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Kings Food HQ in Alfaz
At the beginning of July, I accompanied BBC 2 Director Alicia Arce who was researching for a forthcoming documentary they were planning on filming in the region. The programme was to concentrate on how the economic crisis is affecting businesses and people living in the area and she was back this week with a cameraman to start recording.

One of the people which she interviewed was local businessman David Craig, owner of Kings Foods and I sat in on the interview at the beginning of this week. Kings Food head office is located at the top of Alfaz del Pi,  but you are very likely to see one of its vans making daily deliveries in Benidorm.

David moved to Spain in 1970 whilst still under the rule of General Franco and has witnessed many changes during his time here.... some good some bad. But a phrase which David made that probably resonates the world over when referring to how things are now compared to the days gone by is this; "Cambiar alegria para hipoteca" which translated means "People have swopped happiness for a mortgage"... never has truer a word been spoken!

David in the hot seat!
When David moved to Spain he set up a sailing school which he ran successfully for 2 years. His path then crossed with a fellow Scot, who had set up a pizza factory called Kings Food but shortly after went bust. David bought the factory and machinery intact and set about catering to the what was becoming a growing British market. With the introduction of package holidays to Benidorm, David saw a gap in the market and seized on the challenge and opportunity.

The first products which he produced where cornish pasties and apple pies - they use to produce up to 3000 pasties per DAY such was the demand and 1 ton of British sausages per week. As demand outstripped supply they started importing additional sausages and then added pork pies and bacon, but it was quite a lengthy process trying to convince the Spanish to accept imported bacon David told me.

Me with David and an original Scotch Pie maker
Kings Food supplies many of the bars and restaurants not only in Benidorm but across the whole of Spain with British food products. When Spain joined the Euro they opened another depot down in Almeria to service the businesses in Southern Spain. Prior to that the journey from Alfaz to Malaga took 16 hours, such was the condition of the roads. Now David told me he can make the journey in just over 4 hours.... maybe in his car, but mine takes a little under 6! But the beauty back then was that petrol only cost 12 pesetas per litre which equates to aprox 6 cents.... makes you gasp when todays prices are around 1.55 euros per litre.

During the interview, when asked the question "what were the main changes here in Spain with the introduction of the euro" David was quick to answer ... the price of a cup of coffee shot up! It was the talk of every town and village - suddenly the price jumped from 100 pesetas to 1 euro which was two thirds more expensive from the previous day. Spain is a real cafe society - you can witness this with the number of cafes around ... when one opens another will pop up shortly after, virtually next door!

When he first moved here over 40 years ago no-one in the village had an oven at home. The women use to prepare their things at home then go to the village baker, who after he has finished baking the bread would put the things in to bake. Gosh can you imagine that nowadays.... most kitchens are a jumble of electronic gadgetry and besides, are there any bakers left in a typical UK High street anymore? In fact, I doubt that half of today´s under 30´s know how to bake or cook from scratch, such is the advent of ready prepared dishes, pies and cakes.

Going forward they are looking to the expanding international market and peoples adapting taste in food. They are now importing food from Brazil, Thailand and Scandanavia and who knows, perhaps you will soon see blinis and pirogi - a Russian food staple! Currently they do not produce anything here in Spain, concentrating on importing and even exporting Spanish products around the world, but David is hoping to resurrect the production line in the near future.

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