The story of Conservas Ortiz
Respecting the tradition since 1891
Bernardo learned his trade from his brother-in-law and began a career in the canning industry.
His job was to purchase anchovies and north coast tuna from the coastal fishermen in the harbours, and, using pickle and wooden barrels to preserve the fish, he was able to sell them the following day throughout the north of the region of Castile.
He invented and implemented a system of mobile factories which worked exclusively on the coast with the aim of maximising the company’s performance.
Viuda de Ortiz e Hijo
After Bernardo died, his wife, Petra, took charge of the business. At that point the company was renamed ‘Viuda de Ortiz e hijo’ (‘Ortiz’s widow and son’).
The mobile factories only worked during the coastal fishing season.
The aim was to maximise the business’s performance.
Anchovies: The star product
At the beginning of the 20th century, Conservas Ortiz began to make its mark worldwide. Canning companies began to set their sights on Italy and countries with Italian immigrant populations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Anchovies were the star product. The Italians brought their “alla vera carne” salting technique (using very little salt between layers of anchovies), to Cantabria: they knew that the region’s coast offered the very best fish. Here, they could produce semi-preserved fish products and send them back to Italy.
The Italians brought their “alla vera carne” technique
In 1942, José Ortiz and his son, José Antonio Ortiz, created the limited company which would later become Conservas Ortiz S.A. in 1956.
The fifth generation of the same family manages the company today.
Where we are today
At Conservas Ortiz we have great respect for tradition, coastal fishing based on the tides, and the exclusive purchase of north coast tuna which are line-caught, one-by-one. And our careful handling of the fish we use yields a product distinguished by its high quality.
The preparation of our first-class preserved products can be appreciated in the care we take in presenting them in beautiful, old fashioned packaging.
“130 years elaborating our products by hand”
