We spoke with Eva Linares and Arnau Grifoll, Partners at ERA Group, to understand how expense management has become a key driver of competitiveness.
Name, position and company
Eva Linares Baraza & Arnau Grifoll
Partners – ERA Group Spain
Tell us about the company you work for. What is its story?
ERA Group is an international consulting firm specializing in strategic cost optimization, with more than 30 years of experience. We primarily work with industrial and manufacturing companies, as well as retail and consumer goods businesses, helping them improve profitability through an in-depth analysis of their cost structures.
We are accustomed to working in complex production environments, where margins depend as much on operational efficiency as on strategic decision-making.
Our methodology is based on a success-fee model: we only get paid when we generate real, sustainable savings. This means we must be rigorous, objective, and fully aligned with our clients’ interests.
What does your day-to-day work involve?
Our day-to-day work is much more than simply “reviewing expenses.”
We help companies gain a better understanding of where their money is really going and whether that spending is actually working in their favor.
In many organizations, the focus is naturally on increasing sales and improving production.
However, there is often a significant portion of spending that receives far less attention: indirect suppliers, services, long-standing contracts, and small cost items that, when combined, represent a substantial expense.
That is where we come in.
Our role is not to be the technical experts in every spending category.
Instead, we lead and manage each project: we structure the analysis, identify priorities, and coordinate our category specialists, who are experts in each type of expenditure and conduct the in-depth reviews.
We ensure the methodology, pace, and implementation.
They provide the specialized technical expertise.
Our goal is not simply to cut costs.
It is to organize, challenge long-standing assumptions, and transform spending into improved profitability.
What makes your company different?
Our main differentiator is that we focus on measurable results rather than theory.
We have a network of specialists covering more than 80 spending categories, enabling us to analyze each cost area with extensive market knowledge and supplier expertise.
This breadth gives us the flexibility to adapt to every company’s reality—whether industrial, retail, or service-based—and address everything from raw materials and packaging to logistics, energy, and general operating expenses.
Arnau and I lead projects from beginning to end: structuring the analysis, identifying priorities, and supporting companies throughout decision-making and implementation.
We do not offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Every project is tailored to the specific structure and needs of each organization.
What challenges do you believe you will face in the coming years?
The biggest challenge is increasing complexity.
Intermittent inflation, geopolitical tensions, pressure on raw materials, energy costs, sustainability requirements, and digitalization are all reshaping cost structures.
Companies need better information than ever to make informed decisions. Our challenge is to continue helping them transform data into clear, actionable decisions while maintaining agility and protecting margins.
What does being part of the Beauty Cluster bring to your company and to you professionally?
Being part of the Beauty Cluster allows us to stay close to a sector that is evolving very rapidly.
It gives us valuable insight, direct contact with the real challenges faced by manufacturers, brands, and distributors, and the opportunity to contribute our expertise in cost optimization from a practical perspective.
On a personal level, it represents an opportunity for continuous learning and for connecting with professionals who share the ambition of constantly improving.
How did you enter the beauty industry?
Our professional background has always been closely linked to business, industry, and manufacturing.
For years, we have worked with sectors where production, logistics, and profitability are critical. Although beauty may appear to be a more emotional industry, it is built on a strong industrial foundation involving formulation, packaging, distribution, and retail.
That is how we connect with the sector: by helping companies protect their margins so they can continue investing in innovation and customer experience.
How would you define beauty?
For us, beauty is about consistency.
It is when what you see on the outside truly reflects what lies behind it: the product, the values, the processes, and the people.
The same applies to business. Beauty lies in a well-designed structure, carefully managed margins, and genuine sustainability.
Do you have any hobbies, hidden talents, or passions you’d like to share?
Eva:
I am passionate about the sea and sports. I row with my women’s competitive rowing team throughout the year, twice a week.
Rowing has taught me something invaluable: teamwork, coordination, discipline, and consistency make all the difference. It also helps me organize my thoughts and maintain perspective.
If I had to name a superpower, I would say persistence. When something is worth pursuing, I don’t give up easily.
Arnau:
Sport and adventure are not simply activities for me—they are a way of life.
I seek the open sea when I want to feel humbled by nature, the mountains when I want to challenge myself, and risk when I want to grow.
Swimming through strong currents, running technical trails, skiing demanding slopes, or cycling long distances connects me with who I am: discipline, freedom, and a passion for pushing my own limits.
What is the last book you read or film you watched?
Eva:
I am an avid reader and always have several books on the go at once. Depending on the time of day, I choose different types of reading.
At the moment, I’m reading Source Code, Bill Gates’ autobiography, Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, The Final Secret by Dan Brown, A Short History of Ancient Rome, and Win the Day by Mark Batterson.
I enjoy alternating between history, leadership, fiction, and personal development because each genre offers a different perspective.
Arnau:
I would like to read more than I currently do. One of my goals this year is to read at least six books.
Right now I’m reading The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel and The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran.
As for films, the most recent one I watched was Menudas Piezas. I usually choose films or series that help me disconnect from everyday life, enjoy myself, and go to bed feeling positive.
Business is based on…
Trust.
Without trust, there are no long-term relationships, and without long-term relationships, there can be no sustainable business.
