A vanilla ice cream inside a plastic casing shaped like a toucan. In mid-March, the ice cream maker La Menorquina announced that they would discontinue the mythical Punky, the company's vanilla ice cream marketed with a very original wrapper. "New generations are looking for other things and adults... well, you remember it with affection, but you're too embarrassed to ask for it in public," explained the Minorcan-Catalan company on its social networks. From here on, the island's most famous toucan became a viral phenomenon on social media; especially thanks to an Instagram account that dedicated itself to demanding its return with a handful of pranks at La Menorquina's offices.

The historic ice cream company La Menorquina is taking a significant leap forward in its industrial capacity. The company has announced a €15 million investment to install a new production line at its plant in Palau-solità i Plegamans (Vallès Occidental). This is the largest investment ever made in the factory, expanding the production area by 1,100 square meters. The new infrastructure, which will be operational by early 2027, is notable for its versatility: it will be able to simultaneously produce chocolates, sandwiches, and spirals at a rate of 30,000 units per hour. With this addition, the plant will have 23 production lines and will be able to reach a total volume of 40 million liters of ice cream per year.

This investment is largely due to the company's success in international markets. Currently, La Menorquina exports more than a third of its sales to nearly 40 countries. The US market has become a key component, where it already sells between 25% and 30% of its production through retail giants like Walmart and Costco. The company's CEO, Iván Leal, highlighted on Monday the positive reception of innovative products such as Honeycomb ice cream, which went viral on social media and prompted the shipment of 40 containers to the US between November and December to meet demand. In the UK, the company has also established itself as the main supplier for the Marks & Spencer chain. Job impact and growth

The investment has not only a technological component, but also a social one. The new line is expected to generate between 150 and 200 new jobs. Currently, the company has a workforce of 750 employees, more than 500 of whom are based at its headquarters in the Vallès region. Since 2019, La Menorquina has maintained sustained growth of 15% annually. In 2025, it closed with a turnover of 131 million euros, and forecasts for 2026 again point to double-digit growth. The announcement was made during an official visit by the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper. Hereu cited the company as an example of "the authenticity of local products that the world values" and highlighted its ability to overcome tariff barriers through innovation and quality.

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