News

Mercabarna: international reference point

A delegation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the organisation that checks the safety of food, veterinary and medical products, visited Mercabarna on 6 March. Accompanied by representatives from the Catalan Food Safety Agency, the Mercabarna-based heads of the Barcelona Public Health Agency and the food estate’s managers, the visitors were shown the different health activities and checks performed in the Central Markets and in other businesses at the estate.

Good Commercial Practices Code: Taskforces Making Steady Progress

The different institutions and organisations with a major role in the agrofood chain that form the Good Commercial Practices Code, including Mercabarna and the Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Dealers Association (AGEM), continue to work to define specific initiatives that will make it possible to improve sector operations and relations among the different agents in the chain.

A Very Creative Christmas at Mercabarna-flor

Around 1,800 florists from across Spain took part in the 29th Mercademostraciones fair organised by Mercabarna-flor and held on 11 November. The fair is a singular opportunity in Spain for flower sector professionals (wholesalers, florists, floral art schools and more) to meet and hear about the latest trends and novelties in flower fashion and home and store decorations for the Christmas season.

Catalan Flower Sector Expresses Concern about Rise in VAT

The Catalan associations and organisations in the Confederation of Ornamental Horticulture of Catalonia (CHOC), which includes Mercabarna-flor and the Wholesale Business Association (AEM), have sent a joint letter to the Spanish Ministries of Finance, Economy and Agriculture expressing their concern about the rise in VAT applied to floral produce and live plants. The sales tax on these goods has catapulted from 8% to 21%.

Mercabarna Promotes its Education Campaigns for Schoolchildren

Mercabarna promoted its range of educational activities targeted at children at a show organised by the Barcelona Pedagogic Coordination Board, presenting the Schoolchildren’s Activities Programmes for the 2012-13 school year.

New Mercasa Chair Visits Mercabarna

On 19 July Mercabarna received the visit of Mercasa chair Eduardo Ameijide, who has headed the institution since March.

Local Products Play a Starring Role in the 1st Symposium on Mediterranean Food Markets

On 4 June, more then 200 professionals connected to the world of markets, including executives from Mercabarna, attended the 1st Symposium on Mediterranean Food Markets, organised by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Markets as part of the European MedEmporion project (also involving Markets in Turin, Genoa and Marseille).

Prizes Awarded for the "Villas Floridas" Campaign

On 14 June, the Catalan Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Environment, Josep M. Pelegrí, presided over the award ceremony for the first edition of the "Villas Floridas" campaign, run by the Confederation of Ornamental Horticulture of Catalonia (CHOC), an entity which involves Mercabarna-flor and the Association of Wholesalers (AEM).

Visit by a Delegation from a Brazilian State

To find out more about Mercabarna’s experience in creating clusters, on 11 June a delegation from the government of the Brazilian state of Mina Gerais and the Directors of the wholesale market in the capital visited the Food Unit.

Josep Tejedo: "We have to accept and face the changes taking place in the food chain"

Josep Tejedo, Mercabarna managing director for the past three months, will bring his professional experience in the private sector to the public company. In this interview, the new managing director looks at the main challenges he faces as head of Mercabarna.

New fresh-produce projects and innovations at Alimentaria

Lettuces sold with the root intact, banana crisps, new packaging that boosts tuna and fresh mushroom consumption, innovative meat dishes…these are some of the new products that the 15 Mercabarna businesses which took part in Alimentaria promoted at the fair. Mercabarna also decided to take part in the fair again, this time presenting two initiatives aimed at boosting the Catalan food sector.

Mercabarna-flor Presents Sales Forecasts for St George's Day

Around 20 journalists attended the press conference organised by Mercabarna-flor on 19 April to present the forecast for rose sales on St George’s Day. Both the Mercabarna Markets and Promotions manager, Joaquim Rosa, and the head of Mercabarna-flor, Jaume Esteve, said they expected sales to be very positive: “We hope to return to the magic figure of over six million roses sold, around 20% more than last year,” Mr Ros said.

Distinguished Authorities Visit Mercabarna Area at Alimentaria

The Mercabarna stand became one of the points of interest during the opening day of Alimentaria of the tour that a retinue of distinguished authorities took around the fair’s facilities.

Víctor Noguer: "The goal is to win the loyalty of strategic customers and grow with them"

With a degree in Business Administration, Mr Noguer is a professor in the Marketing Management Department at ESADE Business School and runs a company in the communications sector. On 13 March he gave a course in Mercabarna in which he explained a number of key points about how a company can manage its customer portfolio more effectively.

Barcelona Food Cluster Association: New website and logo

The Barcelona Food Cluster Association has had its own online calling card since March. The website www.clusteralimentari.cat is a portal for promoting the Association’s work and goals, as well as the businesses and institutions that belong to it.