Family business. The most important in Spain

José Fernández López formed a real team with his brothers Manuel, Antonio and Concepción. They were simple people of humble origin. They had an enormous commitment to their land. In the years that the Civil War lasted, they were the main suppliers of meat to the national zone. Its business perspectives were expanded with the creation of Zeltia (1939), Frigolouro (Porriño) and Frigsa (Lugo). Later, Titania, Transfesa and Cementos del Noroeste. They were even the promoters of the Caja de Ahorros de Lugo founded in 1968. They also had a very active participation in the founding of the Editorial Galaxia and also promoted the Museum of Pontevedra. The idea of ​​founding Pescanova came to José Fernández López after thinking about how little the sea and its resources were being used, due to the lack of suitable boats due to not having the possibility of freezing the catches on board. In this way he went from being a man exclusively dedicated to the meat sector to revolutionizing the world of fishing. Pescanova was founded in June 1960 and a year later it had 2 freezer trawlers (Lemos and Andrade). These 2 vessels were sent to the fishing grounds of Argentina and South Africa. In November 1961 the Lemos returned from South American waters with full holds and 2 months later the Andrade did so with 250 tons of frozen hake from South Africa. The experiment was a resounding success. Pescanova acquired at that time a transatlantic called Habana and converted it into a mother ship that would be called Galicia. As of 1964 she was already operating in South African waters. Its production (including fishmeal and fish oil) is transferred to Vigo in other refrigerated transport vessels. More than 500 people came to work in Pescanova's fishing fleet. The beginnings were not easy but only 10 years later, the company was among the 100 largest in Spain and the first fishing company in Europe. Valentín Paz Andrade is incorporated as a shareholder of the company and is subsequently appointed CEO. Pescanova already offered more than 100 different products at this time and had 55 sales delegations. The staff consisted of 2407 people (from captains to sailors) and 1300 more people worked on land. In addition, the Fernández López are the introducers of the Kiwi cultivation in the south of Galicia. The first plantations were located very close to the town of Porriño. Pescanova is currently directed by Manuel Fernández Sousa, son of José Fernández López.