Workers, migrants
Private
In 2016 Irene decided to return to Sigüenza after a few years living in Catalonia where she learned much of her pastry and baking skills. In her previous job she was able to complete her training with stays in France and Belgium. Together with her sister Rebeca, she took over her parents' churrería and in just a few years they have turned it into a well-known bakery in the area with a considerable capacity for expansion. “Gustos de Antes”, which began as a small business of churrería, bakery and pastry based on traditional craft techniques and as a result of their continuous training and innovative inniciatives was evolving and expanding its product offering. In addition to the dispatch of bread, pastries and sweets produced in their own bakery, "Gustos de antes" offers the possibility of taking them on site with cafeteria and churreria service.
To recruit their workers they have made use of the existing Refugee Center in the locality with which they also collaborate in training. For Irene and Rebeca's company it is important that their workers live in Sigüenza or nearby villages. The work schedules are demanding, starting at dawn in many cases. In winter especially, communications can be difficult, so proximity is a guarantee. In addition, they try to use products and raw materials from the area and have woven a network of supplies that contribute to revitalize to revitalize local businesses.
Today they employ 17 workers (both sisters included) from very different nationalities, mostly women, many of them trained in the company. They have recently opened a shop in the nearby village of Jadraque, where they are originally from. In addition, they actively participate in training courses in the field of pastry and bakery in the area. They are currently considering the possibility of opening a new store in the city of Guadalajara. The regional government of Castilla-La Mancha has recognised them with the Rural Woman of the Year 2021 award.
This business initiative combines key elements for the revitalization of rural areas, among which we can mention:
- Entrepreneurial spirit and enormous enthusiasm of Irene and Rebeca.
- Job generation. A large part of the required training is obtained in the company itself.
- Growing collaboration to extend training through the Refugee Center in Sigüenza.
- Integration of workers of different nationalities (refugees and immigrants).
- Gender perspective to be considered. Employs mostly women.
- Due to its special working conditions, it is a particularly valuable experience to generate the settlement of population in the area.
- It favors the revitalization of other local producers from whom a good part of the inputs used for the elaboration of their products are obtained.
- The success of its formula seems to guarantee the company's sustainability, although succession is always a sensitive issue in family businesses.
Examples of entrepreneurship in rural areas with depopulation problems led by women are not very numerous but are of extraordinary value. Sigüenza and the Sierra Norte area in the province of Guadalajara, despite its attractions, face enormous demographic challenges.