In late October 2023, Swedish company SPISA Group gathered top executives from its global branches for a meeting at their herb growing facility of Aromáticas Vivas in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The main agenda was to discuss goals and challenges, with a strong focus on investing in expanding and upgrading facilities in Portugal.
Spisa group produces and sells around 50 million pot herbs and 40 million units of fresh packed herbs per year. Spisa’s largest markets are the UK, Sweden and Poland. The company also has a strong partnership with the US grower Soli Organic, formerly known as Shenandoah growers, to share IP and innovations mutually.
Now, the team met up in Portugal and the executives explored Aromáticas Vivas' pilot project using artificial light in a controlled LED chamber for vertical herb production. The company emphasized its commitment to enhancing and modernizing its Portuguese production area, with a particular emphasis on increasing production of potted herbs, cut herbs, "microgreens," and edible flowers.
Established in 2009, Aromáticas Vivas aspires to be Portugal's leading fresh aromatic herb producer. With a production area of over 40,000 square meters, the company follows eco-friendly practices, avoiding herbicides and pesticides. Certifications like Organic Pot Production, Global G.A.P., and ISO 22000:2018 guarantee high agricultural standards.
Portugal is Aromáticas Vivas' primary market, with a presence in major retail chains. The company has consistently expanded its sales and infrastructure, introducing new products like edible flowers and microgreens in 2019.
Aromáticas Vivas' recently invested in their production facilities, with the aim of increasing their production by about 30% while gradually reducing plastic usage in herb production and packaging. The company also plans to improve logistical and administrative infrastructure.
The company praised the Municipality of Viana do Castelo for its new Rural Space Intervention Plan (PIER), which is expected to benefit the company and the horticultural sector, fostering national production growth and food self-sufficiency.