Marbella, September 28, 2026. Málaga hosted the presentation of “The Value of Data: An In-Depth Analysis of Family Businesses in Andalusia,” organized around the report prepared by SAFER (Spanish Society of Family Business Researchers) in collaboration with the Andalusian Association of Family Businesses (AAEF) and sponsored by Unicaja Empresas.

The data presented confirm that 92.3% of Andalusian companies are family-owned, and they account for 78.4% of private-sector employment and 77.4% of the region’s Gross Value Added (GVA). Andalusia is home to nearly 230,000 family-owned businesses—16% of the national total—with a presence exceeding 90% in all provinces and spanning virtually every sector, from construction and tourism to retail and the agri-food industry. The study also debunks the notion that this model is limited to small and medium-sized enterprises: six out of ten Andalusian companies with more than 250 employees are also family-owned.

More profitable, less indebted, and with more room to grow

Beyond the quantitative data, the report paints a picture that is familiar to Alfil Patrimonial: despite being smaller on average than non-family-owned businesses, Andalusian family businesses achieve higher levels of economic and financial profitability, maintain a more solid structure, have lower debt levels, and boast a higher survival rate.

The presentation featured a panel discussion with Paz Hurtado (president of Hutesa), Vicente Martín (director of Expansion at Grupo MAS), and Francisco Gómez (president and CEO of Alfil Patrimonial ). The three discussed the evolution of family-owned businesses, their competitiveness, their contribution to Andalusia’s economic development, the tax framework governing them, and the need for changes in executive selection criteria… A conversation in which Alfil Patrimonial’s experience in the Costa del Sol real estate sector provided a practical perspective on management, professionalization, and long-term vision.

All three agreed that this study highlights a well-established reality and reflects the spirit of companies that grow with a long-term vision, invest in people, and maintain a strong commitment to their local communities. In this regard, Gómez said he knows the names of all his employees, whom he considers practically family. “My father used to tell me that corporations were soulless, and that family businesses have values that make you stronger and more resilient.”

For Alfil Patrimonial, participating in this dialogue has been a way to reaffirm its own identity: that of a company that views its business as a long-term endeavor, deeply rooted in the region where it operates.

25 Years of the AAEF: “Legacy and Future”

The presentation of the report comes during a very special year for the Andalusian Association of Family Businesses, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The association commemorated this milestone on September 17 with a gala at the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, under the theme “Legacy and Future”: a tribute to the generations of family business owners who have contributed to Andalusia’s growth and a look at the challenges that will shape the sector’s future, including innovation, sustainability, leadership, and generational succession.

During the gala, AAEF President Juan Moya announced that the association is working to promote an Andalusian family business law that recognizes the uniqueness of this business model, an initiative supported by Rocío Blanco, the Regional Minister of Employment, Business, and Self-Employment, who provided an update on the progress of this first piece of legislation. The event also recognized the achievements of seven companies (Fuerte Group Hotels, González Byass, Iturri, Lorte, Osborne, Persán, and UHY Fay & Co.) and three individuals for their contributions to the founding and growth of the Association.