RAMÉNTOL PUJOL has a team of lawyers with profound experience in the food and beverage sector in the Principality of Andorra. We advise businesses, companies and groups of companies in this sector.

Over the years, the food and beverage industry has become a pillar of the Andorran economy by:

• Offering highly competitive prices compared to neighbouring countries and specifically on products with elevated taxes such as alcohol and tobacco,
• Offering a diverse range of products,
• Profiting from customs agreements with France and Spain and later with the European Union.

This sector has particularly benefited from a dynamic tourism in Andorra, which welcomes over 8 million visitors a year.

The liberalization of foreign investment marks an inflection point in this industry, with the establishment of multinational companies in the wholesale and distribution business within the food and beverage sector. The establishment of internationally known brands marks this area.

Our clients are companies operating in the food and beverage industry, importers and exporters, wholesale and retail distributors as well as shopping centres and department stores.

Our multidisciplinary and multilingual consultants, specialized in the food industry sector, offer their services to our clients in various areas of law:

Commercial and corporate:

We advise our clients in domestic and international large-scale operations, such as the transfer and licensing of brands, mergers and acquisitions of businesses, companies and groups of companies in the food sector.ció.

We assist our clients in the creation of commercial establishments, supermarkets, hypermarkets, department stores, defining the best legal structure according to their objectives.

We are involved in the negotiation and drafting of national and international contracts, regarding supply and distribution, including special clauses of territorial exclusivity and pricing policies.

Our expertise allows us to give legal advice on issues relating to the production, packaging, transportation, wholesale and retail, import and export and advertising of food products.

Real Estate and Urban Planning:

Our real estate department lawyers advise in the negotiation and drafting of contracts for the sale and leasing of land, business premises, warehouses, large areas and industrial premises as well as contracts for the sale of company shares whose assets consist primarily of real estate situated in Andorra.

We give advice on the rental and purchase of real estate for the development of a company’s business. We help the entrepreneur to strengthen, protect and optimize his investment or business acquisition.

We establish legal opinions on urban implications that relate to the creation of commercial establishments in the food and beverage sector (shopping malls, supermarkets, department stores, industrial buildings, etc.). .

Fiscal:

We advise our clients in the food and beverage sector on tax matters.

We advise on anticipating and optimizing corporate taxation, for our clients to improve their fiscal situation in this highly competitive industry.

In the framework of the internationalization of operators in the food sector, and projects of e-commerce and m-commerce, we consult our clients on international taxation in collaboration with our correspondents in other jurisdictions.

We assist our clients in this sector on tax issues derived from real estate transactions in Andorra, such as the acquisition of land on which to build a commercial establishment or a warehouse, or the lease of commercial premises.

We also provide consultancy in the field of indirect taxation to which our clients in the food and beverage sector are subject to.

Finance and banking:

We assist our clients in all legal implications that derive from the financing of commerce and business and its investments.

We cover the needs of our clients in all phases of their funding projects: drafting and negotiation of letters of intent and confidentiality agreements with the financial institutions, refinancing contracts, contracts of real and personal guarantees, etc.

We advise financial institutions and service providers of corporate financing and acquisition operations.

We are involved in the financing of complex and innovative real estate projects, providing our clients in the food and beverage sector with practical solutions tailored to their needs and optimized with respect to their tax implications.

Labour:

We advise our clients in the food and beverage sector on all matters concerning labour law, which arise from the activities of their business.

Administrative:

We advise our clients in the food and beverage sector in the process of obtaining the necessary administrative authorizations for the development of their company’s business.

We operate in custom procedures.

We perform due diligence to ensure that the leased or acquired property is according to expectations and especially in regard to obtaining the necessary administrative authorizations for the development of the business activity.

Intellectual property and information technology:

We advise our clients in the food and beverage sector in the administration and defence of their own and licensed brands.

We prepare reports on the content of web sites. We advise on e-commerce, and m-commerce.

We carry out legal audits and “due diligence” reports on the protection of personal data.

Litigation and arbitration:

We advise our clients in the food and beverage sector, who are exposed to litigation and arbitration.

Our expertise in commercial, tax, real estate, labour and criminal litigations, allows us to defend our clients in this sector in conflict situations that may derive from their business.