Behind the Consorcio canned goods lies an Italian name: that of Valeria Piggio, great-granddaughter of Rinaldo Piaggio, who in his day patented the “Vespa” brand.
Valeria is the third generation at the helm of Grupo Consorcio, one of those names that resonate strongly in the world of canned goods. Her grandfather, Giacomo Croce, founded Grupo Consorcio back in 1950 in Santoña (Cantabria). He observed that in the Cantabrian town, anchovies were already being prepared following the tradition of the Italian salatori who had settled there years before. They couldn’t miss the opportunity that the best anchovies were in the Cantabrian Sea, which is still true today.
The factory is almost female territory: expert, swift hands that work with the rhythm given by custom and the sea. And although Valeria doesn’t step into the plant every day—she lives between Italy and Spain—her presence is felt. Within Grupo Consorcio, they talk little about her, but when they do, it’s always positively.
Grupo Consorcio continues at full throttle, with 50 million cans and jars leaving each year from Santoña and Pisco (Peru). And although Valeria prefers to stay behind the scenes, her legacy is savored in every bite.
