The Barcelona Retail Prize

The Barcelona Retail Prize

Barcelona is a dynamic, creative and open city, recognised throughout Europe for its wide-ranging cultural and business offer. It is noted for its retail and associations, which represent a source of wealth and are a vital part of the city’s life. Year after year, retail is one of our city’s key stakeholders, working to strengthen community in the city’s neighbourhoods, meet the needs of local residents and increase shops’ presence in the digital world.

Barcelona City Council‘s Directorate of Commerce, Restaurants and Consumer Affairs wishes to recognise our retailers’ contribution to the city. It is therefore holding the 25th edition of the Barcelona Retail Prize, combined with the Barcelona Markets Prize. There are five award categories.

Prizes that recognise and promote retail, the beating heart of Barcelona

This category recognises a business initiative that has made a notable contribution to the city’s retail sector and its international projection. The new business model must have become a leading example for the retail sector in Barcelona.
Recognising a commercial establishment which, through its roots in the neighbourhood and identity, plays a social role that contributes to building community. Criteria in this category include a unique nature, a local focus, a commitment to service, collaboration networks and the implementation of best practices.
Recognising an active iconic commercial establishment that is listed in the 2016 Catalogue of the architectural, historic/artistic and landscape heritage elements of iconic establishments in the City of Barcelona. Criteria include the unique nature of the business activity and the preservation and maintenance of the listed features, which are a symbol and expression of Barcelona’s identity.
Recognising a professional, entrepreneur or employee who, through their professional work or leadership, contributes or has contributed to the development, improvement, revitalisation or promotion of Barcelona’s retail sector and the inherent values of urban retail: proximity, innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
This category is divided into two subcategories:
1. Prize for the best individual initiative by an establishment in a city of Barcelona municipal market: recognising the unique nature of certain commercial establishments operating in the city of Barcelona’s network of municipal markets.
2. Prize for the best collective initiative for revitalising a municipal market in the city of Barcelona.

25 years celebrating the talent of commerce

Barcelona is a city with a unique commercial model. To promote it and recognize its importance, in 1998 the Premi Comerç de Barcelona was created, under the name ‘Barcelona, the best store in the world’.

Since then, the award has evolved and transformed. In 2024, it has already added 25 editions and has awarded more than 200 establishments in the city in very diverse categories and that have changed over the years. However, they have always maintained the same spirit: rewarding aspects such as talent, drive, innovation, involvement with the neighborhood and respect for the environment.

The Barcelona Commerce Award, which has been held for twelve years together with the Mercats Award, is only possible thanks to a powerful, diverse, cohesive, quality and proximity commercial fabric.