Family business. The most important in Spain

In 1914, the company began with the name of its founder, Antonio Puig SA, and since then it has always focused its business on cosmetics and perfumes. In 1922 Puig marketed Miladu, the first Spanish-made lipstick. In the 40s he began to market the Agua Lavanda Puig fragrance, one of the company's most emblematic products. In these years the company moved to the popular Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia. In the following years, the 4 sons of the founder take the reins of the company. Antonio and Mariano focus on perfumery, José María on diversification and Enrique on institutional relations. The company began to expand internationally, creating its first delegation in the United States (1959) and later another in Paris (1968), when the Spanish designer Paco Rabanne joined the company. In 1976 the company built a factory in Chartres (France) and it was in 1987 that it definitively acquired Paco Rabanne's fashion house. One of the most important moments in the company's international expansion is the agreement reached with the fashion designer Carolina Herrera in New York (1980), to create and market all her fragrances. In 1995 Puig joined the Carolina Herrera fashion sector. In 1997 Marc Puig, grandson of the founder, is the executive president of the company and reaches an agreement with Antonio Banderas, for the creation and commercialization of the Antonio Banderas Fragrances brand. In 1998 the company acquired the Nina Ricci brand. In 1999, the Puig family re-founded the company, changing its name to Puig Beauty & Fashion Group, having the three lines of business under the same structure: fashion, cosmetics and perfumes. The company does not stop growing and expanding in the following years, one of the most relevant events being the agreement reached in 2008 with the singer Shakira for the development of a fragrance with her name. In 2009 the company goes back to its original name, incorporating new firms to its structure such as Valentino (2010) and Jean Paul Gaultier. The first brand would be taken from him in 2018 by the French company L'Oreal. While he becomes the majority shareholder of the second (Jean Paul Gaultier). The company celebrates its centenary (2014) by opening a new headquarters in the Plaza de Europa in L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, called Torre Puig. In recent years the company has opted for the growth of new brands such as Dries Van Noten, and promoted the development of Penhaligon's and L'Artisan Perfumeur. In addition, the company has completed the majority acquisition of Eric Buterbaugh Los Angeles, and has reached an agreement with Christian Louboutin to develop its beauty business.

As of 1970, the name of the company will be Papelera de Leitza SA, the result of the absorption by this company of Sarrió, Compañía Anónima de Papeles SA and Eurokote SA, dedicating itself to the process of obtaining raw materials, manufacturing paper and its distribution. All the companies that make up the group tend to be self-sufficient in base paper at their factories in Berrobi and other points. It even attends to requests for reforestation, starting eucalyptus plantations in the province of Badajoz. The company has developed multiple subsidiaries that go as far as direct sales to the consumer. It has exported to 43 countries in Europe, Asia Minor, Africa and America. In 1989 it merges with "Cartiere Saffa" (Italy). The new company has a 65% Spanish stake and a 35% Italian stake. A year later "Cartiere Saffa" came to have 49% of the capital and after the purchase of 4,9% of the German firm "Feldmühle", it came to control the company. In 1991 the company was bought by the «Torraspapel» group, changing its name to «Sarrió, Papel y Celulosa». Between 1997-1999 it is absorbed by the Lecta Group.

Inocencio Figaredo Sela, Luis's cousin, was also a director of Banesto and was another of the visible heads of one of the most prominent families of the Asturian industrial and financial bourgeoisie. It should be noted that the father of Luis Sela Figaredo had been the founder of Banca Sela, in Mieres, and shareholder of the Oviedo and Gijonés de Crédito banks, all of which were absorbed by Banesto in the 1903s, and the promoter of numerous mining businesses. and industrial after the acquisition in 1969 of Mina Tres Amigos from a French group, whose property was transferred by the family to the state company Hunosa in XNUMX.