In response to Covid-19, the Spanish chorizo industry has laid out plans to focus on sustainability issues and the digitalisation of the chain to promote future growth in the sector.

The Consorcio del Chorizo Español (Spanish Chorizo Consortium) is a voluntary association that groups companies in the Spanish meat sector, all experts in chorizo production and export, with the aim of producing and marketing authentic, high quality Spanish chorizo.

All companies associated with the consortium must comply with the quality regulations and certified procedures. Chorizo with the Consortium label is quality-assured and made in compliance with specific criteria in terms of traditional and authentic Spanish ingredients and production methods.

Chorizo producer and Consortium member Noel Alimentaria has proposed a €300m investment project to improve its own sustainability efforts. The scheme will have direct impact on the entire value chain, from the origin of the raw material to the final product. The manufacturer says the programme will invest in new production facilities and more energy-efficient technology. It also aims to reduce its carbon footprint and to enable the development of new lines of healthy products and alternative proteins, and the digitalisation of the chain to achieve what it calls an innovative, cooperative, connected and integrated business model.

Emcesa, another of the Consortium’s processors, is currently realigning its chorizo production towards Industry 4.0 (a digitalised industry) and has invested significantly in research, development and innovation between 2015 and 2020. The Toledo-based meat company has committed €3 million to maximising the efficiency of human and technical resources available.

Chorizo producer Goikoa has become an Amazon partner, supplying chorizo products to physical Amazon sites in the UK. The producer provides three products for the Amazon brand, including chorizo rings and sliced chorizo. The British market continues to be the main destination for premium chorizo from the Consorcio del Chorizo Español with 1.1 million kg of Consortium-labelled Chorizo being exported to the UK in the first half of 2021.