The official did not disclose the level of investment involved but media reports put the bill for building the plant at €5.2 million ($6.6 million).

The site will process fresh and chilled value-added products at Prat de Llobegrat, close to the Catalan regional capital, where the company has its headquarters.

Grupo Videla, which now holds eight companies under its umbrella, was founded in 1949 and began life selling seafood products mainly to the hotel and restaurant businesses.

In the 1960s, as the frozen market took off, the company expanded its distribution network via supermarket retailers, focussing strongly on the domestic market, but now also exports to EU countries.