Damm, the Catalan brewing company, celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday, 27th April, with a grand gala at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu. Over 1,500 guests attended, including Generalitat President Salvador Illa, marking a significant milestone for the company founded in 1876.
High-profile political figures joined the event. These included Parlament President Josep Rull, Economy and Finance Minister Alícia Romero, and Business and Labour Minister Miquel Sàmper. Government Sub-delegate in Catalonia Mari Carmen García-Calvillo also attended. Barcelona's Second Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay and Sports Councillor David Escudé were present. Generalitat's Secretary General for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Cristina Massot also joined the celebration.
Company's Enduring Values and Catalan Roots
Demetrio Carceller Arce, Damm's Executive President, thanked the company's staff during his speech. He stated the anniversary "represents a recognition of all the people who have made Damm's journey possible." He also highlighted the company's ability to evolve without losing its core values. These values include product quality, innovation, and community closeness.
Generalitat President Salvador Illa praised Damm's deep roots in Catalonia. He said Damm is "a company with a trajectory that shows its profound connection to the country." Illa added that Damm has generated and shared prosperity over the years. This makes it a valuable asset for Catalonia.
A Cultural and Culinary Homage
The gala, hosted by actors Sílvia Abril and David Verdaguer, reviewed Damm's key achievements. It focused on four main pillars: product quality, industrial capacity, international presence, and customer relationships. The production company El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio) produced the event. Music played a central part, directed by composer Lucas Vidal and the Original SoundTrack Orchestra. Artists like Santi Balmes, Ramon Mirabet, Maria Rodés, Magalí Sare, Lexter, and Txell Sust performed songs from Estrella Damm's 'Mediterráneamente' campaigns.
The event also featured personalities from gastronomy, sport, and culture. These included chef Ferran Adrià, footballer Andrés Iniesta, and basketball player Juan Antonio San Epifanio (Epi). Actors Clara Segura and Luis Tosar also participated. Rigoberta Bandini performed a version of Joan Manuel Serrat's 'Barcelona i jo'. This paid tribute to Barcelona, the city where Damm began 150 years ago.
Celebrating Barcelona's Gastronomy
The celebration concluded at the Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona's famous food market. Guests enjoyed a gastronomic experience based on emblematic products and recipes. This honoured Barcelona's culinary identity and its markets. Christian Escribà created a commemorative cake for the occasion. The cake featured 1,250,000 LED lights. This grand finale further showed Damm's strong connection to Barcelona and its history. Many chefs linked to Damm attended the gathering. These included Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, Fina Puigdevall, Carme Ruscalleda, Mateu Cassañas, Albert Adrià, Nandu Jubany, Paco Pérez, Rafa Zafra, and Carles Gaig. Their presence underscored the company's deep ties to the city's renowned culinary scene.
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Originally published by Europa Press Barcelona. Read original article.
