20 years of taking care of people's palates

Miriam Triay/Ciutadella - Two decades ago, one of the best-known Menorcan gastronomic projects was born. Under the name of El Paladar, Kiko Muñoz and Pepe Moreno opened their first store on Carrer de la Creu, in Ciutadella. A company that sought to take care of people's palates, both from Menorca and abroad, bringing the gourmet experience to the island. And that, after twenty years, has managed to have seven stores spread between Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza, in addition to providing services to the restaurant sector, and offering catering for various events.

This year, after the first store closed last year, and they acquired a new point of sale on the Santandria road, the Balearic Association of Journalists and Gastronomic Writers has awarded them the award for professional career. For expanding beyond the island, and for not stopping growing and evolving at all times. It is for this reason, and for everything they have achieved, that Foodies on Menorca wanted to talk to the founders.

How do you feel after receiving this award for ‘professional career’?
Kiko Muñoz: The truth is that we are very happy and grateful for the recognition we have received. That the work we have done, the career we have traveled, during these twenty years is valued... it is a source of pride.

Twenty years in the gourmet business, then.
Pepe Moreno: Yes, it has been twenty years since we started. And after a lot of work, we have been growing little by little. When we started, it was with the aim of making the product known in a very different way, which was not usual. Nowadays, everything has evolved a lot, the restaurant sector is increasingly looking for more quality, supermarkets too... people in general.

So, what evolution would you say you have made?
P: When we started, it was an unknown business in Menorca, and the customer who valued us, above all, was the one who came from abroad, the one who traveled. But little by little we made it known to everyone.

K: Yes. When we opened the first store, it was just him and me, in a small space. People told us that it was very good, and that we had to open more stores. That's how the store in Maó came about. Then the one in Es Mercadal. Then the one in the center of Ciutadella. And little by little we expanded. Always looking for good, quality products. And for people to be satisfied with what we offered. And that's how we have evolved. We have always gone the extra mile, and we have tried to do better. With a good team behind us.

P: The last acquisition was the store on the Santandria road. It has been a year now. With it, we ended the stage of the first store, the small one -on Carrer de la Creu-. When we acquired it, we had no other choice. We started where we found it, in this little corner. But now that we have expanded, we considered the option of moving. To go to a more comfortable, larger, more accessible and visible place.

So, currently, do you have a presence throughout Menorca? And outside too, right?

K: Yes, we are, as we said, in Ciutadella, Maó and Es Mercadal with a physical store. And then there are also supermarkets with a corner of our product in Alaior and Sant Lluís. And we expanded abroad with the arrival of a new partner, who helped us open a store in Ibiza, and another in Palma. In addition, it must have been about three years ago, just before moving to the Santandria road, we opened a last store in Manacor.

And how would you define El Paladar after so many years?
P: It is a space where you find the same product that you can find in a supermarket or food store, but of quality. Always trying to have this quality, accompanied by a fair and affordable price. To have various products, that can reach everyone. If it is not one thing, then another.

K: Yes, it is a company that sells and distributes medium-high level products. And we sell it through the seven stores that we have, plus the hotel distributor, and the catering part.

We want to have an audience that can also buy a ham coc, something for dinner one day. Not just people with high purchasing power.

P: And, it is also worth noting that it is a company that has been able to grow and evolve, progressively and slowly, thanks to the team we have always had. We have gone from being two to being eighty people. And without them, none of what we do would be possible. The trust placed in the team is key. We all make El Paladar what it is. A space dedicated to the enjoyment of people's palates.