40°57′30″N5°39′20″W / 40.958302°N 5.655653°W /40.958302; -5.655653
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| Company type | S.A. (corporation) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1812 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | European Union andNorth Africa |
| Products | Manure,fertilizer,gardening,... |
| Revenue | €83 million |
Number of employees | 183 |
| Website | www.mirat.net |
S.A. Mirat, also known asGrupo Mirat (Mirat Group), or just asMirat, is a Spanish company founded in 1812 inSalamanca,[1][2] dedicated mainly to production ofmanures andfertilizers.[3] Nowadays it is one of the 100 biggest companies inCastile and León and the biggest one in theagricultural sector in theprovince of Salamanca.[4] Its commercial activity is focused onSpain andPortugal.
Its trademarkVitaterra is the largest Spanish manufacturer of garden manures and fertilizers.[5]
The factories and structures of Mirat is the only well conserved prototype of the industry of Salamanca from the 19th century.[6] The interior of the factory contains the remains of theConvent of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria (Our Lady of the Victory) of the 15th century, which belonged to the Order ofHieronymites.[7]
The origins of the company began in 1812, the year in whichGregorio Mirat installed astarch factory in Salamanca (Spain). Afterwards, different lines of the business were developed. In 1841, his sonJuan Casimiro was born, he would be very important in the development of Mirat. In 1853, Gregorio introduced his son into the business, and later the factory was called "Mirat e Hijo" (Mirat and Son).
Juan Casimiro applied knowledge acquired on his trip to France and in 1876, the company started to export abroad. The same year, in 1876, the factory was moved near to theriver Tormes to theConvent of Saint Jerome. In 1881, rice starch, which was important for ironing clothes started to be produced. During this time it turned into one of the first factories of Salamanca that began to use steam as a motive power. Also at their disposal was one storehouse near to the old main square that in 1902, Casimiro decided to use for reconstruction and build some small hotels. That is why even now that place is known as "Avenida de Mirat" (Avenue of Mirat).
In 1933, the company began to work as a cooperative association and in 1963, they begin to produce compoundmanures.[2] The building of the factory of Mirat is the only well-conserved industrial architecture of the 19th century in Salamanca.
Inside the workshops of the factory there is theConvent of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria (Our Lady of the Victory) which belonged to theOrder of Saint Jerome, which was founded in 1490[8] and after three centuries of prosperity was destroyed by French troops during thePeninsular War.
After unsuccessful industrial experiences that demolished the main part of the building the area finally fell into Mirat family hands. They then organized the production ofmanures using a religious part of the building that was, still is, in good condition. The factory still has remains of the walls, cellars and some parts of the old convent. Between the remains stands a hugevaulted arch of 3 meters byJuan de Álava (designer of theCasa de las Muertes (House of Death), of theCollege Fonseca and of the "Seven Emblems of theUniversity of Salamanca") and some others stone emblems. The flues, the workshops of the 16th century, higharcades of bricks and arches complete the testimony of the industrialization period.
