The Asturian women's divorce: Alimerka and Central Lechera Asturiana break off relations

The general manager of Capsa Food, José Armando Tellado, has addressed in a letter to the livestock partners of the agricultural processing company and to the workers of the dairy group that the Central Lechera Asturiana (CLA) brand will no longer be present in the Alimerka supermarket chain as of August 1, as reported by the newspaper 'La Nueva España'.

This "divorce" is particularly noteworthy given that both brands, Central Lechera Asturiana and Alimerka, originate in the Principality of Asturias . In fact, according to a study by the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), Alimerka held a 31% market share in the region in 2022.

On the other hand, the Central, made up of CAPSA, ASA, Aseagro, CLAS Gestión and Biogastur, closed the year 2024 with a net turnover of 996.7 million euros , which despite having represented a 5% decrease compared to the previous year, shows a profit before taxes (EBITDA) of 56.6 million euros , more than 10 million than the previous year.

As Manuel Reinerio Fernández Cabal, Communications Director of Grupo Central Lechera Asturiana, confirmed to ABC, this split was forged in May, when Alimerka and CLA failed in their negotiations to maintain the commercial terms that bound them. Since then, Alimerka has already withdrawn several CLA products from its stores, including cream, butter, yogurt, cheese, and enriched milks.

However, the supermarket chain informed the brand last Friday that, starting August 1, they will stop buying its classic milks, the last products still on sale at Alimerka , thus certifying the disappearance of Central Lechera Asturiana from Alimerka.

Similarly, Central Lechera Asturiana emphasizes that the group's products are present in other distribution chains in Spain, and that the brand is not only consumed in its province of origin.

In the letter released to 'La Nueva España', the Group's CEO confirmed that they will continue "working to seek new opportunities to strengthen the brand's leadership ." Similarly, Tellado indicates that the group's cooperative origins "mean that we have a firm commitment to the value chain because it allows us to maintain the future sustainability of our partners, employees, the primary sector, and also of Asturias and its economic fabric."

Finally, Tellado wanted to send a message to the group's partners and farmers, asking them to "continue defending and supporting Central Lechera Asturiana," as they have done so far.