If you own a family business or are considering investing in one in Spain, this article is for you.
Did you know that family businesses in Spain generate 67 % of private employment and contribute over 57 % of GDP? This often-overlooked model is the backbone of our economy.
Today, we analyze the 10 largest family businesses in Spain in 2025, their evolution.
According to the Global Family Business Index 2025 (EY & University of St. Gallen), there are 13 Spanish family businesses among the top 500 globally, two more than in 2024. Several now rank within the top 50 worldwide.
- Inditex (Amancio Ortega): €38.6 billion in revenues (2024) and over 170,000 employees; now led by Marta Ortega.
- Mercadona (Juan Roig): €38.8 billion revenue, 100,000+ employees, hailed by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s best retail employers.
- Completing the top five: Acciona, El Corte Inglés (under Marta Álvarez), and Gestamp.
Mercadona stands out with its balanced approach: competitive wages, profit-sharing, continuous training, and job security. In 2024, net profits reached €1.38 billion, a +37 % YOY increase. Still fully family-owned, it’s a case study in governance and resilience.
Smooth generational transition requires vision and adaptability:
- Marta Ortega now heads Inditex, infusing sustainability and innovation.
- Simón Pedro Barceló leads hotel group Barceló, newly added to the global ranking.
- Marta Álvarez has taken over El Corte Inglés, preserving family control.
These examples show that continuity relies on global perspective and digital preparedness.
Standout Family SMEs
- Pikolin (mattresses, Aragón) partnered with an investment fund to professionalize and go green, now a European benchmark.
- iSiMAR (Navarra) pivoted from poultry cages to luxury outdoor furniture for hotel chains worldwide.
These SMEs prove that family values can drive innovation and international growth.
At the National Congress of Family Businesses (Bilbao), 60 % of firms expect growth in 2025, and 42 % plan to hire more staff. Key challenges include:
- Professionalization
- Sustainability
- Digitalization
- Structured succession
Far from mere survival, family businesses are thriving and adapting.
Case Study: family business, Fain Ascensores
Madrid-based family firm Fain Ascensores is executing strategic M&A. In 2025, it acquired TKE Ireland (formerly Thyssenkrupp), securing the position as second-largest elevator-maintenance operator in Ireland, with a 20 % market share and 7,000 units under contract.
This move follows acquisitions of Otis and Doyle (2021, 2023), marking three major deals to fuel its international roadmap. In 2023, revenues stood at €190 million, with €17 million from Ireland, targeting €250 million by 2025.
Their strategy: unify the brand as ‘FAIN Ireland’, develop local talent, and preserve core values of technical excellence and customer respect.
Spanish family businesses are not just national champions — they’re global contenders. Through smart M&A, professional governance, and agile succession planning, they’ve forged a sustainable and dominant future.
