Our history
The Garrigós family, pioneers
“TURRONES JOSÉ GARRIGÓS” was founded by José Garrigós in 1890 as a family business, producing and selling its nougat at fairs and local festivals, all over Spain. In 1978 it became a corporation.
Consolidation and growth
On April 15, 1977, it became a Limited Company with the name of “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” From that time, we should perhaps highlight the production for an important Basque chocolatier of “ESCUDO DE ELGORRIAGA”, a nougat that enjoyed wide popularity with the media and consumers. Its manufacture was broken off when the company was taken over by the French multinational CANTALOU..
Two families bound by a tradition
After “JOSÉ GARRIGÓS, S. A.” associated with the similarly family business “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” in 1991 a generational changeover took place, and the company burst into the emerging modern large distribution sector, marketing three own brands: “EL ANTIGUO”, “CASTILLO DE JIJONA” and “LA FLOR DE JIJONA”. “CASTILLO DE JIJONA” can be found today in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.
The origins of ‘Castillo de Jijona’
“EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” originated through the partnership of Mr. José Jacinto López Ramos and Mr Juan Antonio Ramos Gisbert, cousins who sold nougat and sweets at fairs. Later, Mr Luis Cortés Ramos would join.
In September 1963, they bought a building with a floor area of 230 square metres, on which the first factory was set up, for its own service and to meet the demand of other businesses.
First exports and expansion
The growth of the “EL ESCUDO DE ORO” brand and the “maquila” production for many small merchants led to the decision to build a new factory in 1980.
In 1982 contact was made with “LA CIBELES, INC.” of New Jersey, distributor of various Spanish products, and began to supply one of the most important supermarket chains in Florida, “SEDANO’S SUPERMARKETS”. These were the beginnings of the sales of “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA” in the U.S.A. and the origin of the export spirit that the company will maintain in the future.
In 1989, exports to Mexico began through of a subsidiary distribution company of the “GRUPO DOMEQ MEXICO, IMPORTADORA Y DISTRIBUIDORA UCERO, S.A. DE C.V.” Exports began in 1991, with an increasing volume during the following years, to one of the most prestigious supermarket chains in the Argentine Republic, the “COMPAÑÍA AMERICANA DE SUPERMARKETS, S.A.” (CADESA), which operates the North Supermarkets of the country.
The Garrigós family, pioneers
“TURRONES JOSÉ GARRIGÓS” was founded by José Garrigós in 1890 as a family business, producing and selling its nougat at fairs and local festivals, all over Spain. In 1978 it became a corporation.
The origins of ‘Castillo de Jijona’
“EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” originated through the partnership of Mr. José Jacinto López Ramos and Mr Juan Antonio Ramos Gisbert, cousins who sold nougat and sweets at fairs. Later, Mr Luis Cortés Ramos would join.
In September 1963, they bought a building with a floor area of 230 square metres, on which the first factory was set up, for its own service and to meet the demand of other businesses.
Consolidation and growth
On April 15, 1977, it became a Limited Company with the name of “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” From that time, we should perhaps highlight the production for an important Basque chocolatier of “ESCUDO DE ELGORRIAGA”, a nougat that enjoyed wide popularity with the media and consumers. Its manufacture was broken off when the company was taken over by the French multinational CANTALOU.
First exports and expansion
The growth of the “EL ESCUDO DE ORO” brand and the “maquila” production for many small merchants led to the decision to build a new factory in 1980.
In 1982 contact was made with “LA CIBELES, INC.” of New Jersey, distributor of various Spanish products, and began to supply one of the most important supermarket chains in Florida, “SEDANO’S SUPERMARKETS”. These were the beginnings of the sales of “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA” in the U.S.A. and the origin of the export spirit that the company will maintain in the future.
In 1989, exports to Mexico began through of a subsidiary distribution company of the “GRUPO DOMEQ MEXICO, IMPORTADORA Y DISTRIBUIDORA UCERO, S.A. DE C.V.” Exports began in 1991, with an increasing volume during the following years, to one of the most prestigious supermarket chains in the Argentine Republic, the “COMPAÑÍA AMERICANA DE SUPERMARKETS, S.A.” (CADESA), which operates the North Supermarkets of the country.
Two families bound by a tradition
After “JOSÉ GARRIGÓS, S. A.” associated with the similarly family business “EL CASTILLO DE JIJONA, S.A.” in 1991 a generational changeover took place, and the company burst into the emerging modern large distribution sector, marketing three own brands: “EL ANTIGUO”, “CASTILLO DE JIJONA” and “LA FLOR DE JIJONA”. “CASTILLO DE JIJONA” can be found today in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.
The V-Label seal certifies vegan and vegetarian products. This label is awarded by the EVU (European Vegetarian Union), an organization founded in 1988 in the Netherlands.
International Food Standard guarantees food safety by means of an evaluation method for the selection and qualification of suppliers operating in the field of nutrition.
Regulatory Board for Protected Geographical Origin “Jijona” and “Turrón de Alicante”.
Quality symbol used in the European Union to identify the geographical origin, quality and reputation of specific food products.