- Basque President Imanol Pradales together with the head of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia visited KIDE’s production plant during the main event marking the company’s 50th anniversary.
- KIDE, an industrial cooperative and member of the MONDRAGON Corporation, employs 190 people, all based in Berriatua (Bizkaia).
- The company operates in sectors including agri-food, supermarkets, hospitality and pharmaceuticals, and expects sales in 2025 to reach €43 million.
KIDE was founded on 9 January 1975 in Berriatua (Bizkaia), with the support of Caja Laboral Popular. Its founders, young graduates from Goi Eskola Politeknikoa in Arrasate and the Technical School in Markina, began a journey which today reaches half a century.
A story full of high points and other more critical moments. With highlights and challenges, with attempts to enter the Indian market and an extended presence in China. Half a century of stories made by ordinary people, anecdotes, farewells and joys.
A cooperative that forms part of the MONDRAGON Corporation. A solid, innovative and global socio-economic project.
From its 8,000 m² production facilities in Berriatua (Bizkaia), KIDE serves clients worldwide with a distinctly export-oriented approach, with exports accounting for more than 50% of its business. Each year, KIDE produces 330,000 m² of panels, 9,000 customised doors and 2,800 refrigeration units. The panel and door factory works entirely to order, processing more than 5,000 orders annually.
Past, present and future
KIDE has been celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the year, taking part in different sporting events and sponsoring activities in Ondarroa and Berriatua. Today’s event, together with the Family Day scheduled for Saturday 4 October, brings the commemorative programme to a close.
The institutional act held today was attended by the President of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales. The day began with a guided tour of the production plant, followed by speeches from institutional representatives: The tour was followed by speeches from institutional representatives: Imanol Pradales, President of the Basque Government; Elixabete Etxanobe, head of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia; Ainara Basurko, Bizkaia’s Provincial Councillor for Economic Promotion, Pello Rodríguez, President of MONDRAGON Corporation, Urtza Alkorta, Mayor of Ondarroa, Joseba Goienola, Mayor of Berriatua.
The institutional representatives were accompanied throughout by Agustín Bengoetxea, President of KIDE; Mario López, the company’s Managing Director; and Leire Mugerza, President of the MONDRAGON Congress.
People at the centre
The President of the Cooperative’s Governing Body, Agustín Bengoetxea, expressed his gratitude to all the institutional representatives for attending the 50th anniversary event and highlighted “the cooperative’s main strength: our people.”. For Bengoetxea, the cooperative model has been decisive in the economic development of the Lea Artibai region. “When the crisis struck and there seemed to be no future here, industrial cooperatives were vital in ensuring that Ondarroa, Berriatua and the other towns in the region had an opportunity”.
The President of MONDRAGON congratulated KIDE on its anniversary. “You have a very exciting project and have made outstanding progress. Keep up the good work, and you can always count on our support”.
The head of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, stressed that Kide ’is a clear example of what we are all striving for: to generate economic activity in every region of Bizkaia that creates jobs and social wealth. When I say that the Provincial Council of Bizkaia must stand beside companies, I mean precisely this: supporting the development of projects that generate employment and social value in their communities, here in Berriatua, in Lea Artibai”. Etxanobe added that, for the institution she represents, “it has been very rewarding to accompany KIDE throughout its transformation and growth, through a range of support programmes led by the Department for Economic Promotion, focused on four strategic priorities: talent, digitalisation, sustainability and innovation”. Finally, she underlined KIDE’s commitment to its social environment and, “above all, its strong engagement with the Basque language”.
The President of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales, congratulated KIDE on its 50 years of history and emphasised the values of cooperativism as the foundation of its success. “This is the model of competitiveness and wellbeing we practise in the Basque Country: job creation and wealth generation in the service of human and community development —not individual gain”. Pradales also stressed that “public institutions, like companies, must be prepared to take risks. That is why we launched the ‘Euskadi Eraldatzen 2030’ initiative, which we hope will be key to the growth of our Country. In addition, we have strengthened Hazitek research and development grants. And only a few months ago we set up a new fund to promote industrial cooperatives”. “Just as 50 years ago, in times of uncertainty, we will emerge stronger”, he declared.
An emotional and dynamic event
The celebration, hosted by EITB journalist Nerea Reparaz, featured a musical performance by the duo Fanny Desk. The event also provided an opportunity to enjoy various commemorative and corporate videos marking the 50th anniversary.
