Cosentino Factory Tour in Spain
I’ve recently wrapped up a whirlwind 10 days in Europe and wanted to share more about my time away because this was a work trip! I flew into Paris first and awaited the arrival of 6 other designers from Alberta, along with our Cosentino Sales Manager, who were all arriving the next day. Our time in Paris was an add on to the main part of the trip, but, of course, we still focused most of our time on all things art and design and were constantly discussing business over meals. Then we flew to Spain for the official part of the trip, touring the Cosentino Factory and quarry, along with time spent in Granada getting to know the area and culture. So here’s a recap of the highlights, along with some of the learnings I gained while at the factory and quarry.
About This Opportunity
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cosentino, they are, “[…] a global Spanish family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative and sustainable surfaces for the world of design and architecture.” In other words, they are one of the suppliers we utilize on a regular basis, primarily for countertops, but for other surfaces too. Each year, select designers from various regions are invited to visit their factory and one of their quarries in Spain. This year was my year! The official portion of the trip was only a few days, so most of the designers added extra time before or after to make the most of the trip.
I didn’t know any of the other Alberta designers on this trip. In fact, there was just me and one other from Edmonton (the rest are from Calgary). But I decided to add on to the front end of the trip and join several of the others in Paris. Was it a little nerve-wracking to decide to travel with people you don’t know? Totally. But we all had so much in common naturally that I knew it would be okay.
Our amazing group of Alberta-based designers!
First Stop: Paris
In Paris, our plan was to have some sort of tour or visit booked each morning and then have our afternoons and evenings free. We booked in a tour to Versailles our first day, then semi-private tours of the Louvre and Musée D’Orsay the next two days. Our afternoons were spent exploring the rest of Paris, shopping, eating, really whatever we all felt like. Sometimes as our full group of 8, sometimes split into smaller groups. I was averaging 20,000 steps a day and oh did I mention how hot it was? Anyway, here’s a few photos of those adventures.
One of the things that always strikes me whenever I’m in Europe is the use of materials, especially natural stone. It’s everywhere, from grand monuments to quiet little alleyways, and I love how unapologetically they let it age. The patina, the wear, the softness that comes from decades (or centuries) of use… it all adds to the story and the beauty of the space. Every time I’m there, I come home inspired to incorporate more natural materials into our own projects. But the North American market is still often focused on perfection and materials that stay looking new for as long as possible. There’s a hesitation around surfaces that evolve over time, even though that evolution is where so much of the charm lives. Trips like this remind me to advocate for that balance: a mix of modern convenience with materials that invite you to embrace change, not fear it.
Spain
We flew into Almeria, Spain, where we met up with the other designers who had either just flown in from Canada or had been exploring other areas of Europe prior. We were taken to the town near the factory, Olula del Rio, where we were based for the next two nights. Our rooms were beautiful and clad in Cosentino’s Dekton product, which was a great way to experience it in action.
From flooring, to wall cladding, the Ukiyo fluted line, integrated vanity and sink (with integrated towel racks), along with the grip version for shower floors. Being able to be in and use spaces with these products in is incredibly helpful for making product recommendations and describing these elements to our clients.
Our first day concluded with a group dinner before we geared up for a very full next day at the Cosentino Factory and visiting one of the quarries.
Factory Tour
The next day, we were picked up at the hotel and taken to the Cosentino Factory. We started with a tour through their innovation lab where they work on new products, testing, collaborations, colours, etc. Side note, there is a new collab underway that we got to see some initial prototypes of that I’m quite excited for.
Then we toured through a room that gave the history of Cosentino and its product development before meeting up with another knowledgeable employee who guided us through some upcoming releases, gave more insight into the why behind some of the latest looks and then took us through the “Inspira Room” to view many of the different products and colours in action.
We then proceeded over to the main building for a quick coffee break where we were greeted at the front with all of our business names on display. The model of the current factory was also interesting to see to get a better sense of the size. Cosentino has a commitment to sustainability as well, in how they recycle water and, as you can see on the model, their use of solar energy.
Then it was off to tour the different buildings, including seeing the production of Silestone and Dekton first hand (no photos or videos were allowed). I really enjoyed seeing how the Dekton, in particular, is made and also their use of technology and robotics. There is so much that goes into the process and the quality control. Being able to see this first hand also brings a lot of confidence to specifying their products for our clients.
The storage and shipping process was also fascinating! And yes, we were in safety gear and with headsets so we could still hear our guide while in the production facilities, but were able to go down to just the vests (and for some back to sandals) at the last stop.
Our final stop at the factory was in the natural stone factory. It was so enjoyable to see all these beautiful slabs of natural stone up close. Here are some of my favourites.
Then we were taken back to the hotel for a nice group lunch, and a much needed break, before the bus was back to take us to the quarry.
We headed to Mojácar for dinner at a beautiful resort featuring Dekton in the flooring, decking, and pool surround. A great way to see the product in an exterior setting.
On our third day in Spain, we were transported to Granada. Upon arrival, we had a private walking tour of Granada, a lovely lunch before a bit of down time. Then we ended the official portion of the trip with a fabulous dinner overlooking the Alhambra and a Flamenco performance.
Some of the group stayed longer in Granada, others, like me, started the journey back home, and others still took off on their next adventure in Europe. But my fun didn’t end there…
Vieux Montréal
My flight back home included an 8 hour layover so I figured why not keep the vacation going? So I left the airport, did a little shopping, enjoyed a delicious lunch and booked myself on a guided walking tour of Vieux Montreal.
And that’s it! The trip was a truly great experience. From expanding my network and community of designers, to all of the amazing knowledge I received that I can now share with our clients, and all the unique and memorable experiences we had, it was definitely worth it.
If you're curious about how these materials can be used in your own home or project, let's chat. Trips like these allow me to bring back firsthand product knowledge to help clients make the best design decisions.