Chronology
1908
Prehistory of the company
Thanks to historic family diaries, we now know that Mariano Beltrán Ferreres and María Beltrán Gimeno learnt to make soap at the start of the twentieth century. Our company’s origin was a modest set of soap-making equipment in an everyday house in Xert (Castellón, Spain); it was there that soap was made in small quantities by family members, friends and neighbours.
1921
First tax payment
The official registration of the business for the years 1921–1922 records how the company was founded under the name Mariano Beltrán (Source: Archivo Histórico Provincial de Castellón, Spain). From the outset of the company’s activity Mariano Beltrán Ferreres (1st generation) and Mariano Beltrán Beltrán, his eldest son (2nd generation) worked together, and they were later joined by the latter’s two brothers, Práxedes and Manuel Beltrán Beltrán.
1922
The company’s first advertisements
The company’s first graphic advertisements were published in the Guía Anuario Provincial de Castellón, Spain, in 1922 and 1924, and they were given a prominent place in the list of businesses provided in this commercial guide.
1927
Registering the company’s brands
Mariano Beltrán Ferreres registered the brands El Lorito and Beltrán at the Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas (Spain’s Office for Patents and Brands), Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo (Ministry for Industry, Commerce and Tourism). The company produced a range of varieties of soap in bars, as well as soft soap.
1928
Advertising campaigns
Advertisements were published in the Heraldo de Castellón (1928) and the Heraldo de Vinaroz (1930). These advertisements demonstrate how the company was progressively consolidating its presence and that its sales extended across the province of Castellón.
1932*
The Beltrán and El Lorito poster
Advertising poster for the company, Mariano Beltrán, found in an antique dealer’s shop in Barcelona.
*Approximate year
1941
New factory in Xert
The company relocated to an industrial site on the outskirts of Xert, in what is today calle Miguel Beltrán. It was bigger and far better suited for soap manufacture, which by that time had become an important industrial activity that was in high demand.
1942
Factory workers
Production increased, and so too did the number of workers. Images of workers and members of the family after a day’s work in the new factory.
1943*
Commercial activity
Business cards for Práxedes and Mariano Beltrán (2nd generation). Práxedes was the brother in charge of establishing commercial relationships, as well as sales. Mariano was in charge of managing the company and its accounts. It was Manuel who developed the company’s soap formulas and oversaw production along with his father Mariano.
*Approximate year
1945
The move to Castellón
The company relocated to calle Barrachina in Castellón. It moved to the provincial capital taking all its manufacturing equipment with it. From that date on the company operated in a larger factory space of 1200m2, and also had access to a larger local market.
1946
Registering the Castalia brand
The company registered its third commercial brand, Castalia, in the Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas with the intention of extending its range of bars of soaps and soft soap.
1947
First advertisement in Castellón
First advertisement in the Guía Anuario following the company’s move to the city of Castellón. This is also the last advertisement to have been traced in which the company promotes itself with Mariano Beltrán as its official name.
1949
Change of trade name
The company Mariano Beltrán changes its name to Beltrán Hermanos S.R.C., which the three brothers, Mariano, Práxedes and Manuel, have equal shares in it.
1952*
The third generation join the company
During this decade Joaquín Beltrán Beltrán, the only son of Manuel Beltrán and Vicenta Beltrán joins the company. Joaquín had studied chemistry in Valencia and he began work in the company by studying all the soap formulas available on the market, as well as helping his father with the development and production of soaps.
*Approximate year
1953
First advertisement as Beltrán Hermanos
Advertisement with the new official company name found in the business directory the Carnet Castalia, guía de la Industria, Comercio y Profesionales de Castellón de la Plana y su Provincia.
1954*
Products and commercial document
The company still conserves products from the 1950s: bars of soap, soap powder in paper bags and 100g plastic bags, as well as soft soap packaged in bags.
*Approximate year
1955
Advertisements in libros de fiestas
Another frequently used advertising channel from this year onwards was the publications issued for the public holidays held to mark the Feast of St Vincent in Xert and that of the Magdalene in Castellón.
1959
Increased advertising investment
During the late 1950s and early 1960s numerous advertisements were issued in local newspapers, in the aforementioned festival publications and the province’s commercial directories, which were published annually. The brands El Lorito and Beltrán always featured in these advertisements.
1960
Advertisements in the cinema
Advertisements were not only issued in the press, but also screened at the city’s cinema between 1958 and 1962. The company’s investment in advertising demonstrates its consolidation during this period.
1963
Definitive Change of trade name
From this year onwards, the company’s trade name was changed to Beltrán Hermanos S.L., and it was registered to Práxedes and Manuel Beltrán Beltrán. The company continued to be owned by the Beltrán family, but Mariano Beltrán sold his share in order to develop his own detergent manufacturing company.
1970*
New Beltrán products
The range of soaps manufactured was expanded and a new format was issued: liquid coconut oil soap intended for washing laundry both by hand and in washing machines. This soap signalled a major innovation in contrast to the synthetic detergents that were widely produced during this period.
*approx.
1982
The fourth generation joins the company
In the 1980s the fourth generation of the Beltrán family progressively joined the company: Joaquín (son), Juan Carlos and José Manuel. The company was once gain in the hands of three brothers, who shared the surname Beltrán Beltrán. Joaquín (father) retired in 1996, however, he continued to visit the factory every day of his long life except for the final months prior to this death in 2018. Today José Manuel manufactures the soaps made using kettle saponification , Juan Carlos the soaps and liquid products created using mixing processes , and Joaquín oversees the making of cosmetic soaps, as well as performing a management role.
1985
The complete Beltrán range
The company extended its soap-based product range: soft soap, bars of coconut oil soap, soap flakes, soap powder and liquid coconut oil soap, as well as washing-up liquid . A number of these products continue to be made today, while others were discontinued only very recently.
1990
The final years of the factory in Castellón
The company’s manufacturing volume continued to rise, and the logistical demands of loading and unloading supplies and products meant that before long the company had to move to a new industrial estate in the neighbouring town of Almazora.
1991
Change of image
The decade begins with a visual rebranding of the company and its products. The latter’s appearance and packaging are modernized, but the traditional soap formulas used remain the same.
1992
Definitive move to Almazora
The company moves to a new factory building in Almazora, where it remains today. Due to increasing production levels during this decade and those that followed, the factory has steadily expanded its site with the addition of new factory space, and it today covers an area of over 4000 m2.
1995
Mechanization of production
Throughout this decade the company undergoes a major growth in sales, as well as manufacturing capacity. New machines are acquired and put into operation, and these industrialize many of the manufacturing tasks, although artisanal practice continues to be at the heart of the company’s activity.
2005
The fifth generation join the company
During this decade Mara joins the company in 2005, and Iris in 2012, the fifth generation of the Beltrán family. Mara and Iris, the daughters of Joaquín Beltrán and Teresa Aparici, had studied at the Universitat Jaume I, and they hold degrees in Advertising and Public Relations and Business Management and Administration respectively. For the first time, the factory has two women working at a management level. A long period of collaboration between the family’s third, fourth and fifth generations results from their joining the company.
2006
Renewing the company’s image
From this year onwards, the company’s products undergo a major transformation and diversification, although the company’s commitment to making traditional natural soap as its principal product and ingredient is always maintained. The company’s image and the Beltrán products undergo a progressive transformation.
2007
Castalia potassium soap
Castalia liquid black soap is developed using Beltrán soft soap as an agricultural and domestic plant treatment. The Castalia range of ecological products was initially certified by Sohiscert for fortification use , and today it is certified by Ecocert as Castalia liquid black soap.
2009
Beltrán Vital, cleaning without perfume
In parallel, the Beltrán Vital range of cleaning products manufactured is developed in collaboration with the Asociación Valenciana de afectados de Sensibilidad Química Múltiple (Valencian Association for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). They all use natural and unperfumed soap and are specially designed for those affected by M.C.S.
2010
Beltrán cosmetic soaps
It was in this year that company was awarded the seal for Artesanía de la Comunidad Valenciana (Artisanal products of the Autonomous Community of Valencia), which accredits the artisanal nature of our products and manufacturing processes. During this period an extensive range of coconut oil-based cosmetic soaps were also developed.
2011
Biobel certified ecological cleaning
The development and launch of Biobel, with Ecocert certification, converted Jabones Beltrán into the first Spanish company to produce ecologically certified soaps and liquid detergents. The range has since been extended to include bio domestic cleaning products and ongoing improvements are being made to the sustainability of their formula, image and packaging.
2012
Continued improvement
This decade was marked by the further professionalization of the company with regard to monitoring and improving internal processes, as well as management. This period also stands out for the range of awards the company received for its evolution as a business and the development of its commercial activity, which include: UJI Human Resources Prize (2011), Accord Social Quality Award, CS Chamber of Commerce (2015), Environmental and Social Commitment Prize, Mediterráneo newspaper (2015), Environment Prize, Expansión newspaper (2016), Almazora Caldera award (2017).
2015
Extension and renovation of the factory
The company’s staff grows significantly and the offices and shop need to be extended, at the same time a definitive logo was created for the company.
2016
The company’s ethical code
The company set out its philosophy and views on social and environmental commitment in an ethical code produced in collaboration with the Ethical Management and Corporate Social Responsibility Research Group (GERSE) at the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló. The code states the company’s mission, vision and values, and it is published on the company website.
2017
Essabó Eco, bio cosmetic soaps
Development and certification by BioVidaSana – Bio.Inspecta of a new range of ecological soaps marketed under the brand Essabó and resigstered as soaps for cosmetic use. Two years later, the company starts to exhibit the products from its two ecologically certified brands at Vivaness-Biofach, the sector’s most important international trade fair: Biobel and Essabó.
2018
Approaching the centenary
The company begins to conduct research on its history. Ramón Feenstra, the partner of Mara Beltrán and lecturer at the Universitat Jaume I, begins to study the company’s origins. A wealth of interesting and surprising material is compiled, such as the fact that the company was founded in 1921 and not in 1922 as was thought. The research findings are posted periodically on the company’s website, on the page “Looking towards the centenary”.
2019
Evolution to Beltrán Eco
As part of our commitment to innovation and continual improvement, we have undertaken to convert our traditional and natural range of Beltrán soaps into ecological soaps, and they have been certified with the Ecolabel seal through the conventional channel .
2020
New laboratory and a further extension of the factory
The rise in sales and a renewed need to increase production levels ked to a major extension of our warehouse and the construction of a new modern cosmetic laboratory managed by Jaime Nácher, who has been working at the factory since 2006. He has become a key member of staff and helps oversee the quality, improvement and innovation of our products and company.
2021
Centenary
We are proud to be the only family-run company in Spain that has been manufacturing soap for one hundred years. We began our anniversary year celebrating the publication of the book Historia del jabón. 100 años de Jabones Beltrán [A history of soap. 100 years of Jabones Beltrán], written by Ramón Feenstra, whose engaging and rigorous research offers a history of soap and soap-making in Spain through the lens of our company’s history.
2022
Obtaining ISO and internationalisation of the company
In 2022 we achieve ISO 9001 quality certification. With it, all our innovation, customer service and sustainability activities are maintained, along with our handcrafted and sustainable manufacturing. In addition, the internationalisation of the company begins.