La Fageda Yogurt

La Fageda is a prominent Spanish dairy brand widely recognized for its high-quality yogurts and its unique social enterprise model. The brand was founded in 1982 in the Olot region of Catalonia, specifically within the La Fageda d’en Jordà nature reserve. What sets the brand apart is its mission to provide meaningful employment for people with intellectual disabilities or mental disorders, who comprise a significant part of the workforce.

The production of La Fageda yogurt remains centralized at its original site in Santa Pau, Girona. The company maintains a farm-to-table approach, utilizing fresh milk from their own cows to ensure the distinctive texture and low acidity that the brand is known for. This localized manufacturing process is integral to their identity as a traditional, socially responsible producer.

Ownership of the brand is held by the Fundació La Fageda, a private non-profit foundation. Unlike many multinational dairy brands, La Fageda has remained independent and focused on its social mission rather than corporate expansion. This structure ensures that all profits are reinvested back into the project to support its social and vocational integration goals, making it a benchmark for social economy models in Europe.