Natra

In 1943, three young chemists from Valencia (Arturo Benlloch, Juan Ferrándiz and Álvaro Faubel) invented a process for extracting theobromine, an alkaloid very similar to caffeine that is only found in cocoa. This gave rise to the creation of Natra.

In 1951 the business was expanded to include the production and sale of cocoa products. The company’s first factory was set up in Mislata (Valencia) with a loan from Banco Industrial.

In 2004 Natra took over Zahor (Spain) and embarked on a process of vertical integration, up to the end product for consumers. Zahor had a strong customer base and a significant turnover in Europe and it had just bought a plant in France specialising in chocolate tablets.

A year later, Chocolaterie Jacali (Belgium) was acquired and Natra extended its product range to include Belgian chocolates and specialties.

In 2007 Natra bought All Crump (Belgium) and set up a new business unit to produce spreads.

As from 2012 Natra stepped up the growth of its consumer division outside Europe, especially in America and Asia.

In 2017-2018 Natra started to implement a new customer-centric Transformation Plan to boost sustainable growth of the company. The Plan brought in a new organisational model and renovation of the management team.

In 2020, Natra invested 20.9M€ to modernise and adapt their factories in Valencia and Malle to the latest technological advances. And in 2021, through a total investment of 25M€ in their Saint Etienne plant (France), Natra considerably increased their industrial chocolate production capacity to the region and adjacent.