The Drassanes Reials hosted the ceremony for the 24th edition of the awards, which recognise the efforts of people working in commercial establishments and markets in the city and the initiatives launched to help enhance quality and make this sector more innovative and sustainable.

The winners in the 2023 edition were:

• Local commerce prize. Mamá Heladera, ice-cream parlour based around memories and opened in Rambla del Poblenou in May 2021. The business was opened by Irene Iborra, the fifth generation of the family from the iconic horchata parlour El Tío Che. After asking about the evocative memories that local people had when they went past the premises, various proposals came up such as an ice-cream to conjure up the memory of wiping bechamel from the saucepan, of afternoon chocolate with granny under the cherry tree, for example. The jury gave the award for “a different project for tasting ice-creams with a story behind them and flavours resulting from research on the application of neurogastronomy”.
• Innovative commerce prize: the Mariposa Negra Cocktail Bar is located in Plaça de les Olles. It stands out for its use of 3D printing for designing the recipients it serves drinks in, as well as a deccor inspired by the book Marina, by Carlos Ruíz Zafón. The jury described this cocktail bar as “a new and original combination of retail and hospitality, given that the establishment produces and sells its own recipients, used to serve their cocktails in”.
• Sustainable commerce prize: the shop Toni Pons has turned traditional espardenya rope soled shoes into a global trend. Founded in 1946 in the municipality of Osor, the brand has recently opened a shop in Passeig del Born. The jury gave the award for the initiative’s sustainability “in local production and raw materials, used” to produce the shoes through a craft process.
• Iconic commerce prize: the restaurant 7 Portes, with over 170 years of history, took the award for its “ability to adapt to changes in the market without losing its authenticity and the combination of tradition and innovation, making it a solid and successful iconic initiative”.
• Albert González prize for contribution to the promotion, innovation and dissemination of the city‘s commerce: this award went to Remei Márquez López, chair of the La Marina shopping hub and vice-chair of Barcelona Comerç, for “her professional path of cooperation and dialogue with the administration, companies and organisations, to improve life in the local area that has seen her grow professionally and personally”.

The Barcelona Markets, Jordi Maymó Prize recognised good practice by establishments in two categories:

• Best individual initiative by an establishment: the stall Carns Cinta has been operating at the Mercat de la Concepció for more than 50 years, its innovative and creative spirit making it a leading butcher’s in the neighbourhood. The jury valued the originality of its creations, which draw visitors to the Mercat de la Concepció, and also for “the passion for their trade, which makes them stand out in the sector and trains others as butchers”.
• Best collective initiative: the Mercat del Carmel and its association of licence holders, set up in 1969. The site heads initiatives on the environment, emotional care and building the community, from within the neighbourhood. The most notable service is the PAKA reuse initiative, which enables customers to return reusable packaging which contained fresh produce and exchange it for new packaging.

The special mention went to Panes Creativos, an ideas laboratory launched by Daniel Jordà and creating all types of bread aimed at a demanding client that seeks quality products which stand out for their taste and creativity. This has turned the provider into a provider for various Michelin-star restaurants around Spain. The jury also pointed to the initiative as a “flagship practising sustainability and firmly rooted in the neighbourhood, collaborating in various projects”.