28th March 2024
The current site of Mercabarna
Barcelona News Business Catalonia News Economy & Employment Main News

Mercabarna announces €70m expansion of Barcelona food market site

Barcelona’s Mercabarna, the biggest wholesale food market complex in Europe, has announced plans to expand and create up to 3,000 new jobs.

The market has purchased an additional 173,194 square metres of land in the Zona Franca industrial area for 70 million euros from the Barcelona Free Trade Zone Consortium. This additional space, adjacent to the current site, will increase its existing size by 22%.

The announcement by the market authority on Monday highlighted that the expansion would allow it to adapt to changing conditions in the agri-food sector, allowing it to attract sustainable food and transport companies, including start-ups and incubators in this sector.

Speaking about the ambitious plans, Ada Colau, mayor of Barcelona and president of the Free Zone Consortium, said that the expansion is ‘a very important fact to maintain Barcelona’s leadership as a leading city at an international level in the ecological and sustainable transition’.

Currently, there are around 600 companies employing 7,500 workers on the existing site, with 23,000 people and 14,000 vehicles accessing the complex daily.

As well as attracting new companies to the market complex, the additional space will be used by companies on the existing site who are seeking to modernise their facilities.

The current site of Mercabarna
The current site of Mercabarna and the area (22AL) being acquired. (Mercabarna / Google Maps)

Combining all aspects of the supply chain, the enlarged market facilities will support logistics providers, technology firms, as well as companies working with new distribution channels.

It will establish the site as world leaders in the agri-food sector in terms of its cutting-edge approach to supporting food related businesses.

Explaining details about the plans, a spokesperson for Mercabarna said that it wanted to promote companies that add value to fresh produce, including the ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food for the retail sector.

It was also focussing on supporting incubators involved with sustainable food projects, nutrition and healthy eating.

Ada Colau and Jaume Collboni
Ada Colau and Jaume Collboni at the press conference to announce the acquisition. (Mercabarna)

Mercabarna operates 24 hours a day and contributes to the local economy through supporting jobs and supplying many businesses operating in the city and region.

The new space will boost existing operations and further enhance the reputation of the market, that is increasingly being noticed on a world stage.

Deputy Mayor, Jaume Collboni, said that the extension would ‘maintain Mercabarna’s leadership in Europe and reinforce the successful model of the Barcelona food trade’.

Monserrat Ballarín, president of Mercabarna, said that the project allow the market ‘to continue in its role as the guarantor of the supply of fresh food to local citizens … and a great economic engine for Barcelona and Catalonia’.

Sign up for the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.

Please support Spain in English with a donation.

Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.

Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.

Booking.com

Recent Posts

Spain’s Guardia Civil detain man for allegedly promoting IS terror online

News Desk

Spanish government takes 3% stake in Telefónica after Saudi deal concerns

News Desk

Vinícius breaks down while talking about racist insults he’s suffered in Spain

News Desk

Dani Alves released after paying €1m bail, awaiting appeal of rape conviction

News Desk

Spain’s High Court halts temporary suspension order of Telegram’s services

News Desk

At least three dead after migrant dinghy runs into trouble off south of Spain

News Desk

Leave a Comment