Rujamar, one of the most innovative and cutting-edge companies in the Spanish poultry sector, has established itself as a benchmark in egg production, particularly distinguished by its organic production hub — the largest in the entire country. Over these four decades of operation, the company has overcome numerous setbacks, consolidating itself not only as a sustainable business model but also as an example of resilience.

The company was founded in 1984, initially under the name Los Romerales, as a family business. However, the name Rujamar was not adopted until 2002, following a personal tragedy: the death of Jacob, the brother of Rubén Martínez, the company’s current CEO. The name Rujamar is a combination of “Rubén, Jacob and Martínez”, a tribute to his late brother, as Rubén himself recounted in an interview on ‘La Ventana de Castilla-La Mancha’.

Two years after that loss, during which he worked side by side with his father, Rubén also had to say goodbye to his parent following a “very hard” death. Thus, Rubén, on his own, had to take over the management of the company at an extremely difficult time, both professionally and personally.

Despite his lack of experience in the poultry field and his initial intention to distance himself from the farm, Rubén “took refuge in work” and the business itself gradually won him over to the world of eggs and hens. Over the years, the company not only grew but became a pioneer in several areas within the sector. In 2018, Rujamar took a significant step by eliminating cages from its production system — a milestone in animal welfare that no major company in Spain had achieved until then. This was just one of many advances made by the company, which has also embraced technology, organic production, and the use of renewable energy, among other innovations.

However, despite these major achievements, the road has not been easy for Rujamar. A year ago, in April 2024, the company experienced one of its worst moments when a devastating fire destroyed a third of its production capacity. Despite losses running into millions, Rubén committed to not laying off any of his employees. “The fire was a massive blow to the company, but I never doubted that it would not put an end to our drive or our determination to keep moving forward,” he said. That determination paid off, because one year on, Rujamar has recovered rapidly and has already rebuilt two thirds of what was lost to the flames.

Today, Rujamar is a company wholly owned by Rubén Martínez who, having previously worked with minority shareholders, “now has the freedom” to steer the company in a new direction. His vision for the future is clear: to consolidate the egg market in Spain, double production within the next two years, and expand his business model at national and international level. “We want to grow and contribute to the sector, offering a responsible and sustainable business model that can be replicated,” said Rubén.

In a sector like poultry farming, where challenges are constant and work continues every day of the year, Rujamar affirms that innovation, commitment to animal welfare, and sustainability are the keys to moving forward and continuing to write its story.

Source: Interview on Cadena SER, 7 April 2025