The story of Inés Rosales and its olive oil tortas is one of tradition and innovation. Discover how we have been bringing generations together since 1910.
The story of Inés Rosales dates back to 1910, when Inés Rosales Cabello, a young entrepreneur from Castilleja de la Cuesta (a town near Seville), began to make olive oil tortas, a delicious confectionery product traditionally from the area.
With the help of other local women, she began to sell her tortas at the side of the road in the district known as La Pañoleta, as well as at the old train station in Seville, carrying them in wicker baskets. Travellers would take them with them and they soon became known all over Spain. The Inés Rosales Olive Oil Torta was born.
Inés Rosales tortas became one of Seville’s most famous exports and the first confectionery product in Spain to be sold beyond where it’s made. In fact, it’s common to hear those from Seville say how they love to see an Inés Rosales torta wherever they happen to be in the world, a little piece of home.
There is little doubt that they hold a very special place in the hearts of generations past and present.
As they became more and more popular, production increased significantly and the company opened its own factory, which employed more than ten people.
Sadly, in 1934 Inés Rosales unexpectedly died. She was just 42 but had achieved something few thought possible. Following her death, a family member known as ‘El Tito’ took over the company, seeing it through one of its most difficult periods, until her son was old enough to take the reins.
The 1950s saw the son of Inés Rosales, Paco Adorna Rosales, take over the company. However, it didn’t really begin to expand until after 1955.
In fact, until then its sales were similar to those of the 1920s. During this time, Inés Rosales saw some important changes. These included replacing the old wood-fired ovens with diesel ones, and modernising certain aspects of the preparation and baking process. The company also launched new products, such as polvorón (crumbly Spanish shortbread) tortas, almond tortas and cake tortas.
The following two decades saw Inés Rosales reach new heights and become one of Spain’s leading confectionery companies.
The company was then sold to an investment group. However, they were unsuccessful in their venture, unable to carry on its success. In 1985, four businessmen involved in the confectionery industry bought Inés Rosales. One of them, a merchant marine officer from Chiclana, took over and was able to turn the company around.
This period marked the beginning of continuous production. Over the following 20 years, the company slowly returned to its previous levels of success, increasing its sales and cementing its position as a much-loved classic brand.
