A leading international business school for the food and agribusiness value chain

Building a global Food community for strategic thinking, the exchange of experience and new business opportunities

Global Leadership in Food Management: What Makes Us Different?

San Telmo Business School is the only business school specializing across the entire Food value chain. We foster a global community of strategic thinking that equips senior leaders to make critical decisions in an increasingly global, sustainable and digital environment.

Sector Expertise

We are the only executive education institution with an integrated focus on the entire Food value chain, from primary production to retail and foodservice.

Global Reach

We connect leaders through four strategic international platforms in Iberia, Italy, the Americas and Africa, promoting the exchange of experience and growth.

Case Method

Every year, we develop between 20 and 30 real cases with their main protagonists to analyse the trends and transformations shaping the global market.

Institutional Endorsement

More than 100 leading companies take part in our four global Advisory Boards, ensuring rigorous executive education aligned with real management challenges.

An Integrated View of the Food Value Chain

Leading in the Food sector requires understanding the interdependence of every link in the value chain. Our research takes a systemic approach to the dynamics connecting primary production, food processing, distribution and foodservice. Through this global perspective, participants develop the strategic judgment to anticipate disruption, improve operational efficiency and design competitive value propositions. In a highly demanding environment, this holistic view supports better decision-making, stronger alliances and a more robust strategic position in the market.

The links in the value chain covered by FOODepartment

Agricultural
sector

Food processing
industry

Distribution
channels

Platforms

Our FooDepartment has become a global centre of excellence through four international platforms in Iberia, Italy, the Americas and Africa. This global reach connects nearly 8,000 alumni and around one hundred major companies represented on its Advisory Boards. The network encourages multicultural knowledge transfer, corporate diplomacy and the development of international strategic alliances. It is a living community where Food value-chain leaders exchange experience, open new markets and test perspectives to accelerate the competitiveness of their organizations globally.

FOOD

Iberia

FOOD

Italy

FOOD

Africa

FOOD

Americas

Food Programs

FooDepartment organizes specialized executive education activities for the Food value chain, aimed at senior management and built primarily around the Case Method. We offer long-format programs, innovative Custom Programs designed for individual companies, and seminars and discussion forums that examine the trends affecting the sector globally while fostering networking.

Custom Programs

Discover Our
Custom Programs

Custom Programs (PAM) help management teams transform the way they think, decide and lead. Working with each organization, our faculty design tailored programs to address specific challenges and objectives across different sectors and countries.

Food specialist faculty

Faculty with first-hand leadership experience

San Telmo faculty combine academic excellence with executive experience. Their first-hand senior management background brings current business reality into the classroom, providing strategic perspective and practical judgment in every session.

Deputy General Manager at San Telmo Business School and Professor who is specialized in trends and business models in Retail and Food Service, and in other companies in the Food Chain. He has managed the Department of Agrifood Companies (1992-2000) and is currently a member of its Advisory Boards in IBERIA, ITALY, AMERICA and AFRICA, where the main companies that make up the food chain are represented at the highest level. His previous experience focused on consulting as Project Director related to the Supply Chain of consumer products and the Retail sector. Visiting Professor (IESE, Spain; IPADE Mexico, AESE Portugal, IDE, Ecuador and PAD, Peru). He has been a member of several advisory bodies of the Administration at a regional and national level, he is a regular speaker at food sector events and adviser to companies (*) in the sectors: retail, food service, foodtech, ingredients based on olive oil, fresh fish and processed, processed meat, catering, production and marketing of vegetables (Morocco), production and marketing of fruit, financial advice, sweets and chocolate, agri-food and environmental analysis, global production and marketing of vegetables and legumes. His current areas of interest related to the food chain are the changes in its structure and operation at the national and international level, the evolution of the business models of the channels (retailing and food service ) and vertical and horizontal alliances throughout the food chain. (*) Companies with which it has collaborated (currently in bold): KIMITEC group, LECLERC-Pamplona, CENDOR DE AMOS (3 Michelin stars restaurant) ; LUIS PIÑA SL, Cervezas Gran Vía (Startup), FUTURE RETAIL (Advice), HEALTHY FOOD IBERIA-VERDEO (Startup) , NUEVA PESCANOVA, EUROSEMILLAS/TANGO, CAMPOFRÍO FOOD GROUP, TELEPIZZA, DINOSOL, COMESS GROUP, PROAN (Mexico), MAKRO, TANY NATURE, RIBEREBRO, UNILEVER FOOD SOLUTIONS, CRUZCAMPO-HEINEKEN FOUNDATION, FULGENCIO SPA, CARLOTEÑA DE ASADOS, CONFIVENDIS, CHOCOLATES VALOR, BODEGAS CAMPOS, CLAVEMAYOR, FENIL AND AGQ LABORATORIOS; specialized in accompanying the people at the top in the performance of their work for an extended period of time and in provoking and moderating strategic debates with the management team on the business model, the implementation of the strategy and/or specific situations of the same .

Production, Technology and Operations Management

Julio Audicana Arcas

Law graduate with a Master’s degree in Business Management, he further expanded his academic background through advanced studies in Private International Law, specialising in International Trade, and complemented his education with several executive management programmes, including the DEA and ADECA programmes at San Telmo Business School. With over 30 years of experience leading Sales and Marketing departments in the food and agribusiness industry — negotiating with customers and distributors in more than 70 countries — he decided to establish Go4U International, a consultancy specialising in helping food and agribusiness companies expand internationally and capitalise on the opportunities offered by global markets. He has also shared his professional experience and expertise as a lecturer in Internationalisation Strategy and Marketing across various MBA programmes at business schools. He currently serves as External Lecturer in Market Strategy at San Telmo Business School.

Market strategies

Alfredo Martín Soldevilla

Professor of the Management of Production, Technology and Operations Area. Associate at Huete&Co. Civil Engineer. MBA awarded by San Telmo Business School. Diploma in Digital Transformation awarded by the EOI. Marisa began her professional career as a civil engineer, working at the firms Dragados, Eptisa and Cemosa, where she held the post of Operations Manager. In 2004, her path shifted towards the sphere of business and executive training, when she joined the San Telmo Business School staff, holding different executive posts until she was promoted to the management of the Professional Training Department in the Foundation offices in Malaga. She has taken part in the design and running of standard and In-Company courses on both a national and international level for companies such as DIA, Carrefour, Mayoral Professorship for Continuous Improvement or the Italian consortium ELIS (comprised of companies of the standing of ENEL, Italia Telecom or Autoestrada). In her endeavors as an independent consultant, she belongs to the Board of Directors of companies like Juvasa, Catering Col Servicol and Villablanca. Furthermore, she acts as an advisor to Gisela Intimates and Contact Interiors. She has also worked closely with Segura S.L., Empanaderías Antonia Butrón, Catering Perea Rojas, Grupo Attendis or AceItunas Torrent.

Production, Technology and Operations Management

Marisa Martínez Jiménez

Doctor in Administration Sciences (Universidad de la Salle – La Salle University , Mexico), Master’s in Economics and Business Management (IESE, Universidad de Navarra - University of Navarre), Diploma in Agribusiness (Harvard Business School), Industrial Engineer (Universidad Panamericana de México – Mexican Pan-American University) Miguel Angel Llano Irusta is Professor of Operations, Industry of Transformation and Services at San Telmo Business School, Spain. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Pan-American University and a PhD from the La Salle University. He holds an MBA from IESE Business School and has attended numerous Harvard Agribusiness Seminars. He is a guest professor at IESE and IPADE-Mexico Business Schools. He works as a strategic consultant and member of the Board at certain companies. In the business area, he has founded and directed a porcine production company in Mexico and has been CEO of the Lo Monaco Group. Today, he is a member and member of the Board of an engineering company and another of the hotel sector. He has written more than 50 case studies and articles related to the global Food Chain. He is also co-author of the book "Gaining dimension" and several cases related to Operations Management in service companies. Miguel Ángel has been Academic Director of the Department of Companies of the Food Chain of San Telmo and is currently a member of its Advisory Board.

Production, Technology and Operations Management

Dr. Miguel Ángel Llano Irusta

Manuel is an entrepreneur and Business School professor with 25 years of professional experience in the fields of Negotiation and Business Strategy. Manuel is also an entrepreneur who has launched several companies in different industries: Agriculture, Real Estate Development, Renewable Energies, Wealth Management and Talent International Mobility. He serves in the Board of some companies and has extensive experience in advising CEOs and top managers about Strategic planning and implementation. He started his teaching career in 1991. He has taught courses both in English and Spanish in different countries such as Spain, Ireland, Morocco, Russia and Rwanda. He has designed and delivered tailored-made programs on Negotiation for executives in many companies. He moved with his family for two years to Ireland (2012-2013) to launch and develop Timoney Leadership Institute a joint venture by San Telmo and a group of Irish business leaders to deliver world-class senior executive education programs in Ireland. Timoney L.I. is today a well stablished institution in Ireland. In 2014 and 2015 he was the promoter and first Director for Russia of the activities that San Telmo launched in that country. He served at San Telmo since 2016 until 2019 as Managing Director for Africa. From 2019, he was Director of a new international Program in STBS with a focus in food industry, inFOOD. Manuel got his High School Diploma at Williamsville, NY, USA. He is a Law Graduate and Master in Business Administration (MBA) by IESE, Barcelona and studied at HEC Paris as part of his MBA Program. He received the course Teaching Negotiation at Harvard University, addressed to trainers and professors in Negotiation. He is also a Certified Mediator registered to act in conflict resolution. Manuel is the author of more than thirty Case-Studies and Technical Notes in the fields of Business Policy, Strategy, Negotiation, and Entrepreneurship.

Business Policy

Manuel González-Toruño Conejo

Doctor in Economic and Business Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid, an MBA from ESADE, and a Law Degree from the University of Seville. He holds a Diploma in Strategic Marketing from INSEAD (Fontainebleau) and completed the first ADECA program at San Telmo Business School in 2004. His professional career began at Carbonell & Cía in Cordoba, and he has worked for the past 40 years as an executive or advisor in large and medium-sized companies. As an independent professional, he founded Market Source—a company specializing in the training of service sector executives, where he worked for Iberia, BBVA, Savings Banks, etc.—Commentia—an institute for market research, with experience in electoral polls and customer satisfaction—and Holos Management—dedicated to advising on market strategies for medium-sized companies. In the academic field, he has been an honorary professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, ESADE, and a visiting professor at IPADE (Mexico and Costa Rica) or IDE (Ecuador). Since 2004, he has been part of the faculty of San Telmo, where he has written more than 50 cases, technical notes, and articles for professional journals. He is currently the Director of Marketing.

Sales Management

Dr. José Luis García del Pueyo

Holder of a Master's Degree in Economics and Business Management (IESE, Universidad de Navarra - University of Navarre), Bachelor of Computer Science (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Polytechnic University of Madrid), Diploma in Senior Management of Food Chain Companies - ADECA (San Telmo Business School) He began his career as a permanent lecturer at the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 1987. After obtaining his MBA in 1994, he worked as a Manager at Accenture, leading and developing strategic consulting projects for companies in the consumer goods sector. Between 1996 and 2003 he worked as a Principal at DiamondCluster International, leading strategic, operational and technological consulting projects. During this period, he also assumed temporary management positions in several start-ups in Spain, Holland, Morocco and India. He joined San Telmo Business School in 2003, as a professor of Business Strategy in the Food Chain and Digital Transformation and leads the development of the Department of Food Companies of the Business School. He is a regular lecturer in business forums about the food chain, publishes articles in specialized magazines and is a counsellor and advisor to several companies and institutions of the agri-food sector. He is the author of case studies, book chapters and other academic publications.

Business Policy

José Antonio Boccherini Bogert

Research Areas

FOODepartment organizes its research around the key challenges facing the global food value chain. Its approach combines long-term vision, analytical rigor, innovation and sustainability to support the sector’s transformation.

Creating and Capturing Value

Develop strategies for profitable growth, innovate in the value proposition and respond to changing consumers and markets.

Developing Markets and Global Capabilities

Prepare companies to grow and compete globally by identifying new opportunities and addressing geopolitical, regulatory and supply-chain challenges.

Sustainability, Raw Materials and Natural Resources

Integrate sustainability and resource management into business strategy, balancing competitiveness, security of supply and environmental and social impact.

Digital Transformation, Food Tech and Leadership

Digital Transformation and Food Tech — Use technology, artificial intelligence and foodtech innovation to transform businesses, improve productivity and develop new solutions and business models. Management and Leadership — Develop the capabilities needed to define strategy, drive growth, manage talent and lead organizations through change and uncertainty.

Digital Transformation, Food Tech and Leadership

Management and Leadership

Develop the management and leadership skills needed to define strategy, drive growth, manage talent, and lead organizations through change and uncertainty.