SABOR DEL AÑO - Global Quality Iberia

What SABOR DEL AÑO - Global Quality Iberia does

SABOR DEL AÑO is a B2B taste quality certification program operated in Spain by Global Quality Iberia, a Barcelona-based private company founded in 2015 under license from French parent MONADIA, which created the seal in 1995. The company administers annual blind taste tests conducted in recognized sensory analysis laboratories, with panels of 80 consumers per product category evaluating products on five criteria — taste, appearance, smell, texture, and general satisfaction — scored from 0 to 10. Products that score above 6/10 and rank highest in their category receive the certified seal, which can be used on packaging and marketing as a third-party consumer-validated quality signal.

The core offering is the flagship SABOR DEL AÑO seal, extended through six complementary sub-brands targeting adjacent verticals: SOSTENIBLE (combining taste with NUTRI-SCORE nutritional and packaging recyclability analysis), TOP INNOVACIÓN (innovation assessment), KIDS (children's products), BIO (organic), ECO (environmental), and RESTAURACIÓN (foodservice). The underlying methodology is proprietary and standards-based, relying on trained consumer panels rather than instrumentation, and is sold as a professional service: food and beverage manufacturers pay certification fees to enter products into the annual program, with repeat multi-year entries explicitly supported. The company operates across Spain, Portugal, and Mexico as the exclusive MONADIA licensee, with 12 employees, single-country direct sales, and digital marketing channels (website, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube). Revenue is generated entirely from certification fees under a non-publicly-disclosed pricing model, with no external funding, public listing, or M&A activity disclosed.

Name

SABOR DEL AÑO - Global Quality Iberia

Legal name

Global Quality Iberia

Website

https://saboresyconsumidores.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SABOR DEL AÑO, operated by Global Quality Iberia and licensed from French parent MONADIA, is a Barcelona-based B2B certification service that runs blind consumer taste tests for food and beverage manufacturers in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Quality Certification Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Certification Services (Organic, Non-GMO, Halal, Kosher, Gluten-Free) (AFALAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sensory/Taint & Odor Transfer Testing (organoleptic evaluation) (AFALAIAM)

Keywords

• Food quality certification
• Sensory analysis services
• Blind taste testing
• Consumer product testing
• Quality seal awards

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Certification Services: SABOR DEL AÑO generates revenue by providing taste certification services to food and beverage manufacturers. Companies pay to have their products evaluated through the blind taste test methodology. Products can be entered multiple years even if previously awarded, reinforcing their distinction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SABOR DEL AÑO is a consumer-validated taste quality certification seal awarded annually to food and beverage products sold in Spanish retail. Manufacturers pay to enter products into blind taste tests conducted by 80-consumer panels in recognized sensory analysis laboratories; products are scored on taste, appearance, smell, texture, and general satisfaction, and only category leaders above 6/10 receive the seal. The platform extends into complementary sub-brands (SOSTENIBLE, TOP INNOVACIÓN, KIDS, BIO, ECO, RESTAURACIÓN) built on the same sensory methodology.

Product overview

SABOR DEL AÑO is a quality certification platform consisting of a core seal (SABOR DEL AÑO) and multiple complementary sub-brands (SABOR DEL AÑO SOSTENIBLE, SABOR DEL AÑO TOP INNOVACIÓN, SABOR DEL AÑO KIDS, SABOR DEL AÑO BIO, SABOR DEL AÑO ECO) for the food and restaurant industry. Products are evaluated through blind taste tests conducted by 80 consumers in sensory analysis laboratories, scoring on five criteria (taste, appearance, smell, texture, general satisfaction). The main seal has been operating since 1995 (created by MONADIA in France) and is now present in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and other markets through Global Quality Iberia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SABOR DEL AÑO RESTAURACIÓN: Quality seal for the restaurant and foodservice sector
• SABOR DEL AÑO SOSTENIBLE
• SABOR DEL AÑO TOP INNOVACIÓN
• SABOR DEL AÑO KIDS
• SABOR DEL AÑO BIO
• SABOR DEL AÑO ECO

Products and services

• SABOR DEL AÑO Annual taste quality certification seal for food and beverage products sold in Spanish retail. Products are evaluated by 80-consumer panels in blind tests at sensory analysis laboratories, scored on taste, appearance, smell, texture, and general satisfaction; only products scoring above 6/10 and the highest in their category receive the seal. For food and beverage manufacturers seeking objective, consumer-validated proof of taste quality.
• SABOR DEL AÑO SOSTENIBLE Complementary certification seal awarded to products that pass three tests: sensory evaluation, nutritional analysis per NUTRI-SCORE, and environmental analysis of packaging recyclability. For food and beverage manufacturers wanting to signal taste quality together with nutritional and environmental sustainability.
• SABOR DEL AÑO TOP INNOVACIÓN Complementary certification seal recognizing products that score highest on sensory qualities and also demonstrate innovative character. Consumers first evaluate taste, appearance, smell, texture, and general satisfaction, then assess the product's innovation. For food and beverage manufacturers seeking to validate innovation alongside taste.
• SABOR DEL AÑO KIDS Complementary certification seal for food products targeted at children, applying the consumer blind taste test methodology to this segment. For food and beverage manufacturers marketing products to families and children.
• SABOR DEL AÑO BIO Complementary certification seal for organic food products that meet the consumer blind taste test criteria of the main SABOR DEL AÑO certification. For organic food and beverage manufacturers seeking validation of taste quality alongside organic credentials.
• SABOR DEL AÑO ECO Complementary certification seal recognizing products that demonstrate environmental commitment alongside their taste excellence. For food and beverage manufacturers seeking eco-focused quality validation.
• SABOR DEL AÑO RESTAURACIÓN Dedicated certification seal for the restaurant and foodservice sector, applying the consumer blind taste test methodology to products used or served in restaurants. For foodservice operators and restaurant suppliers seeking consumer-validated taste credentials for served products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Proven increase in sales at point of sale for brands awarded with the seal across all product categories

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MONADIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995MONADIA created the SABOR DEL AÑO seal in 1995 in France and serves as the parent organization and originator of the methodology. Global Quality represents SABOR DEL AÑO in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico as the licensed operator.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Great Taste Awards: UK-based food and drink awards program operated by the Guild of Fine Food, running blind taste tests judged by panels of food experts. Comparable in methodology (blind judging, star ratings) and target market (premium food producers).
• Monde Selection: International quality institute founded in 1961 in Brussels, awarding quality seals based on blind tasting and expert sensory evaluation panels. Direct competitor to SABOR DEL AÑO in the food and beverage taste certification category.
• DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft) Awards: German agricultural society running DLG awards for food quality through blind sensory testing panels. Comparable as a long-established food quality certification body using objective consumer/expert evaluation in continental Europe.
• International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi) — Superior Taste Award: Brussels-based organization running the Superior Taste Award, evaluating food and beverage products through blind sensory analysis by chefs and sommeliers. Direct competitor offering star-rated quality certifications to consumer brands.

Broad incumbents

• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company, offering food quality and safety audits, sensory testing services, and certification programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent in food certification, with much larger geographic and category footprint.
• Bureau Veritas: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), including food safety, quality, and sustainability certification services. Overlaps in providing third-party quality assurance labels to food manufacturers, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider offering food testing, sensory evaluation, quality assurance, and certification services to food manufacturers. Comparable as an incumbent with overlapping sensory testing and quality seal capabilities, serving multinational F&B clients.
• NSF International: Global public health and safety organization providing food safety and quality certifications, including product testing and seal programs. Overlaps in third-party food certification; broader scope and geographic reach than SABOR DEL AÑO.

Regional players

• Aenor (Asociación Española de Normalización): Spanish national standards body and certification provider, offering ISO-based food quality, safety, and sustainability certifications to Spanish manufacturers. Comparable as a Spain-based third-party quality certification body, though focused on standards compliance rather than consumer taste testing.
• Saveur de l'Année (France): French parent brand of the SABOR DEL AÑO seal, also operating as Saveur de l'Année in France. Sister brand under MONADIA, providing the same consumer-based blind taste test methodology in the French market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aprobado_sabor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCStv0CQs22E-BQQXLnktSgw
• Facebookfacebook.com/saboresyconsumidores
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sabor-del-a%C3%B1o

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SABOR DEL AÑO - Global Quality Iberia