Yurrita Group

What Yurrita Group does

Yurrita Group (legal entity Yurrita e Hijos, S.A.) is a family-owned Spanish fish canning and gourmet food producer headquartered in Mutriku, Basque Country, founded in 1867 by José Miguel Mauleón. The company operates across two sub-brands: Lorea Gourmet, which serves large retail surfaces and supermarket chains with a broad range of canned fish and gourmet products, and Yurrita Gastronomika, which targets the HORECA channel (hotels, restaurants, and specialized gourmet stores) with premium offerings including handmade croquettes and fourth/fifth range specialties. Core products center on Cantabrian Sea anchovies cured for a minimum of 20 months under controlled natural temperature, Bonito del Norte (long-finned tuna) hand-cut and packed in olive oil, marinated boquerón, Basque cuisine dishes, and artisanal croquettes, all produced through traditional handcrafted methods in facilities including Casa Mauleón, reportedly the oldest fish canning building in Spain still in operation.

The company employs approximately 100 people across generations and holds a portfolio of certifications including MSC sustainable fisheries, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, Kosher, ISO 9001:2000, and ENEEK organic. The technology underlying production is artisanal rather than automated — raw materials are sourced directly from fishing boats using traditional methods that respect marine sanctuaries, fish are filleted and cleaned by hand, and curing relies on extended natural maturation rather than accelerated industrial processes. Distribution spans four channels: large retail chains via Lorea Gourmet, HORECA direct sales via Yurrita Gastronomika, two DTC e-commerce storefronts (loreagourmet.com and tiendayurrita.com), and an export network reaching clients in over 60 countries developed since the 1950s. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time product sales across these channels, with pricing not publicly disclosed.

The business model is dual-channel B2B plus DTC: branded premium canned fish and gourmet products are sold through supermarket procurement contracts (Lorea Gourmet), direct HORECA relationships (Yurrita Gastronomika), and the company's own online stores. There are no disclosed subscription, licensing, or recurring revenue streams, and the company remains under founding-family ownership with no external institutional investors, parent company, or public listing.

Name

Yurrita Group

Legal name

Yurrita e Hijos, S.A.

Website

https://yurritagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yurrita Group is a fifth-generation, family-owned Spanish fish canner founded in 1867 in Mutriku, Basque Country, producing artisanal Cantabrian anchovies, Bonito del Norte, marinated boquerón, and handmade croquettes under Lorea Gourmet (retail) and Yurrita Gastronomika (HORECA) brands for clients in 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Canned Fish and Gourmet Seafood

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Fish and Seafood Retailers (44525)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Smoked, Cured & Salted Seafood (Lox, Kippers, Bacalao) (AFANADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE), Specialty & Gourmet Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAI), Gourmet & Fine Food Stores (CRAHAGAG)

Keywords

• Artisanal fish canning
• Premium seafood products
• Cantabrian sea anchovies
• Gourmet spanish food
• Traditional preserved fish

Headquarters

HQ city

Mutriku

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales — Retail (Lorea Gourmet): Sale of canned fish and gourmet products (Anchovies, Bonito del Norte, Boquerón, croquettes, Basque cuisine specialties) through large retail surfaces and supermarket chains under the Lorea Gourmet brand.
2. Product Sales — HORECA (Yurrita Gastronomika): Sale of premium canned fish, handmade croquettes, and fourth and fifth range specialities to the hotel, restaurant, and specialized gourmet store sector under the Yurrita Gastronomika brand.
3. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce: Direct online sales through the company's own storefronts: www.tiendayurrita.com (Yurrita Gastronomika) and www.loreagourmet.com (Lorea Gourmet online store), targeting end consumers and specialized buyers.
4. International Export Sales: Export sales to a network of clients in over 60 countries worldwide, with a dense client network across global markets. Exports opened in the 1950s and have been crucial to the company's post-war development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yurrita Group produces and sells premium artisanal canned fish and gourmet food products, principally Anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea, Bonito del Norte (longfinned tuna), Boquerón (marinated anchovies), handmade croquettes, and Basque cuisine specialties. Operations run through two sub-brands: Lorea Gourmet for large retail surfaces and supermarket chains, and Yurrita Gastronomika for the HORECA channel (hotels, restaurants, and specialized gourmet stores), with direct-to-consumer sales through owned online stores.

Product overview

Yurrita Group is a family-owned fish canning and gourmet food company founded in 1867, operating two primary sub-brands: Lorea Gourmet for supermarket chains and retail consumers, and Yurrita Gastronomika for the HORECA professional channel. The core product portfolio centers on premium Cantabrian Sea anchovies and Bay of Biscay tuna as flagship offerings, complemented by marinated anchovies, Basque cuisine specialty dishes (pastries, mousses), and handmade croquettes. Products are characterized by traditional artisanal preparation methods, sustainable fishing practices, and extended natural curing processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lorea Gourmet: Broad range of products intended for shopping centres and supermarket chains: Anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea, Longfinned Tuna, Marinated Anchovies, other gourmet products, specialties and handmade croquettes.
• Yurrita Gastronomika

Products and services

• Lorea Gourmet Consumer-facing sub-brand targeting large supermarket chains and retail stores, offering Anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea, Longfinned Tuna, Marinated Anchovies, other gourmet products, and handmade croquettes.
• Yurrita Gastronomika Professional HORECA channel sub-brand offering Anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea, Longfinned Tuna, Marinated Anchovies, other gourmet products, handmade croquettes, and fourth and fifth range specialities for hotels, restaurants, and specialized gourmet stores.
• Anchoa del Cantábrico (Cantabrian Sea Anchovies) Premium anchovies sourced directly from fishing boats, selected for freshness and optimal size, salted and packed in traditional cans, cured for at least 20 months, and prepared by hand using traditional methods. Sold to retail chains, HORECA, and direct consumers.
• Bonito del Norte (Longfinned Tuna) Premium tuna from the Bay of Biscay summer season, caught using traditional fishing methods respecting marine reserves, carefully selected, boiled, cleaned, sliced by knife, and packed in olive oil. Sold to retail chains, HORECA, and direct consumers.
• Boquerón del Cantábrico (Marinated Anchovies) Fresh anchovies cleaned by hand, marinated with a special secret combination of wine vinegars, and packed with premium olive oil from southern Spain. Sold to retail chains, HORECA, and direct consumers.
• Otros productos gourmet (Basque Cuisine Specialties) Basque cuisine dishes including squid in onions, pasties (scorpionfish, tuna, crab), mousses (prawn, anchovy, tuna), and other specialities such as white tuna, sardines, mussels, and cockles. Sold to retail chains, HORECA, and direct consumers.
• Croquetas Artesanas (Handmade Croquettes) Handmade croquettes in classic and innovative flavors including Iberian ham, cod, sirloin, king prawns, black pudding, Casar cheese, and smoked salmon. Made with fresh milk and prepared in-house with artisan care. Sold to retail chains, HORECA, and direct consumers.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conservas Ortiz: Spanish producer of premium canned and salted fish, especially Cantabrian anchovies and Bonito del Norte, with strong retail and export presence. Most direct competitor to Yurrita in artisanal Basque canned seafood.
• Nuri (Pinhais & Cia): Portuguese heritage brand specializing in canned sardines, mackerel, and anchovies using traditional methods. Comparable artisanal premium positioning and Horeca/retail distribution model.
• Conservas Olasagasti: Basque Country traditional canned fish producer with similar artisanal methods and focus on Cantabrian anchovies and tuna. Closely comparable heritage positioning and product range.
• King Oscar: Premium Norwegian-origin canned seafood brand (sardines, mackerel, anchovies) with strong retail presence in international markets. Direct competitor in the premium canned seafood segment.
• Conservas Centollo / Frinsa La Balinesa: Distributor and trader of premium Spanish canned seafood products, including anchovies and tuna, with multi-brand portfolio serving retail and Horeca. Comparable product mix and Spanish market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Rio Mare (Bolton Group): Italian canned tuna and seafood brand owned by Bolton Group, with broad European retail distribution. Competes with Yurrita in retail canned seafood channels, particularly in Italy and broader Europe.
• Saupiquet: French canned seafood brand with presence in tuna, sardines, and mackerel, serving both retail and food service. Larger and more industrial than Yurrita but competes in the same canned seafood category.
• Pescamar (Thai Union subsidiary): Portuguese canned seafood producer (now part of Thai Union) specializing in sardines, tuna, and mackerel. Competes in similar product categories but with industrial production scale.
• Frinsa (Conservas Cambres): Major Spanish canned seafood group combining traditional premium lines with industrial-scale production. Comparable product portfolio but at significantly larger scale, competing across both retail and Horeca channels.
• Jealsa (Rianxeira): One of Spain's largest seafood processors, producing canned mussels, tuna, and other seafood for private label and branded retail. Overlaps with Yurrita in canned seafood but operates at much greater industrial scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yurrita-e-hijos-s-a-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Yurrita Group