A long, unfamiliar process
Company, tax, land, permits, financing and hiring, in a foreign country and a foreign language.
Non-EU manufacturers · Factory set-up in Spain
We build your factory in Spain and sell what it makes across Europe.
For industrial companies from outside the EU that want to produce in Spain: one partner from the investment decision to the first European customer.
15+factory-building partners in Spain and Europe
€20M+raised to date across our projects
100+distributors, importers and supermarket chains we sell to
10European countries where our sales agents operate
01
The challenge
Producing inside the EU opens a market of 450 million consumers. Getting there is hard.
Capital at risk
Delays and budget overruns eat into the investment before the first product ships.
A plant without customers
A new factory still has to find distributors and win supermarket listings in Europe.
02
Our solution
One partner to build the plant and sell its products, with operational support as an option.
We set up your plant in Spain
Company and tax, financing and incentives, site, permits, equipment, people and quality. Turnkey, in 9 to 12 months.
We sell what it produces, and can back its management
Option, 3 years. Our network sells your products in Europe and, if you wish, an operations team supports your general manager.
03
How we work
Three steps, each with a decision you sign.
- Step 1 · 4–6 weeks
Feasibility
Site, incentives, budget and business plan. Paid upfront. You then decide go or no-go.
- Step 2 · 9–12 months
Set-up
We build the plant milestone by milestone. Each milestone is paid at its start, once the previous one is delivered.
- Step 3 · 3 years
Run
As an option: we sell your products and support your general manager with operational control and a support team. We sit on your board.
Our fee is a percentage of capex, included in the project budget. We also take a minority stake, so our interests match yours.
04
Why us, why Spain
We have done it for ourselves, in the right place.
Why us
- We built and financed our own spice plant in Murcia, from scratch.
- We already sell to 100+ retail clients in 10 European countries.
- We invest alongside you and are paid as the project is delivered.
Why Spain
- Food and drink is Spain’s first manufacturing sector: suppliers, skills and services are already there.
- 487,300 food-industry workers, and manufacturing labour at €28.2 per hour against a €35.0 EU-27 average.
- Land and warehouses still affordable: prime logistics rent of €5.65/m² in Valencia, against €10.70 in Munich.
- Our 15+ partners on the ground, 46 km from the port of Cartagena.
05
Who we are
A team of five, each with a clear specialty.
Aymeric KarahasanPartner · Financing, sales, project managementFood-industry sales agent with a European portfolio of distributors and supermarket chains. Built a spice production plant from scratch. Previously at Colgate-Palmolive, JUUL and LemonAid.
Steve WoodPartner · Operations, people, marketingHas developed and financed hotels, a restaurant chain and a spice production plant, raising €15M for his projects. Leads our work on the ground in Spain.
Vahit PolatPartner · International business law, Türkiye–EUFounding lawyer of Polat Avocats & Conseils in Lyon and doctor of law. Specialist in international business law, in particular Türkiye–EU relations. Handles product approval and certification for the European market.
Hakan KarahasanPartner · International food trade45+ years in international trade, specializing in import, distribution and trading. Co-founded the France–Turkey Business Club and the France–Turkey Chamber of Commerce in Lyon. Active in the European Rice Exchange, with extensive networks across Europe and the Middle East.
Levent KıymazPartner · Agricultural commodities, exportsEconomist and former President of Istanbul’s Cereals, Pulses and Oilseeds Exporters’ Association. Founding member and former Vice-President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). Advised several Turkish Prime Ministers and brings deep expertise in agricultural exports and international market development.
Start with a free 30-minute call.
Tell us about your company, your product and your budget. We tell you whether a plant in Spain makes sense.
Request an introductory callOur model: we build the plant, sell its products and, as an option, back its management.
How the two halves of our work fit together, and why we look for real partners.
Our model
Build + Run: we set up the plant, sell its products and, if you wish, support its management.
One team, one budget and one point of contact. Build is the core of every engagement. Run is an option: sales through our network, plus operational control and a support team for your general manager if you wish.
BUILD · Factory set-up
- FinancingGrants, bank debt, equity
- Company and taxEntity, tax ID, VAT, group flows
- Land and buildingsSite search, due diligence
- PermitsActivity, environment, works
- EquipmentTenders, installation, commissioning
- PeopleHeadcount, hiring, payroll
- QualityHACCP, IFS/BRCGS, labelling
RUN · Sales, operations as an option
- European sales agentsOur field agents already sell to retailers across Europe
- Ethnic food marketSpecialist retailers and wholesalers serving diaspora consumers
- Mainstream marketSupermarket chains and general grocery
- Key accounts and logisticsListings, first orders, delivery
- Operations (option)Operational control and a support team for your general manager
Why we partner
We build factories for a market we already serve.
We bring a network of partners that builds your plant from A to Z, and sales agents who already sell to ethnic and mainstream retail across Europe. We look for partners who bring production know-how and capital.
We bring
A partner network that builds your plant from A to Z
- Financing
- Grants and public incentives
- Operations
- Sales across Europe
- Warehousing and logistics
- People and hiring
You bring
- Production know-how
- Capital for the plant
- Products for Europe
Together
A plant built around existing demand.
Run: sales included, operations optional
After start-up, sales are included. You choose whether we also back operations.
Sales
Your team runs the plant. We sell its products through our network.
- Our sales agents in 10 European countries
- Listings with 100+ distributors, importers and supermarket chains
- Key accounts, orders and delivery follow-up
Sales + operations
Your general manager runs the plant. We add operational control and a support team around them.
- Sales, as above
- Operational control: KPIs, costs, budget versus actual
- Support team for the general manager: planning, quality, purchasing, HR
- Monthly reporting to you as shareholder
Financing
Four sources of financing, combined in one plan for your plant.
Non-repayable grants
- Regional incentives for industrial investment (Incentivos Regionales)
- Region of Murcia programmes (INFO Murcia)
- EU structural funds (FEDER)
Soft and participating loans
- ENISA participating loans
- CDTI loans for innovation and new technology
- ICO credit lines through banks
Investment loans
- Long-term loans for buildings and equipment
- Working capital lines
- Introductions to the banks we work with
Equipment leasing
- Production line and equipment by leasing or renting
- Less capital needed upfront
- Vehicles and handling equipment
Our role: we map eligible support during feasibility, build the financing plan, prepare the applications, negotiate with banks and track grant conditions. Eligibility and amounts are confirmed project by project.
Our sales network
Our agents already sell in 10 European countries, to ethnic and mainstream retail.
Exhibit 1 · Where our sales network operates
10 countries where our sales agents operateOther European countriesOur spice plant
Source: Levanta. More than 100 clients: small and large distributors, importers and supermarket chains, in ethnic and mainstream retail.
Why Spain: an industrial base built for agri-food, at a lower cost.
Six reasons to produce in Spain and in the Region of Murcia, with sourced figures.
No. 1food and drink is Spain’s first manufacturing sector 5
487,300people employed in the Spanish food and drink industry, 2025 5
€28.2hourly labour cost in Spanish manufacturing, vs €35.0 EU-27 average 3
€5.65prime logistics rent per m² per month in Valencia, vs €10.70 in Munich 6,7
Six reasons
Spain is Europe’s agri-food workshop, and the cost of entry is still low.
A deep food-industry base, a skilled workforce, land and warehouses still affordable, direct access to 450 million EU consumers, and our own partners already on the ground.
01
Industrial hub
Food and drink is Spain’s first manufacturing sector: €137bn of production, 27,800 companies and €52.6bn of exports in 2025. Suppliers, packaging, machinery and services are already in place. 5
02
Skilled agri-food workforce
487,300 people work in the Spanish food industry. In the Region of Murcia, it employs 26,500+ people, about 30% of industrial jobs, with unemployment around 12%: the people you need are there. 5,8,9
03
Land and warehouses still affordable
Prime logistics rent is €5.65/m²/month in Valencia and €7.25 in Madrid, against €10.70 in Munich and €10.50 in Berlin. Public industrial land in Lorca, Region of Murcia, is tendered from €65/m². 6,7,10
04
Competitive labour cost
€28.2 per hour in manufacturing, against a €35.0 EU-27 average, €47.1 in France and €49.5 in Germany. 3
05
Logistics to all of Europe
The port of Cartagena 46 km from Murcia, the port of Valencia (5.66M TEU in 2025), motorway links to France, and the EU single market of about 450 million consumers. 1,4
06
Our partners already on the ground
15+ partners we already work with in Spain: financing, legal and tax, construction and equipment, warehousing, recruitment. You start with a team, not a search.
Exhibit 3 · Hourly labour cost in manufacturing, 2025
Source: Eurostat, hourly labour costs 2025, manufacturing (NACE C), published by Destatis. 3
Exhibit 4 · Prime logistics rent, end of 2025 (€/m² per month)
Sources: CBRE Spain, Q4 2025 (Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia); JLL Germany, Q4 2025 (Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf). 6,7
Region of Murcia
Why the Region of Murcia: a food region with ports at the door.
Exhibit 5 · Straight-line distance from Murcia (km)Port
Source: Levanta calculation from geographic coordinates. Road distances are longer.
Agri-food cluster
Food accounts for 49% of the region’s goods exports (2024). Murcia was Spain’s 2nd province for food and drink exports in 2022, and its food industry employs 26,500+ people. 8,9
Port access
The ports of Cartagena and Valencia connect the region to Mediterranean and deep-sea shipping lines.
Public co-funding
Regional, national and EU programmes can co-fund industrial investment. Eligibility depends on sector, location and jobs created; we confirm it during feasibility.
Sources
- Eurostat, EU population on 1 January 2025.
- INE, Spanish quarterly national accounts, revision of 18 September 2026.
- Eurostat, hourly labour costs 2025, manufacturing (NACE C), published by Destatis.
- Valenciaport (Port Authority of Valencia), traffic statistics 2025: 5,662,661 TEU.
- FIAB, Informe Económico 2025 (May 2026): food and drink industry production, employment, companies, exports.
- CBRE Spain, industrial and logistics market figures, Q4 2025: prime rents Madrid €7.25, Catalonia €9.25, Valencia €5.65 per m² per month.
- JLL Germany, logistics prime rents Q4 2025 (9 January 2026): Munich €10.70, Berlin €10.50, Düsseldorf €9.00 per m² per month.
- Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia, Alimentación y Bebidas en la Región de Murcia (June 2023), 2022 data.
- BBVA Research, Situación Murcia 2026 (February 2026).
- SapreLorca public tender for industrial land, Lorca, base price €65/m² excl. VAT (September 2026).
Public statistics are shown for information. Project-specific figures are established during the feasibility phase.
From feasibility to first production, step by step.
The plan, what you receive at each phase, the eight workstreams we run and how an engagement starts.
Approach
A gated plan, from feasibility to first production.
Each phase closes with a gate that you sign off in writing. The plan below shows a typical project; durations are confirmed during feasibility.
Exhibit 2 · Indicative project plan (months)Typical project
What you receive
Phase by phase, what we deliver and what you sign off.
Feasibility: everything you need to decide
We answer one question: can your plant work in Spain, where, at what cost and on what timeline? You receive a complete file, and you keep it whatever you decide.
Market and product
- Product range to launch in the EU
- Regulatory check: EU food law, labelling, certifications required
- First feedback from our sales network on demand and price positioning
Site
- Shortlist of three sites: land or existing building
- Price, surface, utilities, access and zoning compared
- Site visits organised with you
Incentives and financing
- Map of eligible grants and subsidised loans, with their conditions
- Financing plan: equity, shareholder loan, bank debt, grants
Business plan
- Capex budget line by line, our fee included
- Headcount plan and payroll cost
- 5-year P&L and cash-flow model
Legal and tax
- Recommended structure: Spanish company, shareholders, our stake
- Tax, VAT and flows with your parent company
Plan and risks
- Detailed timeline, milestone by milestone (M1–M7)
- Risk register with mitigation
- Our go / no-go recommendation
What we need from you
Product specifications, production process and line requirements, target volumes, investment envelope, company documents.
Format
Written report, financial model (Excel) and a presentation meeting.
Decision gate
Go / no-go. No-go: you keep the file and owe nothing more. Go: the feasibility fee is deducted from the total fee.
Set-up: seven milestones to first production
Each milestone has a defined scope and written proof of delivery. You sign it off before the next one starts.
| Milestone | What we do | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| M1Engagement signed | Contract, fee schedule and project team; kick-off; steering committee set up. | Signed contract, project plan, kick-off minutes. |
| M2Company and bank account opened | Spanish company incorporated before a notary; tax ID (NIF), registrations and VAT; bank accounts; accountant and payroll provider appointed. | Incorporation deed, NIF, registry entry, bank details. |
| M3Site secured | Technical and legal due diligence, negotiation, purchase or lease; plant layout. | Due diligence report, signed deed or lease, layout plan. |
| M4Financing closed | Grant and subsidised-loan applications filed; bank financing negotiated; shareholder loans documented. | Grant decisions, signed loan agreements, compliance calendar for every grant commitment. |
| M5Permits granted | Activity licence, environmental authorisation, building permit, food-business health registration (RGSEAA). | Permits and registrations issued in the company’s name. |
| M6Line installed | Equipment tenders and contracts, works and utilities, installation and commissioning. Hiring and training start about five months before launch. | Supplier contracts, commissioning and test report, signed employment contracts. |
| M7First compliant production | Trial runs, HACCP system, product labelling and registration, first batch released; certification audit (IFS, BRCGS or ISO) scheduled. | Quality file, first compliant batch, handover file for your team. |
Decision gate
First compliant production. Build ends here; Run starts only if you choose it.
Run: we sell, and can back your management
Sales are always included. Operational control and a support team for your general manager are an option.
Sales
INCLUDED- Before launch: price list, sales kit and listing files
- Introductions to our 100+ distributors, importers and supermarket chains
- Field agents in 10 European countries; key-account management
- Order, delivery and payment follow-up
- Monthly sales report: orders, clients, pipeline
Operations
OPTION- Monthly operational control: output, costs, budget versus actual
- Support team for your general manager: production planning, purchasing, quality
- HR, payroll and administration with the local accountant
- Certification upkeep and audits
- Monthly report to you as shareholder
Governance
A representative of ours on your board; quarterly performance review against revenue targets.
Decision gate
Revenue targets, reviewed every quarter.
Governance
Monthly steering committee
Weekly written progress report
Capex tracked line by line against budget
Each milestone signed off in writing
Services
Eight workstreams, one accountable team.
Financing
- Regional, national and EU grants and subsidised loans
- Bank debt, leasing and investment credit lines
- Shareholder loan structuring and co-investors
Company and tax
- Choice of legal form, statutes and shareholder structure
- Tax ID, registrations and VAT
- Intra-group flows with the parent company abroad, with tax advisers
Land and buildings
- Site search in industrial zones
- Technical and legal due diligence
- Purchase, lease or build-to-suit
Permits
- Activity and opening licence
- Environmental authorisations
- Building permit and works supervision
Equipment
- Supplier selection and tenders
- Installation, commissioning and tests
- Power, water and utility connections
People
- Headcount plan, local management and payroll
- Recruitment and training of production staff
- Work and residence permits, through partner lawyers
Quality
- HACCP system and quality procedures
- Certification: IFS, BRCGS or ISO
- Product registration and labelling for the EU market
Sales and operations (option)
- Our sales agents in 10 European countries
- 100+ distributors, importers and supermarket chains
- Optional: operational control and support for the general manager
How we start
Every engagement starts with a paid feasibility study.
Before any commitment: a free 30-minute introductory call, then a mutual NDA and our standard presentation. Detailed analysis, site visits and introductions start once the engagement letter is signed.
- Introductory call, 30 minutes
- NDA and standard presentation
- Engagement letter signed
- Feasibility fee paid; study starts
How we are paid, and how your investment is protected.
The fee logic, how our stake protects you, and the main risks.
Engagement
One offer, two parts: a cash fee on capex and a minority stake.
1 · The cash fee, always
A percentage of capex
The fee is a percentage of the project capex, set in the contract.
Fixed at the go decision
The fee is calculated on the capex budget approved at the go decision. It does not rise if spending exceeds that budget.
Paid by milestone
Feasibility is paid upfront. The balance is paid milestone by milestone: each one at its start, once the previous one is delivered.
Savings shared
If the project comes in under the approved budget, we receive a share of the savings, set in the contract.
2 · The minority stake, always: three safeguards for you
At nominal value
Most of your investment goes in as a shareholder loan, repaid to you before any profit is distributed. We buy our shares at nominal value.
Earned with results
The stake rises with the revenue our network brings in. No results, no extra stake.
Buy-back right
If we leave before first production, you can buy back our stake at nominal value.
We also sit on your board. Run (sales, and operational support for your general manager) is an option, agreed separately. Each structure is set up with Spanish legal counsel.
Risk management
How we protect your investment.
| Risk | How we manage it |
|---|---|
| Permit delays | Early meetings with the municipality; permit files prepared in parallel with the land negotiation. |
| Budget overrun | Capex budget approved at feasibility and tracked line by line. Our fee does not rise with spending. |
| Repayment of incentives | A compliance calendar for every job and investment commitment attached to a grant. |
| Hiring difficulties | Recruitment starts about five months before launch, with local partners. |
| Our own exit | If we leave before first production, you have the right to buy back our stake at nominal value. |
A team that has built and financed plants itself.
Our track record, our own spice plant in Murcia, and the people behind every project.
Track record
We have raised capital and delivered projects ourselves.
15+factory-building partners in Spain and Europe
€20M+raised to date across our projects
100+distributors, importers and supermarket chains we sell to
10European countries where our sales agents operate
Case study
Our own spice plant, Region of Murcia: built from scratch, financed and running.
As founders and shareholders, we built a spice production plant from scratch in the Region of Murcia: we raised the capital, secured the site and permits, installed the line and hired the team.
€2Mcapital raised
2025first production
€2.8Mrevenue in the first year
15employees
30 tdaily production capacity
35clients in 12 European countries
What we did
- Business plan and P&L
- Capital raised
- Company and banking
- Site and permits
- Equipment and suppliers
- Team hired
We have signed these documents before, for our own company.
Team
A team of five, each with a clear specialty.
Aymeric Karahasan
Partner · Financing, sales, project managementFood-industry sales agent with a European portfolio of distributors and supermarket chains. Built a spice production plant from scratch. Previously at Colgate-Palmolive, JUUL and LemonAid.
Steve Wood
Partner · Operations, people, marketingHas developed and financed hotels, a restaurant chain and a spice production plant, raising €15M for his projects. Leads our work on the ground in Spain.
Vahit Polat
Partner · International business law, Türkiye–EUFounding lawyer of Polat Avocats & Conseils in Lyon and doctor of law. Specialist in international business law, in particular Türkiye–EU relations. Handles product approval and certification for the European market.
Hakan Karahasan
Partner · International food trade45+ years in international trade, specializing in import, distribution and trading. Co-founded the France–Turkey Business Club and the France–Turkey Chamber of Commerce in Lyon. Active in the European Rice Exchange, with extensive networks across Europe and the Middle East.
Levent Kıymaz
Partner · Agricultural commodities, exportsEconomist and former President of Istanbul’s Cereals, Pulses and Oilseeds Exporters’ Association. Founding member and former Vice-President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). Advised several Turkish Prime Ministers and brings deep expertise in agricultural exports and international market development.
Backed by 15+ factory-building partners in Spain and Europe
- Corporate and tax lawyers, Spain
- Chartered accountants
- Industrial real estate
- Banks and public funding
- Engineering and permitting
- Recruitment
Questions investors ask us first.
Short answers on timing, ownership, confidentiality and sectors.
How long until production starts?
Usually 9 to 12 months after feasibility. It depends on permits and on whether you buy or lease an existing building or build new.
Who owns the factory?
You do. We hold a minority stake, set out in a shareholders’ agreement.
Is my project kept confidential?
Yes. We sign an NDA before any detailed exchange.
Can you help with residence permits?
We coordinate work and residence permits for your managers and staff through our partner lawyers. Spain ended its real-estate golden visa in April 2025, so we do not promise residency as part of an investment.
Which sectors do you work with?
Our sales network serves food retail, so the full Build + Run model fits food and beverage projects. For packaging, building materials, textiles and other light manufacturing, we deliver the plant set-up.
Does the first call cost anything?
No. It lasts 30 minutes and tells both sides whether a feasibility study makes sense.
Contact
Request an introductory call.
Fill in the form and we will propose a time for a free 30-minute introductory call.
- Your company and sector
- The product and target capacity
- Your indicative investment budget
- Your ideal start date