Barcelona institute of markets

Barcelona is a city of markets and these amenities have left their mark on the character of both the city and its inhabitants.

Since their first appearance, in constructions expressly built to accommodate them and offer a better shopping experience, these markets have become a benchmark of life in Barcelona’s neighbourhoods. In fact, we could say that they are its soul in one of the few cities in the world that can boast a network of markets distributed in such a way that all the neighbourhoods have one close by.

The Barcelona markets not only provide an experience of positive community life but they also become a driver of the neighbourhoods by leading the way in commerce. They are key elements in the economic development and creation of employment in each neighbourhood.

As well as being synonymous with values associated with social, environmental and cultural sustainability, the network of markets works to improve the quality of life of citizens, promoting a healthy and balanced diet, offering a wide variety of products in its special markets and also introducing new services and modernising in line with current commercial needs.

The buildings that house the markets reflect the history of the city and its citizens. The Barcelona markets model preserves the historical heritage of buildings as it refurbishes them to improve the shopping experience of its users. The physical transformation, with more than 25 years of continuous renewal, is accompanied by an organisational and service transformation to adapt to new consumption habits and distribution trends.

Shopping in markets forms part of a lifestyle totally committed and connected to the Mediterranean model: healthy foodstuffs, local produce and a friendly atmosphere. Their promotion of fresh, quality, varied and healthy produce makes markets the healthiest option for city residents who are increasingly prioritising their diet and good eating habits.

The Barcelona Markets Strategic Plan 2010-2015 defines three major axes that are broken down into a plan with 12 objectives, 39 measures and 153 actions.

PROMOTION: The markets are a reference point for Barcelona’s neighbourhoods, providing not just a shopping experience but also an experience of community life among the city’s residents.

To consolidate the market as one of the neighbourhood's central spots.
To maintain neighbourhood transformation through market renovation.
To strengthen the trader’s commitment to the network.
To promote the market-local commerce relationship.

MOTOR: The markets not only lead the way in commercial activity in each neighbourhood, but they are also at the forefront of the international urban market model. The market is a key driver of economic development and job creation in each neighbourhood.

To lead the distribution of fresh food products in the city of Barcelona.
To continue to lead the urban municipal markets management model.
To foster a sustainable market management model.
To continue to be consumer-directed.

SUSTAINABILITY: Markets are synonymous with the values associated with social, environmental and cultural sustainability.

To make the market a source of dissemination of Catalan agro-food heritage.
To position the market as a place for informing people about healthy eating habits, gastronomy and food security.
To ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the markets..
To promote the market as a defender of the social sustainability of the neighbourhood.

The development of the Strategic Market Plan is specified in a series of key actions of each of the three axes of action:

PROMOTION

Update and renew the remodelling process: comprehensive transformation of the Abaceria, Montserrat, Horta and l'Estrella markets.
Increase resources for improvements and the maintenance of facilities: 25% of the total investment allocated to the General Works Plan.
Public private partnership Promotion of the role of Market Associations, vendors, guilds and Advisory Committee - promotion to the Federation of Municipal Markets (FEMM)
Analysis of market types according to strategic indicators - location, services, size, profitability, etc. - to reorganise the optimal combination of stops and introduce new operators.
Neighbourhood-market revitalisation plan.
Friendly markets: improved service to make it easier for customers to buy from an integrative perspective. Specifically; quiet shopping time every
Wednesday reducing light and acoustic stimuli, online sales, home delivery service, improvements in accessibility, adapted toilets and care spaces.

MOTOR

Development of the projects of the Markets Network Digitisation Plan
To establish bridges with the neighbourhood to facilitate the implementation of a specific plan for each market: participation in the economic promotion roundtables from the districts and promotion of shared actions.
To foster a competitive market management model.

SUSTAINABILITY

Actions and campaigns to disseminate the values of healthy and sustainable food in the markets of Barcelona.
Green Commerce Project: The project enhances local products, contributes to reducing the carbon footprint and ensuring the viability of local and sustainable agriculture and livestock.
ero Plastic project: Within the framework of the Barcelona Markets Strategic Plan 2015-2025, the climate emergency and the "Zero Waste" strategy, the IMMB works to minimise plastic waste in the markets.
Assessment and response to the needs of each market in reference to improvements in energy efficiency: renewable energies and energy savings.
Updating and promotion of educational programs aimed at schools and institutes.

Projects

Remodelling works: The development of the market model ensures, among other aspects, the restoration of the architectural value of the buildings and the modernisation of the facilities to improve their attractiveness and efficiency in terms of sustainability.
Comprehensive transformations: in recent years, 29 of the 40 facilities in the market network have been renovated.
Major improvements: these involve the partial, but significant, renewal of markets (access, improvements to logistics areas, rearranging stores, etc.).
General plan for works, improvements and maintenance: in recent years, investment in these actions has increased by up to 23%. These are mainly improvements to air conditioning, the installation of photovoltaic panels, the modernisation of lifts and improvements to roofs and façades, etc.

Digitalisation Plan: The main objective of the transformation of the markets is to constantly adapt them to new consumption habits and new distribution trends. The physical remodelling is complemented by the execution of new projects to digitise the service, the management and communication, in order to accompany merchants in improving their competitiveness.

The projects defined in the digitisation plan began to be implemented in 2020 and have an initial execution schedule until 2023. Main Projects: Telecommunications infrastructure, One-click markets (the market network's marketplace), Collect and go lockers for shopping, Sensors and displays for counting people, Network of information displays and content-management, Dashboard, Market sensorisation project, New back-office software, Image Repository and Emailer

Green trade: Programme for the promotion of organic, local, home-grown and farmed products, which are marked in the markets with the Green Trade or Green Corner label. Green trade has three main objectives: to continue highlight the the difference of market establishments thanks to the quality of their products; to ensure that the promotion of organic and local products makes a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint and in the fight against the climate emergency in Barcelona; and to facilitate the viability of local and sustainable agriculture and livestock.

"Green Trade" is a project jointly developed by the Municipal Markets Institute of Barcelona (IMMB), the Commissioner of Social and Solidarity Economy and Food Policy of the Barcelona City Council and the Federation of Municipal Markets of Barcelona (FEMM) that brings together the merchant entities of the city's municipal markets.

Economy, Tax, Economic Promotion and Tourism

Barcelona institute of markets

Goals

Actions

Projects

Documents

Strategic Plan 2015-2025 (CAT)

Annual Summary 2022 (CAT)

Webs

Barcelona Federation of Municipal Markets

Mercabarna