Experiences: Kroketak.eus

Please tell us what your business offers

At Kroketak.eus we make gourmet “kroketas” (croquettes) with locally-sourced Basque products. Today we have products for both professionals and individuals, available either through direct sales or from the online shop on our website.

What’s your added value?

The Kroketak.eus project has its roots in the customs of Basque cuisine and the contribution we seek to make in this respect falls within the gastronomic development of the “Kroketa”, where the aim of our recipes is that every new flavour and creation has its own identity.

Who makes up your company?

Behind the Kroketak.eus project are two partners from Alava. On the one hand, the chef Juan Gil, and, on the other, the entrepreneur Patxi Ruiz de Samaniego.

What have been your main challenges during these months and how have you dealt with them?

These first months have been anything but easy. On the one hand, being two people with no experience in the industrial sector, we are discovering the characteristics of the sector itself. On the other hand, we are investing a great deal of time in completing all of the administrative formalities. Lastly, we must add the difficulties we are experiencing with respect to financing and economic viability.

What new projects are you working on?

To prepare for development of the Kroketak.eus project, we have drawn a roadmap for the whole year 2021. Our next short-term move would be investment to mechanise the “kroketak” moulding process.

Furthermore, before the end of the year, we would like to open the first “Kroketeria” in Alava. We also have other projects in mind, but we will put them into practice gradually

How do you see the company in 10 years

There is no easy answer to the question. However, we trust in having developed the complete entrepreneurial project framed within Cooking Ohiturak, S.L.L., where we situate three pillars: on the one hand Kroketak.eus, on the other Baserri Events, and lastly the gastronomic advice service.

How has the Basque public sector helped you?

For the time being we are receiving rather a lot of help, whether with respect to advice or to calls for subsidies still to be decided. We must highlight the support and accompaniment that we are receiving from Hazi.

What would be your recommendation to somebody who’s starting out?

Training, contact with the public sector backed by enterprising dynamics and confidence in oneself.

You place a great deal of importance on the quality of the product. Tell us about your philosophy in this respect.

Kroketak.eus has great respect for the customs cultivated by cuisine and the primary sector in the Basque Country. In this regard we want to make our humble contribution, based on an activity which is sustainable and respectful towards the environment. As our company’s name hints, we’ve come to cook customs!