, frozen, fresh) with extensive IQF frozen vegetable range and direct overlap across retail, foodservice and industrial channels. Closest comparable by product mix, scale, and channel coverage.
• Crop's (Crop's Fruits NV): Belgian frozen fruit and vegetable manufacturer serving retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. Overlaps directly with Congelados de Navarra's frozen fruit and vegetable ranges and B2B ingredient supply.
• Greenyard: Belgian listed group focused on frozen and prepared vegetables, fruits, and convenience meals, serving retail, foodservice, and industrial customers globally. Closely comparable in product portfolio, channel structure, and European distribution scale.

Broad incumbents

• McCain Foods: Global leader in frozen potato products with expanding vegetable portfolio and strong European presence. A larger incumbent with overlapping IQF capability and foodservice relationships that compete in adjacent frozen vegetable categories.
• Findus Group: European frozen food group with branded frozen vegetables, fish, and ready meals. Larger incumbent with overlapping retail and foodservice frozen vegetable offerings across multiple European geographies.

Regional players

• Coren (Grupo Coren): Spanish agri-food cooperative with food processing across multiple categories including frozen vegetable-adjacent products. Comparable as a Spanish-headquartered food manufacturer competing in similar retail and foodservice channels.
• Bofrost: German/European direct-to-home frozen food retailer-producer with significant frozen vegetable exposure. Compares on European frozen vegetable footprint and brand-led consumer model, but primarily competes via home delivery.

Emerging players

• Hortamar (Hortalizas Mar Menor / Grupo Horto): Spanish producer of fresh and processed vegetables with growing frozen capabilities. Regional emerging player with overlap in Spanish vegetable supply and growing retail/private-label frozen presence.

Others

• Froneri (Nestlé/M&R joint venture): Global ice cream and frozen food group with retail and foodservice presence. Adjacent frozen food comparator that illustrates large-scale frozen channel economics and branded retail dynamics relevant to scale ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/congnavarra

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congelados de Navarra