The history of Almendrina

dates back to the early 20th century, when Josep Vallverdú started working at the “Farmàcia del Castell” in the centre of the town of Reus (Catalonia, Spain). His inventiveness and creativity led him to create the Klam SA Laboratories in 1920 in the basement of the pharmacy. There, he began researching, creating and marketing various pharmaceutical products, including pharmaceutical remedies such as Klam Cough Pills.

In 1932 he patented the first “Almendrina” almond paste, a high-energy substitute for animal milks and digestive remedy, and he began to sell it in 1935. The Spanish Civil War and the postwar period had serious consequences for Reus society, and of course for Klam Laboratories. Scarcity of nuts and the restrictions of the war and postwar periods, including sugar rationing, meant that the production of almond cream was reduced to such a low level that, for a few years, the company stopped working completely.

In 1942 the founder’s son, Josep Ramón Vallverdú, took over the management of the company and in 1952 launched the almond cream product under the trade name Almendrina. An increase in production meant the laboratory needed to move to a larger location on Santa Clara Street in Reus, where 50 kg of Almendrina was hand made every day in a boiler. In 1964 Almendrina moved to Castellvell Street in order to continue to meet the growing demand for almond cream.

In 1995, Almendrina moved to its current headquarters, in the Agro-Reus industrial area. We have moved on from the small 50 kg boiler to the new industrial facilities that make automated production processes and rigorous quality control possible. This gives us more time to innovate and create new products.

The company’s consolidation phase and product innovation was first driven by the founder’s son and, since 2012, has been revitalized by his grandson, José Ramon Vallverdú, the third generation of Klam Products in the management of Almendrina. Almond milk in “tetra briks”, spreads made of hazelnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and almonds as well as hazelnut and chocolate creams have now come onto the market. The increase in international demand has opened up the market in several European countries and led us to the most important food fairs.