Anyone with roots in Olot (in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia) feels a deep pride in its stunning natural surroundings, especially the iconic La Fageda d’en Jordà forest. However, for more than four decades, it has also been known as the birthplace of “La Fageda”, a business project that combines the production of high-quality dairy products, ice creams, and jams with a strong social commitment.
Founded in 1982 by psychologist Cristóbal Colón, this cooperative was created with the purpose of offering employment to people with intellectual disabilities and mental health disorders, investing all its profits in improving the project and the well-being of its workers. Its motto, “The meaning of work is work with meaning,” reflects this purpose of integration through real, dignified employment. Its model is based on the belief that work can be key to rehabilitation, boosting self-esteem and allowing these individuals to be active members of their families and society.
The project consists of four non-profit entities: one for business and production management, another for direct care of vulnerable individuals, a third for training, leisure, and sports, and a final one dedicated to the labor integration of vulnerable individuals without a disability certificate.
Currently, the cooperative employs 242 people, of whom more than 140 have intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders. In addition, it offers comprehensive services such as housing, therapeutic support, and personal development programs. It employs 164 people with support in the cooperative, 44 in regular businesses, and provides services to 80 people in housing and 93 in occupational programs.
“La Fageda” has played a key role in the development of the Garrotxa, generating inclusive employment and achieving one of the lowest unemployment rates for people with disabilities in Spain. In Catalonia, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 17.8%, only 8.7 percentage points higher than that of people without disabilities, and 3.6 points lower than the national average in Spain (21.4%).
Over the years, this model has become a global benchmark in labor inclusion and social well-being, demonstrating that an inclusive model can also be competitive. From its early days in agriculture and livestock, it has evolved into a leader in the production of yogurts and dairy desserts, producing over 1.7 million units per week, distributed across Catalonia. Despite operating in a market dominated by large multinational companies such as Danone and Nestlé, it is the second-best-selling brand in Catalonia thanks to the quality of its products and its sustainability efforts, having implemented renewable energy and reduced waste.
La Fageda d’en Jordà is not just a beautiful forest, but the place where this success story began, proving how a competitive company can also be key to solving a social problem. Its impact goes beyond the borders of the Garrotxa, demonstrating that another business model is possible.
Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Barcelona