You lead your company better and understand the entire chain, from seed to plate.

For executives across the Food value chain

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Business owners and executives from every link in the Food value chain

Madrid: November 2026 – July 2027

9 months · 09:30–18:15 · On campus · Madrid

Food Business Management Program (DEA)

The only program in Spain that brings together production, industry and distribution to debate the same cases. More than 40 years running and close to 2,000 business owners and executives trained.
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DEA Participant Profile

Participants: the entire Food value chain in one classroom

Your customer and your supplier give their views on the same problem as you, right in front of you. That classroom does not exist anywhere else: agriculture, industry and distribution debating the same cases.

Origin: agriculture and cooperatives

You lead agricultural or livestock production and need to reach the market, not just produce. The Chairman of COVAP studied in this classroom.

→ Agricultural, livestock or cooperative business

→ Price pressure and raw-material volatility

→ Needs to capture more value from the chain

Industry and brands

You manufacture and compete between private labels and low cost. You make decisions on brand, pricing and internationalization.
→ Food or beverage industry
→ The cost-leadership vs. brand-leadership dilemma
→ Growth through new markets or innovation

Retail and channels

You sell to the end consumer amid a full reshaping of the channel: online, omnichannel, new digital players.
→ Distribution, retail or organized channel
→ The rules of the channel are changing
→ Needs to understand how the other links think

Why choose the DEA Program with us?

The dossier gives six reasons. These are the three that matter.

Global Perspective

A complete business perspective: decisions, numbers, operations and people. You fill the conceptual gaps that almost every executive carries and confirm — through a structured method — what you are already doing well.

Management skills

A mental gym for people with little time: practical and action-oriented. In the words of Ricardo Delgado, Chairman of COVAP: “It is genuinely worth making room for this program in our always busy schedules.”

Business opportunities

You share the classroom with the other links in your chain: that is where opportunities are spotted and collaborations are born. And when you finish, the Alumni Association: more than 14,000 alumni and 8,200 participants a year in activities across 16 countries.

Methodology

The Case Method.
You learn by doing.

Interactive, dynamic and participative: real companies, highly current problems.
«In the room there are agriculture, industry and distribution. The case discussion is the value chain itself debating with itself.»
Your diagnosis changes when your customer debates it. That is what makes this classroom different.
The only way to understand this classroom is to step inside it.
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Individual study
You analyse the case — real companies, highly current problems — and reach your own conclusions.

You test your views with executives from other links in the value chain, guided by a facilitator.

The professor leads the classroom debate towards a diagnosis. Decisions are made, just as they are in your executive committee.

Technical notes and interactive lectures consolidate the discussion and bring the learning back to your company.

Curriculum

Academic Content

Two goals: lead your company better and understand the entire Food business. First the management, then the challenges that only exist in Food.

The discipline of decision-making, with the numbers in front of you.

  • Executive Decision-Making
  • Quantitative Information for Management
  • Financial Management
  • Operations Management

Unique in Spain

The first specialized executive program for the Food value chain, launched more than 40 years ago. No other program brings every link in the chain together.

Grow and endure.

  • Commercial Management and Strategy
  • Leading People Today: Leadership, Talent and Commitment
  • Governance of Food Businesses
  • Economic Environment

Highly current cases

Real companies facing problems like yours, supported by technical notes and interactive lectures.

The distinctive challenges of the Food business.

  • Competing in the Food value chain: creating and capturing value
  • Manufacturer Brands vs. Private Labels
  • Raw Materials and Volatility
  • New Digital Environment · Omnichannel · Smart Farming
  • Internationalization and Competition from an SME Perspective

Backed by San Telmo's Food area

Ray A. Goldberg (Harvard Business School): “San Telmo is now and will remain in the future the leading institution for agribusiness education in Spain, Europe and the global economy.”

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Who will teach you

Faculty with first-hand management experience.

Cases are led by people who know the value chain from the inside, not just from the literature.

Business Policy
José Antonio Boccherini Bogert
Production, Technology and Operations Management
Marisa Martínez Jiménez
Business Policy
Rocío Reina Paniagua
Control
Dr. Raúl Adrián Ibáñez Trianteno
Socio-Economic Environment
Horacio González-Alemán Sánchez
Commercial Management
Dr. José Luis García del Pueyo
Production, Technology and Operations Management
Dr. Enrique Garrido Martínez
Finance
Emma Berenguer Cárceles
Business Policy
Juan Luis Manfredi Sánchez
Personal Business Communication
José Miguel Amuedo Dorantes
People Management in Organizations
Juan Paneque Macías
Business Policy
Bartolomé Alarcón Cuenca

Different links in the chain, one shared phrase: "it marks a turning point"

The true measure of the program is who recommends it, and from which seat.
DEA
Zulema Beresaluce
“DEA allowed me to step back from the day-to-day and reflect with greater clarity on our company's challenges. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to keep growing and professionalizing their management.”
Zulema Beresaluce
Managing Director · Aceitunas Cazorla
CLASS OF 2023
The impact

What happens after completing the DEA.

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Participants in 40 years
Cumulative program participants.
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Alumni in the network
The school community you join when you finish.
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Countries, 3 continents
The food chain is global; so is the network.
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It is time to lead the chain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete the form to contact the Program team directly.

Is the program compatible with running a company?

Yes. DEA is designed for business owners and executives who want to develop their management capabilities without stepping away from the day-to-day running of their company.

The program uses the Case Method to work on real situations from the food sector and is designed as a practical, action-oriented format — a genuine «mental gym» for professionals with little time. It also brings together executives from every link in the food value chain, encouraging the exchange of experience and networking.

The Food Business Management Program (DEA) is aimed at business owners and executives in the food value chain who want to strengthen their management skills and broaden their overall view of the business.

Once admission to the program has been confirmed, the participant has 15 days to secure their place by making the corresponding payment.

The total program fee is €11,600.

  • Deposit to secure your place: €1,000.
  • Remaining amount: €10,600, payable before the program begins.

 

Tuition includes all teaching materials, lunches and coffee breaks.

In addition, DEA is recognised as a university-specific degree (Título Propio) by Universidad Villanueva, so employees may apply for Individual Training Leave (PIF), provided they meet the established requirements. The program may also benefit from certain tax advantages for companies and professionals.

DEA Madrid takes place in Madrid between November 2026 and July 2027.

Sessions run approximately from 09:30 to 18:15 and include an Opening Session, program days, a Midpoint Session, a seminar and a Closing Session, according to the academic calendar.