The political party VOX has claimed that over 85% of foreign-managed 24-hour convenience stores inspected in Barcelona’s Sant Martí district violated city regulations. Official documents detailing inspections conducted in a sample of these businesses support this assertion.
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According to figures released by the party and reported by CatNoticias, municipal inspectors examined 75 of the 291 registered foreign-run, 24-hour supermarkets in the district over a period spanning 2023 to 2025. The results of this sample revealed that 64 of the 75 establishments had committed infractions.
Accusations of Unfair Competition
Manuel Martínez, a VOX councillor for the Sant Martí district, described the figures as “unacceptable” and placed the blame on successive municipal governments. He argued that both the previous administration under Ada Colau and the current Socialist (PSC) government have permitted an “uncontrolled proliferation” of these businesses.
In his statements, Martínez contended that this alleged permissiveness creates a situation of unfair competition that harms traditional, neighbourhood shops which adhere to their tax and legal obligations. He framed the issue as a significant threat to local and native-run commerce.
“This institutional permissiveness constitutes unfair competition and a serious detriment to local, native businesses,” Martínez stated. He stressed that “the law must be the same for everyone” and that competitive advantages based on systematic non-compliance with ordinances cannot be tolerated.
The VOX representative concluded with a stark message: “You come to Spain to obey the law. Those who want to cheat should go back to their country of origin.” The party has pledged to continue demanding more rigorous inspections and sanctions to protect what it calls “proximity commerce” from businesses that “ignore the rules of the game.” This strong rhetoric is consistent with the party’s wider nationalist platform, which has previously drawn criticism for singling out businesses based on the owners’ nationality.
City Council Increases Oversight
While VOX points to a lack of political will, the Barcelona City Council has recently taken steps to address irregularities in such establishments across the city. The issue of rule-breaking by businesses is not confined to one sector, as police recently had to shut down an illegal bar and casino in nearby L’Hospitalet.
In a move to tighten controls, the council has been working on a new Special Urban Plan (Plan Especial Urbanístico) specifically to regulate the spread of 24-hour supermarkets. La Vanguardia reports that these new rules now extend to the Sant Martí district. Furthermore, the city has intensified its broader enforcement efforts, with a comprehensive inspection plan for 2024-2027 that, according to Europa Press, has already uncovered over 1,300 infractions in various types of establishments this year.
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between the proliferation of convenience stores, which offer round-the-clock service, and the preservation of traditional local commerce. The Sant Martí district, a sprawling area known for its industrial past, modern residential zones, and tech hubs, has been a focal point for this conversation, as well as other recent crime reports, including a serious stabbing incident at a local warehouse.
