Brief History

The history of the foundation of the company Valente Marques merges itself with the history of the watermills existing around Oliveira de Azeméis for more than two centuries ago. It all begins with a small watermill by the riverbank, with a traditional and rudimentary manufacturing process where the family was dedicated to rice shelling.

In the Seventies, Valente Marques builds his own rice mill in the parish of Ul, Oliveira de Azemeis, and there starts the history of the Valente Marques company and of the CAÇAROLA rice, which conquered the Portuguese food market and has become a benchmark till the present day.

In 1980, the Parboiled Rice production unit is installed being, still today, the only unit of its kind in Portugal, and in 1991 it was totally recuperated.

To expand the range of products, Valente Marques started in the early Nineties the marketing of pulses and beans, dried and cooked. Nine years later, a new step forward took place with the introduction of pasta and noodles.

In 2011, a new production unit was built, this time devoted to the manufacture of brown rice and rice and corn tartlets under the new CRACKIES brand. Crackies are a range of products developed with 100% Portuguese raw-materials, gluten free, and low in calories, essential for a balanced diet.

One of the major concerns of Valente Marques at present is the company's approach to its primitive main product: Rice. The follow-up of the value chain, from the selection of the seed (in close partnership with the farmers), to planting, harvesting and drying, up to the reception of the rice in the plant, already dried and ready for shelling and hulling. Still following the same philosophy, Valente Marques invested in 2013 and doubled its silo capacity, increasing the size and quality of the warehouses to store paddy rice.

Quality is the key-word. The Company is certified according to the standards NP EN ISO 22000:2005 and IFS V6:2012, allowing us to ensure the highest levels of quality, efficiency and performance.

After the consolidation of the Portuguese market, Valente Marques has been implementing since 2009 a new strategy to open the company to internationalization. Exports represent at present a turnover of 18%.

The know-how obtained over these last 45 years, as well as the deep knowledge of the market, provides Valente Marques the tools to grow, innovate and offer our Clients high quality level, healthy and strictly controlled products.

back to top

Certification