PRODECA connects producers with key buyers in the food sector

On Wednesday the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, through Prodeca, the Catalan food promotion agency, held the second edition of COMPRA LOCAL at Palau de Pedralbes (Barcelona), a business event connecting Catalan local food and drink producers with buyers from large retailers, catering firms, restaurant companies and institutional catering managers.

This year 30 producers and some ten strategic buyers from across Spain took part. Based on the needs and interests expressed by the buyers, Prodeca arranged a schedule of 70 meetings in a 20-minute fast-interview format with broad sector representation: fruit, vegetables, olive oil, wines and spirits, meat and cured meats, bakery products, fish and shellfish, nuts, mushrooms and cereals. 

COMPRA LOCAL seeks not only to generate direct sales but also to strengthen long-term business relationships, highlighting geographical proximity as added value for a growing market that prioritises sustainability and the quality of local produce.

The event closed with an Àpat Catalunya business lunch, allowing participants to build on the contacts made during the meetings in a more relaxed setting. An Àpat Catalunya is a culinary activity promoted to champion local agri-food products and traditional Catalan cooking. These meals place emphasis on using local, seasonal ingredients always linked to Catalan culture and heritage. The initiative reinforces the Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025 distinction , which values quality food tourism and the responsible consumption of local products.

Participating Catalan producers: 

• BLAI PERIS | Olives, pâtés and sauces | Terra Alta

• CARQUINYOLIS ESCALFET | Pastries and sweets | Alt Penedès

• CAULA ALIMENTS | Cured meats | Gironès

• CELLER BALART | Wine | Terra Alta

• CELLER GRAU I GRAU | Wine | Bages

• CELLER MASROIG | Wine | Priorat

• CÍTRICS TERRES DE L'EBRE – DELTAFRUITS | Fruit and citrus | Baix Ebre

• COCA I FITÓ | Wine | Priorat

• CONGELATS OLOT | Pre-cooked foods | Garrotxa

• COOPERATIVA TRES CADIRES | Liqueurs and vermouths | Garrigues

• DEGUSTUS | Olive oil | Garrigues

• DOMENIO (CELLER DOMENYS) | Wines and cavas | Baix Penedès

• EMBOTITS OLIVÉ | Cured meats | Baix Llobregat

• ESSÈNCIA DEL DELTA | Rice and derivatives | Baix Ebre

• FONT-SANS | Cured meats | Garrotxa

• FRUITS SECS TORRA | Nuts | Anoia

• GRUP PONS (CLOS PONS) | Olive oil and wines | Segrià

• HORTEC | Fruit and vegetables | Barcelonès

• IMPOSSIBLE BAKERS | Bakery and pastries | Barcelonès

• LANTXAGA | Game meat | Gironès

• LAUMONT | Mushrooms and truffles | Urgell

• MUSEU DE LA CONFITURA | Jams and preserves | Baix Empordà

• PASTES SANMARTÍ | Pasta | Vallès Oriental

• PIRINAT CARN ECOLÒGICA | Organic meat | Ripollès

• SANT LLUÍS | Fish and shellfish | Barcelonès

• SELFOODS-FINCA MOLÍ COLOMA | Olive oil | Alt Penedès

• TERRA FRUITS | Olive oil | Baix Camp

• THE NUT CLUB | Nuts and snacks | Baix Camp

• TORTILLAS NAGUAL | Corn tortillas | Vallès Occidental

• VINCLOOP | Olive oil and wines | Priorat

Participating buyer companies:

• ALDI – Supermarket chain

• BO I SA, SERVEIS D’ÀPAT – Catering 

• BON COR CÀTERING – Catering 

• CAPRABO – Supermarket chain

• CARREFOUR – Supermarket chain

• CONDIS – Supermarket chain

• EL CORTE INGLÉS – Supermarket chain

• HOSPITAL GERMANS TRIAS I PUJOL – Institutional catering

• RESTAURANT WINDSOR – Restaurants 

Local produce, a consumption trend

The food and drink sector is one of the most dynamic parts of the Catalan economy. With turnover of €48,231M (20% of Catalonia's GDP), it employs more than 175,000 people and accounts for 23% of Spain's total turnover. These figures make it the country's leading economic sector.

In this context, as shown by the "Mapping of the consumption and marketing of local agri-food products" carried out by Prodeca in 2022 from surveys of consumers, retailers, large distributors and producers with the "Local Sales" label, local produce is an increasingly important purchasing factor for Catalan consumers: 85% of respondents consider it important that the products they buy and eat are local, and close to half prioritise this when filling their shopping basket.