In Barcelona, the Provincial Council has published a strategic guide to help local councils modernise municipal markets across the province. The document, titled Update and Modernisation of Municipal Markets in the Barcelona Demarcation, was presented on 8 June 2026 at the “Transformation and Generational Succession in Municipal Markets” event at Espai Francesca Bonnemaison.
The guide gives councils a framework for updating market facilities and services. It sets out a current assessment of municipal markets and a future model that the Council says should be more modern, sustainable, digital and better connected to public needs.
The document is organised around five areas, the municipal market model, regulatory updates, professionalisation of management, sustainability, and communication and awareness. Proposed actions include adapting commercial offers to changing consumer habits, adding digital services and online sales, reviewing regulations and stall allocation systems, supporting generational succession and entrepreneurship, and improving energy efficiency.
The event also marked the launch of the third edition of the Multipurpose Market Assistant Occupational Training programme. The Barcelona Provincial Council says the scheme is designed to professionalise the sector, create job opportunities, support generational succession and strengthen markets as centres of local commerce and quality employment. The programme will begin in Badalona and l'Hospitalet de Llobregat in September 2026, after previous editions in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Rubí and Ripollet. The most recent edition had 27 participants, and seven found jobs in the food, municipal market and restaurant sectors.
Economist Antoni Castells spoke about the European economic and political context and its effect on local commerce. A panel then looked at modernisation experiences in municipal markets, with participants from Tarragona, Valencia, Barcelona and Sant Boi de Llobregat. A second panel focused on generational succession, with representatives from the Federation of Municipal Markets of Catalonia, Sant Cugat del Vallès City Council, the Reempresa programme and other sector bodies discussing business continuity, stall transfers and new professional profiles.
Deputy for Commerce, Consumption and Public Health Josep-Ramon Mut i Bosque opened the event and said the Council must anticipate changes in local economies and consumption patterns. Deputy for Commerce and Consumption Olga Serra i Luque closed the session and said the guide, standard regulation and regulatory bases for stall allocation are intended to give local governments practical support for transformation processes. The Council also said the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12.
