At Central de Carnes Premium’s show kitchen in Madrid, Head of Creativity Aurelio Morales (a Michelin-starred chef) reveals how Spain’s largest meat distributor is reinventing ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook gourmet products made from top quality meat sourced from GLOBAL S.L.P. certified farms.
What happens in this space?
This is our stage for food tasting sessions, in-house staff training and new product launches. We host clients such as El Corte Inglés for feasts that feature new cuts and spreads, while potential buyers can come and try out tailored solutions. And next door [pointing through a glazed wall] is where we carry out research and development. We develop raw products such as new-generation hamburgers and meatballs. These fourth [ready-to-cook] and fifth range [ready-to-eat] products can include Angus bacon, sirloin pastrami, beef pastrami, roast beef…
What is the food trend here in Spain right now?
What is happening is not just here in Spain, it’s everywhere. My wife and I travel to New York quite often and we see the same situation there – people have very little time and, when they do have time, they don’t want to spend it cooking. Ninety percent of the time it’s all about ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products.
How are you answering this need?
While many companies make standard ready-to-eat meals, we treat ours like haute cuisine. Why? Because we customize. If a restaurant owner asks, ‘Can you prepare this dish exactly how I want it?’ – we say ‘yes’. That’s not just convenience; that’s luxury dining, made with premium ingredients and expert technique.
We also innovate ahead of demand. For example, we’ve created products that didn’t exist before, like Angus bacon. When a supermarket chain works with us, we don’t just meet their needs, we invent new ones by offering something they never knew they wanted.
What else makes Level Cook different?
Most of the food sector has been producing food with additives for decades, but we are fully dedicated to a clean label product. Central de Carnes Premium has always been focused on top quality products that are additive-free and sourced from certified farms, and you can absolutely taste the difference in our ready-to-eat gourmet lines. The texture is smoother, much more pleasant.
How do you create a new product?
By thinking! Coming from the world of Michelin-starred cuisine, I’m naturally dedicated to creativity but, in the end, creative processes are creative processes. Here, in a restaurant or anywhere, you have a ‘problem’ and you look for a solution. Often it starts by simply looking at something that already exists.
What is your favourite cut of meat?
I am very much a meat lover, especially of Angus beef. The meat has a unique aroma and flavour as well as a spectacular texture. As for a particular cut, obviously a good steak from a clean prime cut is great, but I often recommend that people look at other cuts. Why not a ribeye, or an oxtail? Or even an Angus flank or brisket? And of, course, Sirloin beef has its time and place, delicious, tender and quite a treat, but I much prefer the rock n’ roll cuts.
Aurelio Morales hard at work at Level Cook
Aurelio Morales – snapshot
Born in the Madrid municipality of Alcalá de Henares, Aurelio Morales’ stellar career began at the gastronomy temple of El Bulli and progressed to right-hand of double Michelin-starred chef Paco Pérez at Miramar, where he served as executive chef and creative director. From Miramar he moved to the Cebo restaurant in the hotel Urban in Madrid, where he was awarded his first Michelin star. Seven years later, he headed the opening of the four-floor ABYA restaurant in a former palace in Madrid, before pivoting to consultancy through the foundation of Goncodi Gastro.
About GLOBAL S.L.P.
GLOBAL S.L.P. is the governance body responsible for managing and advancing the Integrated Farm Management (IFM) Standard for Livestock originally established by GlobalG.A.P. in 2005 under the name Integrated Farm Assurance. Representing the collective interests of the global livestock supply chain, GLOBAL S.L.P. ensures the standard evolves to meet modern demands for sustainable production, animal welfare, and social responsibility. By upholding rigorous certification protocols, GLOBAL S.L.P. champions food safety, traceability, and transparency from farm to market, empowering producers, retailers, and consumers alike.
About Central de Carnes Premium
With over 40 years of expertise, Central de Carnes Premium specializes in the production, processing, and distribution of premium-quality meats. The company partners with the finest cattle breeds, overseeing a strictly controlled process from farm to market to guarantee exceptional cuts and preparations.
Committed to sustainability, Central de Carnes Premium actively promotes renewable energy adoption, emission reduction, and eco-friendly waste management, ensuring responsible production without compromising quality.
The company holds international IFS and BRC certifications, a testament to its cutting-edge facilities, rigorous quality controls and dedication to food safety. In 2014, Central de Carnes Premium became the world’s first company to be certified by GLOBALG.A.P. – and later by its successor, GLOBAL S.L.P. – authorizing the use of the GSN label on its products. This distinction serves as a visible guarantee of superior food safety and quality for consumers worldwide
For more information or to receive high-resolution images, contact:
José María Baron, Communications Officer, GLOBAL S.L.P., [email protected], www.globalslp.org
GLOBAL S.L.P. is part of Defhesa Smartplus SL. VAT number B13711692. Registered Office Address: Cl Neptuno 1, 45111 Cobisa, Toledo, Spain.
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