BARCELONA 1 February 2024 ecoSPIRITS has announced plans to launch closed loop service in Spain under a Licensed Operator Agreement with a new company created by Francesc Escolà, CEO of Spanish wine and spirits distribution group, Ecosistema Escolà (‘Escola’). ecoSPIRITS Spain will start its activity in the Spanish market from this month, starting with three spirits in ecoTOTE™ format. These will be deployed from the country’s first ecoPLANT™, which will be hosted by the Barcelona-based spirits producer, Bardinet-España. Distribution will initially commence in the Spanish region of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands and will quickly expand to the rest of Spain and Andorra. The move into Spain builds on ecoSPIRITS’ rapidly expanding European footprint, following recently announced partnerships with new Licensed Operators in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Italy.
GinRaw, Planteray Rum and Avallen will be the first spirits available in ecoTOTE format in Spain.
Escolà has a history dating back to 1962 when the Escolà family found success in Barcelona; initially with grocery shops and later, in 1973, moving into wine and spirits distribution. Today, the company has more than 90 employees and more than 5,000 products, marketed under two different distribution divisions.
Also in Barcelona, the company runs Magatzem Escolà, an impressive space which serves as its training centre and showroom. The building, which dates back to 1890, was carefully restored by the company in 2011 and retains many of the original architectural elements.
Magatzem Escolà is located in Barcelona and is used as the company’s showroom and training centre.
Spain has been earmarked as a world leader in tourism competitiveness for the third consecutive year (World Economic Forum) and it recently launched its 2030 Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which will help it to maintain its global leadership. Barcelona has long been known as a capital of gastronomy and the city is home to at least 26 Michelin starred restaurants. In addition, its cocktail scene is now thriving, with the city having recently enjoyed an influx of bar talent from overseas. Barcelona is one of the country’s top tourist destinations and in 2022 it saw 12.4 million tourists.
Barcelona is known for is gastronomy and it has a thriving cocktail scene, with an array of unique bars such as La Textil (pictured centre).
Spain also has ambitious waste reduction targets. In December 2022, the country issued its Royal Decree 1055/2022 on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which seeks to align Spain’s packaging legislation with the new extended producer responsibility scheme set in place by the European Union. It also sets in place a series of measures for producers for both the marketing of their products and management of their waste. The main purpose of this new Decree is to make all packaging on the market recyclable by 2030 and, where possible, reusable.
Three bars in the top 20 of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 – Sips, Paradiso, and Salmon Guru – have already signed up to take delivery of spirits in ecoTOTE format. In addition to this, the luxury hotel chains Marugal and Pulitzer have also joined as early launch partners for Spain. Marugal specializes in the conception, launch and operation of unique premium hotel properties and it is the company behind some of the best luxury boutique hotels in Spain. Pulitzer Hotels is a family-run business born in Barcelona in 1967. Its unique hotels are designed to be warm and welcoming, with a focus on sustainability.
Sips, Barcelona
The Barcelona-based Sips offers high quality drinks in a welcoming environment. The bar secured the title of Best Bar in the World in 2023, an impressive achievement considering the concept – by leading names from the bar world, Marc Álvarez and Simone Caporale – was only brought to life in 2021.
Paradiso, Barcelona
Also in Barcelona is Paradiso, ranked at number four in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 (and first in 2022). This cocktail bar, led by cocktail guru, Giacomo Giannotti, often has queues down the street. The bar boasts a beautifully sculpted Dali-esque curved wooden bar, as well as an impressive list of cocktails.
Salmon Guru
And Madrid’s Salmon Guru, ranked at number 16, has also signed up as an early adopter of the ecoSPIRITS system. This forward-thinking bar, headed up by well-known industry figure, Diego Cabrera, is known for its big flavours and impeccable service.
The first brands to be available for the Spanish market will be Planteray Rum (formerly known as Plantation Rum), Ginraw and Avallen.
Planteray Rum
This brand is part of the Maison Ferrand portfolio. The rums in the Planteray collection are described as “authentic spirits that express the individual terroirs that made them,” and they are made from rums sourced in the Caribbean, predominantly Barbados and Jamaica.
GinRaw
GinRaw comes from Barcelona and was created by a pair of entrepreneurs, with the help of four masters in their craft: a chef, a sommelier, a mixologist and a perfumer. The team use low-temperature distillation to preserve the flavours and aromas of their botanicals, which include kaffir lime leaves, cardamom, and laurel.
Avallen
This calvados is a planet-positive spirit made from apples. Avallen is crisp, floral and completely natural with no added sugar or caramel. It is frequently mixed with soda as a refreshing spritz or used in cocktails. The company is Certified B Corp and its charitable partner in the UK is the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT).
The Barcelona-based Bardinet-España has been selected as the host company for ecoPLANT No. 036, which will be Spain’s first ecoPLANT. Bardinet-España is part of the French group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, based in Paris, which has a wide portfolio of different spirits brands. The parent company, which has a history dating back to 1857, is one of the world’s top ten spirits producers with 29 subsidiaries and manufacturing plants in Spain, France, UK, Portugal and the Netherlands. The ecoPLANT for Spain is a 2.0W model, capable of processing both spirits and wine. It will be hosted in a dedicated production and warehouse facility to be operated by Bardinet-España staff, who will be trained and supported by ecoSPIRITS’ global Closed Loop Operations team.
Francesc Escola, CEO of Ecosistema Escolà
“We are very pleased with this agreement that will enable ecoSPIRITS to arrive in Spain and which will help our country to reduce single-use glass waste. By transitioning to circular packaging technology we will see a significant saving in waste and a 60 to 90% reduction in the carbon emissions footprint of premium spirits packaging and distribution.”
Iain McPherson, Sales Director, EMEA, ecoSPIRITS
“Spain is a key market for us and we are confident that our new Licensed Operator for Spain has the right experience, network and passion to champion ecoSPIRITS’ closed loop packaging system across the region. Spanish consumers are highly committed to sustainable measures and we believe many on-trade venues will be keen to offer – and shout about – low waste drinks on their cocktail menus.”
Spain will also participate in the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, planting one tree for every cycle of an ecoTOTE delivered to hospitality venues. To find out more information about opportunities to partner with ecoSPIRITS in Spain, please contact David Grau at eS System Operator Spain, SL, on [email protected] or Iain McPherson, ecoSPIRITS Sales Director, EMEA, at [email protected]. For media inquiries or general information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].
About Ecosistema Escolà
The history of Escolà dates back to 1962, when the Escolà family found success in Barcelona, initially with grocery shops and later, in 1973, changing the activity to wine and distillates distributor. Today, the company has more than 5,000 references, marketed under two different distribution divisions and more than 90 employees. Also in Barcelona, the company manages Magatzem Escolà, a magnificent space that serves as the company’s training centre and showroom. The building, which dates back to 1890, was carefully restored by the company in 2011 and retains many of the original architectural elements. At the same time, it has developed other projects related to the distribution and development of the spirits industry in Spain, such as the OTC Group importer and the Spirit Essence training activity and competition, which will be integrated into the newly created Liquid Solutions Foundation in the current financial year 2024. All these projects are part of the Escolà Ecosystem as they serve the wine and spirits industry from different perspectives that are complementary to each other.
For more information, please visit: www.escoladist.com
About Bardinet-España
Bardinet-España belongs to the French La Martiniquaise-Bardinet Group, based in Paris. It is one of the top ten spirits producers in the world. Bardinet is positioned among the leaders in the Spanish and world spirits market. It was in 1993 that Bardinet joined La Martiniquaise, France’s leading group in the production and distribution of wines and spirits and currently ranked in the top 10 worldwide. This alliance, known as the LMB Group, gives Bardinet the opportunity to increase its already strong international presence. Bardinet has a portfolio covering all categories of the sector, from rum, whisky, liqueurs, gin, vodka, tequila to brandy, port and cavas. To do so, it has facilities occupying 24,000 square metres at its plant located on the outskirts of Barcelona, in Gelida, and has a staff of around 100 collaborators.
For more information, please visit: www.bardinet.es
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 23 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Nearly 2,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 27 countries worldwide by early 2024. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
For more information, please visit: www.ecospirits.global.