The Valencian restaurant chain is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a e-book whose cowl has been designed by Javier MariscalWith 52 eating places in Spain and 1,300 staff, the corporate is already fascinated about worldwide enlargementGonzalo Calvo, its founder, opinions the historical past of the group with NIUS from the start with the opening of the primary cafeteria in 2013
The Valencian restaurant firm Grupo Saona was born a decade in the past now as a enterprise different for Gonzalo Calvo, its founder, till then devoted to the true property sector, devastated by the financial disaster of 2008 that took its toll on so many businessmen within the nation.
Calvo closed his actual property brokerage enterprise and as a lover of the kitchen that he considers himself to be, he launched in 2013 to arrange a small cafeteria within the coronary heart of Valencia, on the Gran Vía within the capital of the Turia, which he himself was initially answerable for. to arrange the menu: “We did it at dwelling, as a household”, and even “I used to be the one within the kitchen myself”, he factors out.
“I had at all times preferred restoration, though I noticed it as a bit distant, when the time got here to reinvent myself”, after the closure of his earlier one, “I used to be 47 years outdated and didn’t know what to do, however I took the plunge”, he tells in dialog with NIUS .
The circumstances and alternatives that arose because of Biencolate (this was the title of the primary cafeteria), led him to develop the enterprise. “It was by no means a challenge to create a sequence, however somewhat the results of the necessity to begin from scratch,” says Calvo.
Inspired by the Mediterranean
It was then that Saona was born, a brand new restaurant idea in Valencia, whose success lies, above all, “in listening loads to the shopper and giving them what they’re in search of”. Which interprets into good meals, a pleasing atmosphere that brings us nearer to the ocean, aggressive costs and good service. “That is what we now have tried since day one and that has at all times been our essence.”
Inspired by the Mediterranean, all of the locations in Saona current a typical ornament paying homage to Balearic homes and gardens, with wicker furnishings, white or pastel tones and palm timber, which transport you to the Pitiusas islands.
The very title “Saona” was chosen by its creator as a result of it’s the similar as a cove in Formentera, the place he claims to have spent a number of the happiest moments of his life. “Good issues have at all times occurred to me there, in truth, it was the place I met my spouse,” he says.
A reputation that in its personal phrases completely evokes what the corporate intends to convey: “Love for the Mediterranean, the sensation of tranquility, Mediterranean meals, being relaxed…”. What from the start was the germ of a enterprise group that at present employs 1,300 folks “who give their all day by day to make this dream come true,” says Gonzalo Calvo.
Grupo Saona has a turnover of greater than 53 million euros since its launch a decade in the past@JORCHALON // JORGE ALONSO
52 eating places in Spain
An idea that little by little, has been settling and rising, first within the Valencian Community, and later in different areas of the peninsula, akin to Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia or Zaragoza, the place they’re already put in. Thus, till reaching a complete of 52 eating places and exceeding 53 million in annual turnover, a determine that they anticipate to triple in 2025.
An unquestionable success, which some have tried to tarnish by making certain that the meals on supply is fifth-range (cooked and packaged), one thing that Calvo doesn’t hesitate to disclaim. “We work from Sacuina, a central kitchen from which we try to standardize our dishes and thus not rely on whether or not the prepare dinner has day or not.”
“It’s about making certain the standard of the meals, making ready the shares and sauces in a bigger quantity, and having the ability to remove human error as a lot as doable,” he asserts.
Other restaurant fashions emerged below the umbrella of Saona, with the identical base, however barely completely different. These are Turqueta or Tagomago, the place a extra gourmand delicacies predominates. “We go one step additional,” says Calvo, concerning them.
Also Quick Saona, designed extra for quick meals kind meals, with out tables to take a seat down, however with the gastronomy of Saona, though the latter doesn’t fairly persuade its creator. “I do not really feel so connected to this expertise, I doubt we will open extra.”
The similar just isn’t the case with the Saona seaside bar, situated within the idyllic setting of the Jávea seaside (Alicante), the place you may nearly stroll on the sand. It was the second restaurant of the corporate and it may possibly even be mentioned that the one which largely marked what can be its essence, because of this Gonzalo has little question that it’s going to attain different areas of the coast, akin to Peñíscola, the place they’re already within the negotiation section. .
Grupo Saona has a turnover of greater than 53 million euros since its launch a decade in the past niusdiario.es
International expantion
But the corporate’s gaze is now overseas, on the worldwide enlargement of this enterprise mannequin that has given them a lot pleasure. “We are already making an attempt to succeed in alliances with Portugal, a vital problem for me, to go outdoors our borders and present that our mannequin just isn’t solely preferred in Spain, however that we’re able to making it work elsewhere, I do not know if we are going to arrive this 12 months , but when not in 2024, I’m certain that we are going to have a location outdoors our nation”, says Gonzalo.
The success achieved by Calvo has led his sons, Gonzalo and Pablo, to observe within the footsteps of their father, and they’re already, regardless of their youth, profitable businessmen who handle main eating places within the capital of Turia such because the well-known Voltereta (Kyoto, Manhattan, Bali) or Begin. “It is a extra experiential idea than Saona, however sure, I’ve inspired them loads,” says Calvo, whose sons spent a number of months working in Saona, to “get to know the enterprise from the within and study it”.
Something essential for Calvo, studying and energy, which is why he doesn’t hesitate to coach his workforce from Academia Saona, “in order that whoever needs to can promote throughout the firm” and that as waiters or cooks they’ll aspire to administration positions, supervisor, and even regional director, “getting inside expertise makes it doable to keep up that essence,” he says.
Grupo Saon celebrates ten years, by Javier Mariscal Alfredo J. LLorens
Mariscal’s e-book for X anniversary
To commemorate its ten years of expertise, Grupo Saona has revealed the e-book “Saona 10 años”, a really particular publication through which the restoration group displays its historical past and its essential milestones throughout these ten years of journey, and whose cowl has been designed by the Valencian artist Javier Mariscal. The artist synthesized the essence of Grupo Saona in an illustration, ensuing within the cowl of a e-book the place there isn’t a scarcity of moments and individuals who have been a part of the historical past of Saona from its beginnings to this point.
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