Some say midday is each day's weekend: that small pause when things slow down, when you can breathe a little easier and obligations wait patiently for the afternoon to arrive. In an office job, however, this pause can end up being anything but relaxing. A packed lunch thrown together in a rush that morning, or a sandwich from the bar downstairs, end up being the go-to lunch options. Going out to a restaurant demands more time than most breaks allow, and frankly, nobody has an hour and a half to eat lunch in an eight-hour day. Nora Real Food saw a business opportunity in the stress of not being able to eat well at the office. Determined to start a business, Nora Barata opened the first digital canteen at 50, with her daughter, Nora Vallcorba. This year, the company runs more than 150 physical, hybrid and digital canteens across Barcelona and the surrounding area — proof that you don't need an hour and a half to enjoy a proper lunch break at the office.
Barata had always wanted to be a chef, but at the time it wasn't exactly a profession many women went into. Reluctantly, she ended up studying business, though cooking remained her hobby throughout. After years in the corporate world, she decided to start a business with her daughter — one that could combine her passion for cooking with her background in business. Nora Real Food Cooked Daily delivers quality food to offices. "The idea came from a trip to London, where they discovered that big private banking buildings had their own canteen service," explains Albert Solé, the company's CEO. He joined in 2019, a year after the company was founded, but still holds the title of co-founder. Since then, he has worked closely with the founders to turn it into a sustainable, fashionable and affordable player in Barcelona's business ecosystem.
At Nora, the business operates along two clear lines, depending on the size of the client company. Its digital canteen can serve companies with 10 to 200 employees. The physical canteen is set up on-site for client companies with more than 400 employees. The model is simple: a company makes the carefully prepared menus available to its staff, who can then order whatever they like. "The payment model varies depending on the company," says Solé, adding that "some companies cover the full cost of meals for their staff, others cover part of it, and some simply provide the service." From there, a subcontracted company delivers the dishes to the office in biodegradable containers, ready to eat once heated in the microwave.
"Physical canteens now account for more than half our turnover"
As for the physical canteen, the idea emerged from conversations with a major Catalan company: Mango. Recognising the company's interest in their services, they saw an opportunity to work with larger businesses. However, running a digital canteen in these spaces was far more complicated from a logistics standpoint. That's what led them to the idea of moving the chefs into the offices themselves — in other words, setting up a proper canteen, with the full menu and all the necessary dietary adaptations. "It was a bet that now accounts for more than half our turnover," says the Nora Real Food CEO. Alongside this, they also run a hybrid model for companies with between 200 and 400 employees, in which food is cooked centrally but finished on-site at the client's own canteen.
One of the things that makes Nora stand out is the food. Far from resembling other delivery services or dark kitchens, the company favours locally sourced produce and carefully prepared dishes. Solé explains that a dedicated product team designs the menus and everything that entails. They see this as a commitment to their customers, which is why nearly every dish comes with alternatives so that everyone can eat it. The produce is fresh and prepared so that it holds up when reheated in the microwave. For the brand, it's essential that people can enjoy good, home-style cooking from the office. They also feel a strong sense of social commitment, which has led them to work closely with people at risk of social exclusion, including some refugees. They have also partnered with the Down Syndrome Foundation since the company's earliest days.
Madrid and €12 million on the horizon
Barcelona is where the company was born, and where it found the clients behind its exponential growth. In 2025, the company closed the year with around €10 million in turnover, a figure that cements its position as a go-to for offices deciding what and where to order lunch. With this stronger base and a well-established model in Barcelona, though, Nora wants to take the next step in its roadmap. Although they already have the capacity to supply companies across the whole of Barcelona province, Solé says, the next city on the list is Madrid. According to the company's CEO, they could land there at some point next year. They have also set themselves the target of reaching €12 million in turnover in 2026, "while keeping growth sustainable, orderly and true to their way of doing things," the brand states.
Good eating has taken over our lives since the pandemic. More and more people no longer want to eat just anything quickly at their desk. At the same time, they don't have time to go out to a restaurant either. Nora Real Food offers an answer to all these changes: a canteen that's easy, straightforward and affordable, with homemade, quality, sustainable food. With 120 employees, the company has carved out a place for itself in Barcelona's business ecosystem, thanks to its innovative idea but, above all, its outstanding cooking.