Cascajares, a family-owned company specialising in fourth- and fifth-range products, has significantly improved its profitability and professionalised its operations by implementing a Lean system. David Nieto, Head of Operations, shares how this transformation unfolded with the support of SGS PRODUCTIVITY.
From traditional cooking to a modern food industry
For over 30 years, Cascajares has been helping people who can’t or don’t want to cook enjoy high-quality meals without sacrificing flavour. Their fourth- and fifth-range ready meals offer top-level gastronomic products, ready to serve.
After three decades of continuous growth, the company set a bold new goal: to double its production. But before growing sustainably, they needed to address an underlying issue. As David Nieto explains, while revenue was strong, profitability wasn’t. That was the turning point that led them to explore continuous improvement paths.
A necessary transition—despite resistance
Implementing a Lean system at Cascajares wasn’t easy or immediate. The company had a very manual, artisanal, and family-driven model and wanted to evolve into a modern, efficient food industry operation. As with many transformations, there was initial resistance—especially since the new methods challenged long-standing habits across the organisation.
However, the team’s youth helped ease the transition. Once the first changes were in place, results followed quickly. The transformation became evident both operationally and financially, confirming that Lean was the right direction.
Measurable and sustainable results
David Nieto highlights three key milestones in the project:
The first and most impactful: improving EBITDA. In less than two years, the company went from 2% to 17–18%, a shift that not only validated the Lean project but marked a turning point for the business.
The second: improved communication flow. With the new system, information now moves more effectively across departments and levels, enabling faster, more aligned decisions.
And the third: operational control. Through clearly defined indicators and systematic analysis of each production line, the team gained a much more accurate view of plant performance and improvement opportunities.
A close partner for a deep transformation
Cascajares chose SGS PRODUCTIVITY based on recommendations from other businesses in the food sector. After comparing several consultancies, what stood out was SGS PRODUCTIVITY’s practical, approachable style and their clear understanding of the company’s context and growth ambitions.
More than just a consultancy, they found a partner who understood where they were coming from—and where they wanted to go. That made all the difference.
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