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City Council steps up its focus on 24-hour supermarkets
The growth of 24-hour supermarkets in Barcelona has raised municipal alarm. In recent months, the City Council has detected more than 2,700 violations at these establishments, a figure that puts the focus on control and regulation of the sector.
The irregularities range from electricity fraud to breaches of health and labour regulations. In some cases, expired products, the sale of alcohol to minors and situations involving workers who even spent the night on the premises themselves have been found.
The volume of incidents is significant: in December alone, nearly 2,000 infringements were identified in 112 establishments. This situation has revived the political debate on the need to strengthen inspections and penalties in order to ensure compliance with regulations.
From the opposition, Daniel Sirera has called for more forceful measures. He argues that 24-hour opening is not the problem, but insists that some businesses cannot be allowed to operate outside the law without consequences.
The expansion of this commercial model — that of 24-hour supermarkets in Barcelona — has changed the dynamics of many neighbourhoods, offering convenience but also generating tensions in coexistence and competition with other shops.
In a city with high density and intense tourist pressure, the challenge is to strike a balance between flexibility and control. The management of these spaces has become a key point in defining how urban life will evolve in the coming years.