Fructuoso López was honored by the President of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, in an emotional ceremony held in Albacete.
On Saturday, May 31, founder and director of Joma, Fructuoso López, received the title of Distinguished Son of Castilla-La Mancha during the Regional Day celebration. The institutional event, held in Albacete, saw the recognition awarded personally by regional president Emiliano García-Page.
This honor was granted “for having elevated the name of Castilla-La Mancha to the highest level in international sports and business.” Fructuoso represents the essence of regional identity, embodying the values of effort and the constant desire to improve—qualities that perfectly align with the spirit of the Distinguished Son recognition.
From a small workshop to a global brand
Since founding Joma in 1965 in Portillo de Toledo—exactly 60 years ago—Fructuoso López has transformed the company into a global brand present in over 150 countries. What began as a small workshop producing sports shoes has grown through his vision, tireless work ethic, and philosophy of continuous improvement. Today, Joma is one of the Top 10 sports brands worldwide, known across international markets and sponsoring elite athletes, federations, and teams around the globe.
In fact, it was just a few months ago that Joma broke records at the Paris Olympic Games, outfitting 15% of all participating athletes—an achievement that marked a major milestone in the company’s history.
Despite this unstoppable growth, Fructuoso has never strayed from his roots. Joma’s headquarters have always remained in Castilla-La Mancha, where the company continues to generate employment, development, and regional pride. Every step the brand has taken reflects a strong identity rooted in resilience and a deep connection to a humble land that understands what it means to start from nothing and go far without forgetting where you come from.
“Today, we are in more than 150 countries. So yes, you can come from a small town in Toledo and reach success. I always believed that the products we made could compete, so I was never afraid to knock on doors. Anyone with confidence will realize they’re on the same level as everyone else. There’s no skyscraper taller than the one you choose to build,” said Fructuoso López during the ceremony—an inspiring message to future generations.
In short, Fructuoso López joins a list of 17 exemplary citizens who represent the very best of Castilla-La Mancha. At Joma, we proudly celebrate this well-deserved recognition that honors his professional journey and his lifelong mission to bring sporting excellence to every corner of the world.