The founder of La Fageda, psychologist Cristóbal Colón, has spent more than ten years meticulously preparing the succession and generational handover process with the aim of guaranteeing the survival of the social project he launched in La Garrotxa in 1982. Having turned 75, and having done his homework, the day has come to pass the baton and leave both the presidency of the foundation's board of trustees and the functions of general director. From now on, Colón becomes the honorary president of the entity and is replaced in the presidency by economist Josep Maria Bonmatí, one of the best-known executives in the food and mass consumption sector in Spain, as for more than 20 years he has been the general director of AECOC, an association that brings together more than 33,000 companies that generate 20% of the national GDP. He is also vice-president of the Alimentaria Fair.
In parallel, Sílvia Domènech becomes the new general director of the social project, to which she has been linked since 2012. The executive joined La Fageda as commercial director and, in 2019, Colón chose her as his successor, appointing her deputy director, a position she has held until now, thus completing the transition process. "I leave the organization in very good hands, I feel very calm about the commitment and professional solvency of the trustees and directors," Colón highlighted.
The appointment of Bonmatí as president of La Fageda ensures total continuity in the line set by Colón, as the executive has been part of the foundation's board of trustees for fifteen years and, until now, held the vice-presidency, making him a person of the utmost trust of the founder. Also trustees of La Fageda Fundació are businessmen Joan Boix (Noel) and Lluís Masias (Masias Maquinaria); Jordi Vives Xiol (representative of the Federació de Cooperatives Agràries de Catalunya); Iñigo Gallo, professor at IESE; Ricard Aceves, director of the Associació Sant Tomàs, and Joan Sabartés, operations director of the Bon Preu group.
As La Fageda has explained, the change in the presidency and general management means "culminating the strategic process that began in 2013 to guarantee the durability and sustainability of the project," which has always been closely linked to the figure of the founder. This process has contemplated several actions in a double line: finding the right people to ensure generational succession in the governance and management of La Fageda, and the execution of a powerful investment plan that has allowed renewing and improving both the yogurt factory and the services to the people served by the organization.
"Throughout these 42 years, our work has given meaning to the lives of many people. The sum of time and efforts dedicated to the project have been immensely worthwhile," says Colón, satisfied, who thanks "the trust and effort of all the people, families, and institutions that throughout La Fageda's history have supported it." "Without all of them, La Fageda would not be what it is," notes the veteran psychologist, who has always been accompanied by his wife and also therapist, Carme Jordà. This Saturday, March 9, the Olot City Council will present Colón with the city's medal in recognition of his career and the creation of a successful model of social and labor integration for people with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders.
Much more than a yogurt brand
La Fageda Fundació recorded revenues of 27.84 million euros in 2022, an 8% increase. Of this figure, 23 million came from the sale of yogurts (with nearly 100 million units marketed and a market share in Catalonia of 7.4%), and the rest were generated by other business areas, such as the production of ice cream and jams or the gardening section. At the close of 2022, La Fageda Fundació employed 254 people ---40% women---, of whom 132 have a disability certificate.
The social integration company El Faig de La Fageda depends on the foundation, whose mission is to offer work to people who, despite not having a disability, are at risk of exclusion. The group is completed with the Fundació de Serveis Assistencials de la Garrotxa and with the Cooperativa La Fageda, which gave rise to this social and business project in 1982. In total, in 2022 this entire organization generated a consolidated economic value of 30 million and comprised 561 people, of whom 349 were part of the workforce, about a hundred were in the occupational field, and 120 were students of the Noima school (Escola de Noves Oportunitats de la Garrotxa), the latest major project promoted by La Fageda. It is a training and qualification center aimed at young people so that they can return to the educational system or enter the labor market.