Soldier Spain, a Melon and lettuce producer based in Los Montesinos, has halted operations after it failed to secure fresh investment. In a bid to safeguard the company’s continuity, the owners opted for voluntary bankruptcy and moved to pursue a settlement and dissolution of the business. The decision follows unsuccessful rescue discussions with a major partner from the previous spring, which left the company with no viable path to revival and prompted the filing for bankruptcy protection.
The action is formalized in a decree issued by the Alicante Commercial Court, located in Elche, and published recently in the Official State Gazette. The decree grants creditors a one-month window to submit claims. A bankruptcy administrator from Azpal Bankruptcy Managers, a Valencia-based firm, was appointed to oversee the process, while certain operations and authorities were temporarily suspended pending resolution. This setup is designed to ensure a fair distribution of assets and to coordinate the orderly winding down or potential reorganization of the business.
Industry observers note that the company has faced ongoing challenges since mid-May, when it began returning workers to their homes on a staggered basis. According to the corporate committee and the CC OO union, the majority of the 140-strong workforce were summoned to a meeting to discuss the company’s uncertain future, with only a small core of permanent staff anticipated to remain after any restructuring. The social partners emphasized the need for a credible plan to preserve as many jobs as possible and to protect supplier and customer relationships during the process.
Reports indicate that foreign capital interests had previously highlighted the firm’s difficulties. In February, employees protested layoffs affecting 23 workers tied to an ERE, citing the impact on livelihoods and community stability. Management cited production disruptions in melon farming and adverse weather in Vega Baja as contributing factors to the reduced harvest and revenue. Efforts to offset the downturn included expanding lettuce cultivation, a variety in high demand from international buyers, particularly in Europe, where retailers value consistent supply chains and quality standards.
Labor representatives stressed the importance of assurances that the business could continue to operate in some form. There were moments of cautious optimism when the company announced discussions with a potential new investor described as a multinational flower producer. Such a deal could have opened a pathway for an entry into the business and a broader restructuring that preserved production lines and jobs. Those negotiations ultimately did not move forward, and Florette subsequently withdrew from the contemplated arrangement, leaving the company to navigate the bankruptcy process on its own terms.
By mid-July, day-laborers were informed that they should not return to work, marking a significant turn in the ongoing crisis. It was only in the following weeks that the company formally filed for bankruptcy protection with staff representatives, signaling a clear shift from contingency planning to formal proceedings. Market observers and local press have attempted to capture the corporate perspective on the developments, though outcomes remain uncertain as the case progresses through the court-supervised procedure. In this environment, analysts emphasize the importance of transparent communication with creditors, employees, and customers to maintain confidence, even as the business contends with the realities of a restructuring or closure. (Source: industry reporting attribution)