Mar
How we became European leaders in food-grade ice manufacturing
What is now a consolidated reality —being the leading ice producer in Europe— was born from a key strategic decision in the late 1980s. At Grupo Hervaz, the move from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector was not a coincidence, but the answer to a constant search for operational excellence and diversification.
The Genesis: From Tradition to Industry (1989-2003)
The arrival of the second generation of the Vázquez family (Manuel, Carlos, Miguel Ángel, and Rosana) after finishing their studies provided the necessary impetus to explore new horizons. It was at that moment that Procubitos began its journey.
However, the real turning point came in 2003. While the sector remained fragmented into small local factories, Grupo Hervaz made a bold decision: to create ICH (Ingeniería y Comercialización del Hielo) and install the most technologically advanced ice factory in its sector in Cebreros (Ávila).
The three pillars of our European leadership
For our strategic partners, Procubitos’ success can be summarized in three competitive advantages that allow us to operate on a continental scale:
- Technological Vanguard: The Cebreros plant was not just an expansion; it was a revolution in the processes of freezing and automated packaging, guaranteeing a product with the highest standards of food safety and energy efficiency.
- Responsiveness and Logistics: Being a leader means delivering when demand is at its peak. Thanks to our strategic location and production scale, we have built a distribution network that supplies international markets, from Portugal to Bulgaria.
- Multidisciplinary Strength: The backing of the Hervaz Business Group (formally established in 2006) allows our ice division to have a solid financial and management structure, capable of withstanding complex economic cycles, as demonstrated by maintaining employment and turnover during the 2008 crisis.
A sustainable expansion model
Our international vocation led us to expand our agricultural and livestock activity to Portugal in 2015, reinforcing our presence in the Iberian Peninsula and creating logistical synergies that benefit all our divisions, including food-grade ice.
Today, with over 100 direct and 200 indirect jobs, Grupo Hervaz continues to look to the future. For our partners, being European leaders is not just a matter of tonnage, but of the confidence that comes from knowing that behind every ice cube lies seven decades of family effort and an unwavering commitment to industrial innovation.