The Association of Family Businesses of the Canary Islands (EFCA) presented the Award for the Best Family Business last night, an award that went to the Cabrera Medina Group. This Group, which includes companies such as CICAR, dedicated to vehicle rental, stands out for the stability of its workforce, the degree of identification of workers with the company and its expansion and growth policy, among others. This company has the necessary parameters to be recognized among numerous candidates. The award was presented by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo.
The Group also maintains a deep respect for the environment, another of the characteristics valued by the jury of these awards. In fact, it has the most rigorous recognitions in terms of environmental respect. The company's car fleet has significantly reduced CO2 emissions and maintains an awareness program for its staff in terms of environmental care.
Employment to 1,500 people
The Cabrera Medina Group is among the 500 leading Spanish companies in growth. The company started with a fleet of 5 rental cars and now employs almost 1,500 people. Last year it turned 50 years old, which is a symptom of success, since family businesses have an average life of 33 years, while non-family businesses are around 12 years. And it seems that the longevity of the company is guaranteed, since the third generation of the family has already joined the Group.
The Cabrera Medina Business Group is today the result of the tenacious and enthusiastic work of a family that has managed to place its companies among the most modern and competitive with a presence in the 7 islands.
Currently, the Cabrera Medina Group, through CICAR, Cabrera Medina and Paylesscar, owns about 98 rental offices. Under the acronym Orvecame, it has the official and exclusive concessions for all of the Canary Islands for Opel and Volvo, as well as Seat, Ford, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Abarth, Jeep and Alfa Romeo. The company has official workshops for the brands it sells. Orvecame is also a Michelin Tire dealer.
Several members of the family work in the company, not only from the owning family, but from other branches not descended from its founder. Thus, from the second generation, the four brothers and sisters of the founder and who are in turn owners are involved in the business. For their part, from the third generation, four grandchildren of the founder and children of part of the second generation are actively involved. Some nephews are also involved.
One of the strengths of the Cabrera Medina Group of companies has been the coincidence of the first and second generations, which became involved from the beginning in the family business and which has occurred during a long period of the business's life. Also, the second and third generations are currently working together.
Conference by José María Ruiz
At the award ceremony, attendees were able to learn about the experience of a successful family business. José María Ruiz, owner of the José María Group, a group of family businesses composed of a line of business focused on gastronomy: José María Restaurant, Events, Cochinillo Viajero and the court-breeding farm and a line of viticulture that includes the Pago de Carraovejas wineries, Ossian Vides y Vinos and a new project already in development. The Group employs more than 200 people.
About EFCA
The Association of Family Businesses of the Canary Islands (EFCA) was created in order to promote cooperation between family businesses in the Islands for their strengthening, highlighting the economic and social role of entrepreneurs in a modern society and publicizing the importance of them as a source of wealth and employment in the islands. This is why they are integrated into the group of territorial associations of national scope, linked to the Institute of Family Business, through an agreement that promotes the organization of activities, the exchange of information and documentation.
EFCA was formally established on June 2, 1999, setting, for organizational purposes, two headquarters, one in each provincial capital. Currently, the number of associates amounts to 32 companies that come from all representative sectors of the archipelago's economy. Among these associates generate an aggregate turnover level of 1,575.34 million euros (which would mean approximately 6.99% of regional GDP). Their companies employ a total of 10,830 workers (1.48% of total employment in the Canary Islands)
