Comerç

Winning establishment: Fleques Santagloria

We can all agree that one of the commercial products with the longest tradition is bread. The Molí Vell group's business nature, bakers' trade and concept of bread culture have passed down four generations, through its continual adaptation to new trends.

As they themselves put it, you've got to reinvent yourself. This keenness for renovation has led them adapt their products to an emerging market sector, with the opening in 2012 of several Santagloria bakeries, where they were able to create a welcoming atmosphere for their customers in addition to new bread and pastry offerings.

Award: Vicenç Gasca i Grau

Vicens Gasca gives us a picture of the enormous driving force behind a lot of commerce-boosting initiatives in the city. To give just two examples:

• Inside Barcelona, for its redoubled efforts during the Christmas campaign, offering a new concept of lighting and successful activities such as the ice rink, and for having dexterously handling the wishes of the city's various shopping hubs.
• Outside Barcelona, with its presence in and encouragement of the Vitrines d’Europe Association and at its annual meetings where our city stands out for its contributions.

Winning establishment: Ribes & Casals

Ever since 1933, Ribes i Casals has been supplying our grandmothers, mothers, wives and now our children with the fabrics they need. Its range of materials makes it the benchmark shop in the sector, not just in Barcelona but in the whole of Europe.

A visit to Ribes i Casals gives you the chance to see its main virtues and get to know its customers. They range from families to professionals specialising in fashion, show costumes and entertainment; people of all ages looking for materials for making their own outfits and household items, as well as every ethnic group in the city keen to rediscover how to dress according to their original cultural traditions. 

Winning establishment: Victòria Ibars

Victòria's shop in Vila de Gràcia allows us to find, and of course buy, products from her exclusive range of artistically created and manufactured products. Buttons made from every kind of sustainable material - ceramics, glass, wood, bone and horn. You'll also find items for personal use (bags and purses) and decoration, made from textile materials brought to the shop by local people. Finding a new lease of life for items may possibly be one of the best approaches to sustainability.

Winning establishment: Llibreria Documenta

At a time when booksellers are being hard hit by e-commerce and facing stiff competition from the large companies, Documenta has long been a must-stop for Barcelona's book lovers, located as it is, right in the heart of Ciutat Vella.

Now it has to face up to new challenges arising from the new types of demand being seen in the city, especially in the realm of tourism, and the pressure to convert to new uses.

It is within this context that Documenta needs to continue flying the flag as a benchmark bookshop whose advice helps us find what we were looking for.

Best Individual Initiative Award: Bacallaneries Masclans

This establishment currently has stalls in the Sant Antoni, Galvany, Sarrià and Les Corts markets and is planning to open a new one soon in the Concepció Market. It was the jury's wish to give this award in recognition of a long and successful commercial history - dating back to 1882 - which continues today thanks to the impetus of the sixth generation, a tradition that has served several iconic municipal markets in this city. The jury also wanted to acknowledge its enterprising spirit and continual adaptation to changes in the city's shopping and consumer habits, as well as its commitment to the future by increasing its presence even further and opening a new stall.

Special mention: Associació de Concessionaris del Mercat de la Concepció

The aim in this case was to give recognition to this association's initiative in attempting to find out at first hand the opinions, perceptions and views of its customers and local residents, by conducting and later analysing a survey for the purposes of shaping its opinion on such important issues as commercial offers, opening hours, services and activities that the market offers and can offer.

Winning establishment: Escola Professional dels Oficis de la Carn

The Oficis de la Carn Foundation completely renovated their training facilities in 2012. One of the big challenges faced by the meat trades is to know how to bring added value to products. The experience of other European countries shows that craft pork butchers require specific training that the sector cannot find in the standard education systems. As a result, civil society has taken on the task of providing ongoing training that produces professionals who meet consumer expectations.

Special mention: Unió de Botigues Congrés-Indians i Eix Maragall

The jury wished to give a Special Mention to the Unió de Botiguers Congrés i Indians and to l’Eix Maragall for their initiative in cooperating together as two organisations working in neighbouring areas. The experience and potential of the shopping hub Eix Maragall provided support for initiatives from the shopkeepers' union Unió de Botiguers Congrés and breathed new life into the whole area.