As Operations Director at Moyca Grapes, Antonio Nicolás leads innovation and efficiency at one of the world’s largest seedless grape producers. Drawing on his experience in the agricultural sector, Antonio outlines in this interview the industry’s main challenges—emphasising the importance of continuous improvement and how Moyca Grapes has tackled them through the adoption of SPS, the Lean System from SGS PRODUCTIVITY
About Moyca Grapes
MOYCA is a producer, packer, and distributor of seedless grapes, with over 25 years of experience, 2,200 hectares of crops, and exports to more than 40 countries. The company is known in the market for its quality, variety, flavour, and food safety. After a decade of rapid growth—doubling its revenue—Moyca Grapes found itself at a turning point. Known for its strong customer service focus, the company needed to evolve to face new economic challenges, such as rising operational costs, inflation, and wage increases.
“We considered implementing a Lean system because, after ten years of significant growth, we wanted to go beyond proven efficiency and the quality that defines us.”
Efficiency became just as important as effectiveness. With this in mind, Moyca Grapes recognised that Lean wasn’t just an option—it was a strategic necessity to adapt to a changing environment and maintain its market leadership.
“Lean wasn’t just a response to a problem—it was a future-focused vision and a commitment to smarter, more sustainable managemen
The journey toward Lean became a company-wide transformation—reaching far beyond production and positively influencing the entire organisation. Operational efficiency was placed at the centre of the strategy, with the goal of optimising every process and resource. Implementing Lean was not just a response to economic pressure, but a reaffirmation of Moyca’s identity and a step toward a more resilient, competitive future.
“We’ve established ourselves in the international market through our commitment to quality and constant pursuit of innovation.”
Implementing and impacting with Lean
“Choosing Lean was a strategic decision to navigate uncertainty and strengthen our market position.”
In an increasingly complex environment—where competition is global, consumption habits are evolving, and sustainability is non-negotiable—Moyca Grapes needed a smarter way of working. That’s where SPS, the Lean System by SGS PRODUCTIVITY, came in.
SGS Productivity dijo:
At Moyca Grapes, the response has been the implementation of SPS, the Lean System from SGS PRODUCTIVITY—not as a set of isolated changes, but as a comprehensive overhaul of their processes and culture. This methodology has gone beyond production, reaching every area of the business—from logistics to human resources management—with the goal of creating a system where efficiency and agility are the standard.
By eliminating waste and optimising workflows, Moyca Grapes has seen real, measurable improvements: cost reduction, greater efficiency, and—most importantly—better product quality reaching the consumer’s table.
Lean has also strengthened the heart of the business: its people. By engaging employees in continuous improvement, leaders have emerged at all levels, creating a culture where innovation is driven by those who know the work best.
Moyca’s commitment to Lean reflects its adaptability and determination to stay ahead in a vital industry like agri-food.
Digitalising Continuous Improvement
“We now need to take this culture even further. That’s why we’re turning to technology and digitalisation.”
Looking ahead, Moyca Grapes sees digitalisation as a key pillar in the evolution of its Lean System. Integrating technology is a decisive strategy to increase productivity and stay competitive in a demanding global market. This proactive approach to collecting and analysing data will not only improve current processes—it will allow the company to anticipate market needs and respond swiftly to change.
Moyca is already tackling the challenge of converting a constant stream of data into real-time operational intelligence. This will enable fast, precise decision-making and make the Lean System even more powerful. Digitalisation is the future of continuous improvement at Moyca Grapes—and will reinforce internal efficiency, elevate service quality, and enhance the customer experience.
Why SGS PRODUCTIVITY
“They’re pioneers in Lean implementation in the agri-food sector. They have experience from the automotive world, understand different markets, and know how to adapt and draw connections between challenges.”
By choosing SGS PRODUCTIVITY, Moyca Grapes partnered with a team deeply familiar with the unique needs and challenges of the agri-food industry. This synergy created an environment where Lean principles aligned naturally with daily operations, ensuring that every team member not only understood the methodology but became an active agent of change.
This partnership has gone far beyond implementing procedures. It has been the foundation of a new management paradigm—where continuous improvement is lived and applied every day.
Conclusions
Moyca Grapes, a leading name in seedless grape production, has seen remarkable growth over the past ten years, doubling its revenue and becoming a benchmark for quality and service. Faced with new economic pressures, the company turned to the Lean System not just as a solution, but as a strategic path to maintain leadership and improve operational efficiency.
The implementation of the Lean System, carried out in collaboration with SGS PRODUCTIVITY, has led to a comprehensive transformation that has impacted every area of the company—from production to human resources management—resulting in more efficient operations and a significant reduction in costs.
Looking ahead, digitalisation will be key to accelerating decision-making and enhancing productivity. Moyca is already working to convert a continuous flow of data into actionable insights—helping maintain its competitive edge while reinforcing its commitment to quality and customer experience.
In today’s environment, where global challenges demand smart local solutions, Moyca Grapes is a standout example of how companies can achieve excellence by embracing continuous improvement and innovation.
“When it comes to results, we’ve embedded the C of Cost and the C of Culture into our organisation.”
Meet Antonio Nicolás, Operations Director at Moyca Grapes
Antonio leads operations at Moyca Grapes, where he has overseen the implementation of the Lean continuous improvement system in packing plants with over 4,000 employees. An industrial engineer by training, he previously held leadership roles at Frutas Esther and G’s Group.