He was born in Almería in 1976, but considers himself a Roquetas native, having lived there half his life since meeting his wife. He feels emotionally connected to both the east and west of the province, as his parents are from a small village in Cabo de Gata.
He comes from a large family, typical of that time, with no ties to the agricultural world. His father installed televisions, and Pedro studied mechanical engineering.
We met at one of the many restaurants in Roquetas de Mar, right across from Santa Ana Castle and the sea. He met us after his morning bike ride and invited us to a healthy breakfast: wholegrain toast, olive oil and avocado.
Did this strict healthy lifestyle start with the midlife crisis?
In a way, yes — at least when it comes to food. I really started paying attention around that age. Not with sport though, I’ve always enjoyed it. Turning 40 makes you think about aging and wanting to do it the best way possible.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I have two kinds of days — those when I’m at home and those when I’m travelling. If I’m home, I get up at 6:30 a.m. and never skip breakfast: 80 grams of blueberries, rustic country bread, olive oil, walnuts for omega-3, and coffee with milk.
After that I do a weight training and core session. If I have time, I go for a run or cycle — often along the beach. Otherwise, I go straight to work. When I travel, I try to keep the same routine.
How do you manage it?
I wake up as early as needed and I’m absolutely strict about physical exercise — that’s why I always look for hotels with gyms, and I never travel without sportswear. Our company has grown in several countries, so travelling has become a professional necessity.
Spending so much time away from home makes me appreciate this paradise even more. I’m increasingly aware of the quality of life we have here: the good weather, the sea, the food, the peace and the services of a city.
Travelling and eating well aren’t always compatible, especially in airports and train stations.
You’re right, it takes effort. But I’m not orthorexic. I’m not obsessed with food. I avoid fried foods, white bread, sugar, alcohol… but that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy a beer or a good glass of wine now and then. And if I’m in an Italian city, I’ll happily have a proper gelato.
How do you balance so much travel with family life?
It’s doable. I have two kids, aged 8 and 11, who also enjoy travelling — and so does my wife. So we make the most of our weekends. In fact, this afternoon we’re off to spend the weekend in Vienna.
What do you remember from your childhood and teenage years?
I was, like most kids back then, someone who played in the streets. As a teenager, I learned the value of hard work — I worked as a waiter while studying. That kind of experience teaches you to be street-smart.
Besides sports, you like languages.
Yes, absolutely. I learned English out of necessity when we started exporting. I had to step up, and I really enjoyed the process — especially seeing the progress in action. I went to a language school, then had a private tutor and got my B1 and B2 certificates.
Now I’m diving into Italian. I love the country, its culture, its food. When I drive, I listen to Italian podcasts on Spotify. I’m about to hire another tutor to advance faster. After that, I’ll tackle French, which I studied as a child.
What remains of that engineer who started his own business from scratch?
Everything. I was just 28, and my business partner and I started with our own cars and two toolboxes, because we spotted a market gap in Almería — just like in the book Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. Now we export to Morocco, Mexico, Canada, Peru, etc. We’ve grown without forgetting our roots. For me, that’s what success is: evolving without losing your essence.
Speaking of books, what do you like to read?
Apart from books on management and business, I like personal development books like Find Your Vitamin Person or How to Make Good Things Happen by psychiatrist Marian Rojas Estapé, whom I admire for her work with girls and women in Cambodia. I also follow the advice of Mario Alonso Puig.
How do you get along with social media?
Very well. I’m not addicted, but I use them for all sorts of things: to catch up on news, listen to music, learn… In moderation, I think they’re essential.
