DonBacalao
DonBacalao (BACALAO PUERTA, S.L.) is a family-owned Spanish salt-cured cod manufacturer founded in 1940 and headquartered in Calahorra, La Rioja. It supplies 40+ wholesale SKUs of cod and ling/maruca to restaurants, distributors, and specialty retailers across Spain via regional delegations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersCalahorra, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DonBacalao does
DonBacalao is the trade name of BACALAO PUERTA, S.L., a Spanish family-owned seafood manufacturer specializing in salt-cured cod (bacalao) and related whitefish. Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Calahorra, La Rioja, the company operates with 11–50 employees and describes itself as a long-established reference supplier in the Spanish cured-cod category. Its core inputs are sourced from Northern European fishing grounds via direct producer relationships, and the finished range is sold exclusively through B2B channels in Spain.
The product catalogue comprises more than 40 SKUs across the cod category, including salt-cured loins, tenderloins, fillets, tacos, sheets, shredded ("esqueixada"), cococha (cod cheeks), and tripe cuts, with a parallel ling/maruca (molva) line. The portfolio is organized under two sub-brands — DonBacalao Tradicional and Selección DonBacalao — segmenting standard and premium tiers. Manufacturing is conventional salting and maturation, with no proprietary processing technology disclosed; differentiation is positioned around cut quality, cure consistency, and supplier heritage rather than production technology.
Revenue is generated through wholesale B2B distribution to restaurants, distributors, small specialty shops, market stalls, and ambulant vendors across Spain. Go-to-market is sales-led, supported by regional delegations in Barcelona, Madrid, and Vizcaya, and complemented by a digital presence (corporate website, social channels, recipe blog). Pricing is quote-based with volume tiers spanning 500g sample units to 500kg wholesale orders. The company operates as an unlisted private limited company (S.L.) with no disclosed external funding, no M&A activity, and no public financial reporting.
DonBacalao firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DonBacalao
- Legal name
- BACALAO PUERTA, S.L.
- Website
- https://donbacalao.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DonBacalao (BACALAO PUERTA, S.L.) is a family-owned Spanish salt-cured cod manufacturer founded in 1940 and headquartered in Calahorra, La Rioja. It supplies 40+ wholesale SKUs of cod and ling/maruca to restaurants, distributors, and specialty retailers across Spain via regional delegations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DonBacalao industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Salted Cod Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smoked, Cured & Salted Seafood (Lox, Kippers, Bacalao) (AFANADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Value-Added Seafood Packaging (MAP/Vacuum, Portion Packs, Private Label) (AFANADAM), Seafood Specialty & Premium Cuts (Loins, Steaks, Portions for Foodservice) (AFANALAL)
Keywords
Where DonBacalao is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calahorra
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
DonBacalao business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Cod Products Wholesale: DonBacalao generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of premium salt-cured cod products. They sell directly to businesses including small shops, market stalls, restaurants, and large distribution companies across Spain. Products include various cuts: loins (lomos), fillets, cubes (tacos), shredded cod (esqueixada), wings, cococha, and traditional whole pieces. The company offers products from 500g to 500Kg quantities to accommodate different business sizes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional/B2B pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
DonBacalao product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DonBacalao manufactures and distributes premium salt-cured cod (bacalao) and ling (maruca) products sourced from North Atlantic fisheries in Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. The portfolio includes loins, tenderloins, fillets, sheets, hand-shredded esqueixada, and specialty cuts, cured with Sal Marina de Ibiza sea salt and sold under the DonBacalao Tradicional and Selección DonBacalao sub-brands to professional buyers.
Product overview
DonBacalao is a salt cod (bacalao) products company that offers a comprehensive portfolio of cod and ling (maruca) products. The core offering consists of various cuts of premium salt-cured cod from Iceland, Norway, and Faroe Islands, including loins (lomos), tenderloins (solomillos), fillets, tacos, sheets (hojas), shredded products (esqueixada), and specialty cuts like cococha and tripe (tripas). The DonBacalao Tradicional sub-brand represents premium traditionally-cured products from Norway. Products are designed for both professionals (restaurants, distributors, retailers) and consumers, ranging from small portions (500g) to large quantities (500kg). The company also offers maruca (ling) products as an alternative fish species, with similar cut varieties. All products emphasize sustainable fishing practices and rigorous quality control.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DonBacalao Tradicional: Traditional salted cod product line with pieces cured using traditional salt cure methods prior to the drying process, available in various cuts and sizes.
- Selección DonBacalao
Products and services
- Salt-Cured Cod Loins and Tenderloins Premium boneless salt-cured cod loins (lomos) and tenderloins (solomillos) cut from North Atlantic cod, intended for professional chefs, distributors, and seafood retailers seeking consistent premium-grade portions.
- Salt-Cured Cod Fillets Uniformly cut salt-cured cod fillets (filetes) sourced from Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, sold wholesale to food industry buyers for portion-controlled preparation.
- Salt-Cured Cod Sheets (Hojas) Large-format salt-cured cod sheets (hojas) used by professional kitchens and processors that require whole-flake pieces rather than smaller cuts.
- Esqueixada (Hand-Shredded Cod) Hand-shredded salt-cured cod (esqueixada) prepared in artisanal style, designed for traditional Spanish salads, tapas menus, and ready-to-use food service applications.
- Specialty Salt-Cured Cod Cuts Specialty cod cuts including cococha (cheek/jowl), wings (alas), tripas (belly strips), pincho de bacalao, and migas (trimmings) for foodservice customers who need specific anatomical pieces for traditional Spanish recipes.
- DonBacalao Tradicional Line The traditional/heritage sub-brand of DonBacalao's salt-cured cod range, positioned as the core offering reflecting the company's long-standing curing methods and Atlantic provenance.
- Selección DonBacalao Premium Range The premium selection sub-brand of DonBacalao, offering higher-grade salt-cured cod cuts curated for professional buyers seeking top-tier selection and presentation.
- Salt-Cured Ling/Maruca Products Salt-cured ling (maruca) products, including Lomo de Maruca and Maruca selections, sourced from North Atlantic fisheries and cured using the same traditional salting processes as the cod range, offered to professional buyers as an alternative species.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products are reference standard in the cod sector
Companies that use DonBacalao
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DonBacalao technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DonBacalao partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DonBacalao competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Jealsa (Rianxeira): Jealsa, owner of the Rianxeira brand, is a large Spanish seafood processor with deep retail penetration across canned and prepared seafood. It sells into the same Spanish supermarket and food-service channels as DonBacalao and represents a broader-line incumbent competitor.
- Pescanova: Pescanova is a Spanish seafood major with a broad portfolio across frozen fish, seafood, and prepared products. While it does not specialize in salt-cured cod the way DonBacalao does, it competes on the same wholesale and food-service channels and is a relevant benchmark for scale and distribution reach in Spanish seafood.
- Frinsa: Frinsa is a Spanish seafood processor with a diversified portfolio of canned, frozen, and prepared seafood products. It competes for shelf space and food-service contracts in the same Spanish market as DonBacalao, though it is far broader in scope.
- Bolton Food (Bolton Group): Bolton Food is the seafood arm of Italian conglomerate Bolton Group, with strong brands in canned tuna and seafood (Rio Mare, Saupiquet). It is a broader incumbent in European seafood and competes for shelf space and food-service buyers in Spain and across Europe.
Regional players
- Conservas Cambados: Conservas Cambados is a Galician canned and preserved seafood specialist. While it focuses more on canned shellfish and fish, it shares the Spanish regional seafood-processing category and competes for the same foodservice and retail buyer relationships.
- Mariscos Linamar: Mariscos Linamar is a Spanish seafood distributor and processor focused on the Iberian market. It has comparable product breadth in seafood and serves similar wholesale and HoReCa customers, making it a regional comparable for DonBacalao's distribution model.
Direct peers
- Riberalves: Riberalves is the largest Portuguese salt-cured cod (bacalhau) processor, supplying retail and food-service across Iberia and international markets. It is the most direct comparable to DonBacalao—same species, same curing process, same product family—and serves as the Iberian benchmark for scale in this category.
- IRL Group (Grupo IRM): IRL Group is a major Portuguese bacalhau producer with vertically integrated sourcing and curing operations. It directly mirrors DonBacalao's salt-cured cod business model and competes for the same Iberian and diaspora consumers and distributors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DonBacalao social profiles
Digital presenceDonBacalao financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DonBacalao leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DonBacalao funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DonBacalao M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DonBacalao
What does DonBacalao do?
DonBacalao manufactures and distributes premium salt-cured cod (bacalao) and ling (maruca) products sourced from North Atlantic fisheries in Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. The portfolio includes loins, tenderloins, fillets, sheets, hand-shredded esqueixada, and specialty cuts, cured with Sal Marina de Ibiza sea salt and sold under the DonBacalao Tradicional and Selección DonBacalao sub-brands to professional buyers.
Is DonBacalao a public or private company?
DonBacalao is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was DonBacalao founded?
DonBacalao was founded in 1940. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DonBacalao based?
DonBacalao is headquartered in Calahorra, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does DonBacalao make money?
One revenue line is on record: cod Products Wholesale.
Who are DonBacalao's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Jealsa (Rianxeira), Pescanova, Frinsa and Bolton Food (Bolton Group). Regional players are Conservas Cambados and Mariscos Linamar. Direct peers are Riberalves and IRL Group (Grupo IRM).
Does DonBacalao have an API?
No public API is recorded for DonBacalao.
What industry is DonBacalao in?
DonBacalao's product category is Salted Cod Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANADAF, Smoked, Cured & Salted Seafood (Lox, Kippers, Bacalao), with a secondary code of AFANADAM, Value-Added Seafood Packaging (MAP/Vacuum, Portion Packs, Private Label). Its NAICS code is 3117 and its SIC code is 2092.