What Cynara artichokes does

Cynara EU, S.L.U. (operating as Cynara) is a Spain-based, privately held food production company specialized exclusively in artichoke-based products. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Mula, Murcia, the company operates an R&D+i laboratory, holds multiple globally recognized food safety and organic certifications (BRCGS, IFS Broker, IFS Food, EU Organic, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project), and maintains international offices in Hawthorne, NY (United States) and Cañete, Lima (Peru). The company describes itself as offering "the most complete range of artichokes on the market," with five core product lines: confited artichokes in extra virgin olive oil (Alcachofas Confitadas, including the new Flores de Alcachofa), steamed artichokes (Alcachofas al Vapor), artichoke snacks (Chyps de Alcachofa), seasoned/specialty artichokes (Aliñadas/Especialidades), and traditional in-brine hearts (Al Natural). Cynara's underlying technology centers on controlled-temperature steam cooking, a selection and preservation process that retains nutrients and antioxidants for up to 18 months, and dedicated R&D for new SKU development.\n\nThe business model is diversified across direct-to-consumer e-commerce (cynara.net), foodservice/Horeca B2B sales with bulk formats (3kg cans, 680g trays), wholesale and retail distribution, private label/OEM manufacturing, and international export through commercial partners. Pricing is unit-based for retail SKUs and quote-based for foodservice and wholesale accounts. Customer segments are split primarily between individual retail consumers and foodservice/Horeca professionals, with secondary segments in wholesale/retail distributors and private label customers. Sourcing is dual-hemisphere from Spain and Peru, the two principal global artichoke-producing countries, providing seasonal hedging for year-round product availability. The company is privately held, discloses no external funding, and is operated by a small leadership team including marketing, product management and communications roles under founder Gerard Jara.

Name

Cynara artichokes

Legal name

CYNARA EU, S.L.U.

Website

https://cynara.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cynara EU, S.L.U. is a Spain-based private food producer specialized exclusively in artichoke-based products, supplying retail consumers, foodservice/Horeca professionals, distributors and private label customers worldwide through five product lines spanning preserved, steamed, seasoned, confited and snack formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mula

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Cynara sells their artichoke products (preserved, snacks, specialties) directly through their e-commerce website and to retail consumers. Products include canned artichoke hearts, steamed artichokes, confits, snacks (Chyps), and seasoned artichokes in various formats.
2. Foodservice/Horeca B2B Sales: Professional channel supplying restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and food service operators with bulk artichoke products in various formats (cans, trays) for commercial food preparation.
3. Wholesale and Distribution: Sales to wholesalers and retailers who stock Cynara products in their linear/shelves for consumer purchase.
4. Private Label/OEM: Cynara offers private label manufacturing services where they produce artichoke products under distributor or retailer brands for the foodservice and retail channels.
5. International Export: Export of preserved artichokes and products to countries worldwide through established commercial partners, leveraging experience in the artichoke sector.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cynara produces and distributes a complete range of artichoke-based food products across five product lines (confit artichokes in AOVE, steamed artichokes, on-the-go Chyps snacks, seasoned/aliñadas specialties, and traditional al natural hearts in brine), in both retail and bulk foodservice formats. The company sells directly to consumers via its e-commerce site and serves Horeca (hotels, restaurants, catering) professionals, wholesalers, retailers, and private-label customers globally from facilities in Spain, the USA, and Peru.

Product overview

Cynara is an artichoke-focused food company offering the most complete range of artichoke products on the market. The portfolio consists of five main product lines: Alcachofas Confitadas (confits in olive oil including the new Flores de Alcachofa innovation), Alcachofas al Vapor (steam-cooked artichokes), Snacks including the first on-the-go Artichoke Chyps, Aliñadas/Especialidades (seasoned artichokes in various flavors), and Al Natural (traditional in-brine artichoke hearts in numerous sizes). Products serve both retail consumers and professional foodservice channels, with bulk formats available for restaurants. The company also offers organic/ecological product options sourced from Spain and Peru. Recent innovations include steamed artichokes (revolutionary controlled-temperature product) and the Artichoke Chyps snack line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chyps de Alcachofa: The first on-the-go artichoke snack, a healthy, crunchy snack made from fresh artichokes with no preservatives or dyes, high in fiber.

Products and services

• Alcachofas Confitadas (Artichoke Confit in AOVE) Artichoke hearts confited in extra virgin olive oil (AOVE), representing a premium gourmet product line for retail and foodservice.
• Alcachofas al Vapor (Steamed Artichokes) Steam-cooked artichokes preserved through controlled temperature pasteurization, allowing year-round enjoyment of fresh-like flavor in halves or quarters.
• Artichoke Chyps (Chyps de Alcachofa) On-the-go crunchy artichoke snack, the first artichoke snack in this format, made from hand-selected fresh artichokes with no preservatives or dyes, available in 30 g bags.
• Aliñadas / Especialidades (Seasoned Artichokes) Seasoned artichokes in oil and spices in styles such as grilled (a la parrilla), marinated, and Roman style, ready to enjoy in under a minute.
• Al Natural (In-Brine Artichoke Hearts) Traditional preserved artichoke hearts in brine, the company's most diverse product family, offered in multiple sizes and presentations (Baby, Petite, Medium, Large, Canapes, Pearls, Mini Baby, with count ranges from 4/6 to 50/60) in retail and foodservice formats.
• Professional / Foodservice Line (Corazones de Alcachofa) Bulk-format artichoke products designed for the foodservice channel: laminated hearts, steamed quarters/halves, grilled, marinated, Roman style, chopped, and various size categories (25/30 to 50/60 counts) in 3 kg cans for restaurants and food-service operators.
• Alcachofas Ecológicas / BIO (Organic Artichokes) Organic-certified artichoke products sourced from Spain and Peru using ecological cultivation methods.
• Private Label / OEM Manufacturing Private-label and OEM manufacturing of Cynara artichoke products under distributor or retailer brands for foodservice and retail channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Studies confirm preserved artichokes maintain the same nutrients and antioxidant properties as fresh or raw artichokes for up to 18 months

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SantafixieminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Promotional partnership where Cynara included Chyps artichoke snacks in Santafixie bicycle orders from June 3-17. Cynara's snacks were included in shipments to national territory customers, subject to available space in packaging.
• Horeca Channel PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCynara is a supplier to the Horeca (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering) channel, providing a wide range of products in different formats including ecological preserved artichokes, specialties, traditional preserves, delights, and snacks for the service sector.
• Commercial Distribution PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCynara seeks partners or commercial partners to distribute their preserved artichoke, snack, and delicacy products internationally. They have established commercial partners worldwide that provide competitive advantages for their products.
• Teatro Fernan GómezminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the 'Placeres Íntimos' promotion where Cynara offered discount coupons for Teatro Fernan Gómez de Madrid performances to newsletter subscribers. The promotion was valid until June 13 with 50 discounted tickets available.
• FujifilmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the 10th Instagram Anniversary contest where Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 cameras (Ice-White) were offered as prizes along with Cynara product bundles.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cirio: One of Italy's largest preserved-vegetable brands with a long-standing artichoke product line across hearts, quarters, and seasoned formats. Directly comparable to Cynara as a Mediterranean preserved-artichoke specialist serving both retail and foodservice.
• Sacla': Italian antipasti and preserved-vegetable brand with a strong artichoke range in olive oil and seasoned formats. Comparable to Cynara in premium positioning, foodservice presence, and branded plus private-label structure.
• Ponti: Italian producer of pickled vegetables, vinegars, and preserved specialties including artichokes. Direct peer in preserved Mediterranean vegetable categories serving retail and foodservice across European and export markets.
• Carandini: Italian producer of preserved and pickled vegetables including artichoke hearts and specialties. Comparable to Cynara as a smaller-scale Italian/Mediterranean preserved-vegetable specialist with overlapping product formats.

Broad incumbents

• Bonduelle: Global leader in canned and frozen vegetables, including artichoke hearts. Operates across retail and foodservice with significantly broader scale and distribution than Cynara; a key large-scale competitor in the same product category.
• Mutti: Italian premium preserved-vegetable brand best known for tomatoes but with growing specialty vegetable lines. Comparable to Cynara in Mediterranean premium positioning and international brand-building, though at significantly larger scale.
• B&G Foods: US packaged food holding company owning multiple specialty food brands distributed through retail and foodservice. Comparable in that Cynara could follow a similar brand-acquisition or distribution-platform path, though B&G is far larger and broader.
• Roland Foods: US-based specialty food importer and brand owner with a broad portfolio of Mediterranean and preserved specialties, including artichoke products. Comparable in foodservice distribution focus and specialty-retail positioning.
• De Cecco: Italian premium food brand spanning pasta, oils, and preserved vegetables sold globally through retail and foodservice. Comparable as a Mediterranean-origin premium CPG brand expanding preserved-vegetable offerings internationally.

Emerging players

• Alnatura: German organic food brand and retailer with preserved vegetables and specialty ranges including artichokes. Comparable to Cynara in organic certification positioning and premium health-oriented consumer targeting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/alcachofascynara

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cynara artichokes