James Bonham and Casa Aramendia Lead the Txemi Cantera Awards 2025

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 35th edition of the International Txemi Cantera Award and the first edition of the Social Economy Cantera Award.

Estos galardones reafirman que el Premio evoluciona para reconocer y dar visibilidad a dos realidades clave en el modelo de la Economía Social: el compromiso de las empresas, entidades y personas con una larga trayectoria, y el de aquellas con menos años de recorrido.

The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 19 November at 18:30 at the Hotel Carlton in Bilbao.

International Txemi Cantera Award: A Symbol of Track Record and Global Leadership

The highest distinction, which since 1991 has recognised the social dimension of leading figures, is awarded this year to James Bonham and the Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF) of the United States.

This recognition highlights the trajectory of leaders who have driven social change. James Bonham, president of The ESOP Association and leader of the EOF, is recognised for his dedication and ongoing leadership in educating and raising of the impact of employee ownership in the United States and globally. Since 1991, the EOF has worked to help more people become employee-owners.

The jury highlights the synergy between the US ESOP model and the model of worker-owned companies and participatory enterprises in the Basque Country represented by ASLE.

Social Economy Cantera Award: Young, Committed and Forward-Looking

En esta edición, ASLE lanza el Premio ‘Cantera de la Economía Social’, un reconocimiento que nace bajo el lema ‘joven, comprometida y con futuro’ para visibilizar a las empresas que forman parte de la «cantera».

In this edition, ASLE launches the Social Economy Cantera Award, a distinction created under the slogan “young, committed and forward-looking” to highlight companies that form part of the “cantera” (emerging base).

The first Social Economy Cantera Award is granted to Casa Aramendia SLL, a bakery and pastry workshop operating under a worker-owned company model, with 20 employee-owners and 19 stores in Gipuzkoa. Casa Aramendia is recognised for demonstrating a “way of understanding the business model through its socio-business approach.” The company emerged from an entrepreneurial process in which employees took over the business to become a worker-owned company, driving ownership succession.

Two Awards, One Shared Purpose

These two awards complement each other to provide comprehensive recognition. The Txemi Cantera Award celebrates legacy and the strength of a long-standing track record, while the Social Economy Cantera Award highlights the drive and innovative approach of younger companies.

The jury considers that both awardees share “values fully aligned with the Social Economy and the spirit of the award”, including social and economic impact, inclusive employment models, and the promotion of participation, democracy and solidarity.

Together, they represent the vitality of a business model that values both experience and forward-looking vision equally.

Come meet them!