Industry sources told IntraFish Mercadona is buying just Caladero’s massive processing plant in Zaragoza, but the supermarket group stated it has acquired 100 percent of the company.

“Mercadona capital will remain in Caladero until a new entrepreneur, interested in developing the project, acquires the company,” said Mercadona in a statement.

It hopes its input will be “provisional, since the company's goal is that a new entrepreneur will provide continuity to the great business plan developed by the previous owners.”

However, sources in the Spanish industry are rather more cynical.

“Amoros