Successful first International Week of Markets in Barcelona and Catalonia

Twenty-six local markets in Barcelona and another 8 markets in towns across Catalonia (Abrera, Barberà del Vallès, Reus, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Viladecans, Vilafranca del Penedès and Vilanova i la Geltrú) staged a total of 80 activities, with 69 of these in Barcelona alone. 

The initiative was promoted by Barcelona's Municipal Markets Institute (IMMB) and other European cities with the idea of promoting the role of markets in cities and towns everywhere. 

Markets in Barcelona

From May 15 to June 7, Barcelona's markets  carried out 69 activities including food tasting nights, which were hugely popular with thousands of people taking part, tapas competitions, cooking workshops for kids, and special discounts. Other markets staged medieval and art nouveau markets, while the Encants Market held its first Sunday opening event with a vintage market, with retro, swing dancing and even cocktail-making and hairdressing demonstrations.

And while food was one of the main draws, some markets staged outdoor events and others musicals, like traditional habanera sing-alongs, flashmobs and karaoke.

IMMB set up a website called estimaelteumercat.cat (translated - loveyourlocalmarket.cat) so that citizens could follow events closely and find activities of interest; there was extensive use of IMMB's social networks ensuring a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, under the hashtags #estimaelteumercat and #LYLM2014 and Estimaelteumercat slate.

The Institute of Markets edited a video showing actvities in Barcelona.

Markets in Catalonia

Barcelona invited local markets in Catalonia to join in with the celebration to boost visibility and international projection. Eight markets from seven towns in Catalonia (Abrera, Barberà del Vallès, Reus, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Viladecans, Vilafranca del Penedès and Vilanova i la Geltrú) joined in with around 15 different activities, including children's' workshops, nigh-time tasting events, and other activities. 

Part of an International campaign

Barcelona and Catalonia's activities formed part of the International Week of Markets, a campaign that was launched last April in London with the participation of the World Union Markets (WUWM), Mercasa, the city of Venice, Geraud business group, representatives of Dutch and French markets, and cities participating in the European Union markets initiatives: Central Markets Project, Project Marakanda and Urbact Markets.

The campaign model followed the National Association of British Markets Authorities' (NABMA) successful 'Love Your Local Market' initiative, designed to promote market fresh consumption in the UK and encourage new business creation in and around markets to bring life back into this retail sector.