News

Mercabarna Joins the Barcelona-Catalonia Logistics Centre

Mercabarna will play a more high-profile role in the Barcelona-Catalonia Logistics Centre (BCL) platform as the food estate’s managing director Josep Tejedo has joined the executive committee of this association whose principal mission is to promote Catalonia as a logistics hub abroad.

Initiatives to Cut Energy Costs at Food Companies

Offering ideas and solutions to Mercabarna businesses to help them cut their energy costs. This was the goal of the Energy Efficiency Congress organised on 7 March by the food estate, via the Barcelona Food Cluster Association, and the Catalonia Energy Efficiency Cluster, and which drew around sixty attendees.

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.

Mercabarna Supports AECOC Campaign Against Food Waste

Mercabarna has joined the collaboration project against food waste run by the AECOC association of mass market retailers and which already has the support of over 150 companies representing all of the links in the agrofood chain.

Complementary Activities Zone Businesses Ensure

Three fruit and vegetable firms located in the Complementary Activities Zone (ZAC) have in recent months renewed their contracts to remain at Mercabarna.

Mercabarna Fruit and Vegetable Sector at Fruit Logistica

A total of 11 fruit and vegetable businesses from Mercabarna chose to make another appearance at Fruit Logistica, which was held in Berlin from 8 to 10 February.

The Importance of Innovating

Innovating is a good strategic plan for companies that want to stand out from their competitors. But how does a company go about starting an innovation policy? What does it need to be truly innovative? An expert in innovation and two Mercabarna businesses discuss their experiences in this field.

Xavier Marcet:"When it comes to innovating you have to distinguish between ideas and business opportunities"

Jordi Serentill:"To innovate you must have a very clear goal in mind and stick with it"

Michael Schara:"Customer concerns are a good breeding ground of innovative ideas"

Mercabarna Businesses to Enjoy Preferential Treatment to Promote Innovating Projects with the Barcelona Science Park

Mercabarna managing director Josep Tejedo and the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) general director Salvador Maluquer signed a cooperation agreement on 15 January by which food estate businesses may use the scientific and technical services afforded by the PCB’s technology platforms under preferential economic conditions (a 30% discount). This means they will enjoy the same prices as any of the 70 organisations and companies located on the PCB premises.

Mercabarna’s Contract Advising the Government of the Minas Gerais Region in Brazil Draws to a Close

Mercabarna has for many years been a beacon for countless institutions around the world, keen to drawn on the Food Unit’s experience to roll out improvement and renovation projects for their wholesale markets.

Mercabarna Representatives and the AGEM Learn about the Turkish Fruit and Vegetable Sector

The trade fair Fresh Turkiye was held in Istanbul from 11 to 13 January. This new event (the second time it has been held) is small in size but brings together the leading players in the fruit and vegetable sector in Turkey.

José Montoro:“When it comes to exporting, companies could piggyback on Mercabarna's good international image"