The Mayor, Jaume Collboni, and the Councillor for Commerce, Raquel Gil, gave the Barcelona Commerce Awards to the most outstanding commercial initiatives of the year.

Unión Suiza, with nearly 185 years of history, won the award for the best business model for being one of the most iconic Catalan companies in the sector of jewellery and luxury watches.

The award for best local establishment went to IDONI – Bon Cor, a cooperative shop opting for sustainability and responsible consumption. Núria Paricio, the current director of Barcelona Oberta, received the Albert González award for the promotion of commerce for her strategic vision and capacity to generate ties between commerce and the community.

The Sombreria Obach, founded in 1924 and run by the fourth generation of the family, received the award for the most iconic commerce. There was also a special mention this year for the Herboristeria del Rei, founded in 1823 and with more than200 years of history, a gem in Barcelona’s commercial heritage.

The award also includes the Mercats de Barcelona – Jordi Maymó Award, now in its 13^th edition. As an individual initiative, the award went to the Cardiel Sabaters stall at the Encants de Sant Antoni, with more than 60 years of history, while the collective award went to the retailers’ association at the Mercat de Lesseps, an example of adding vitality to commerce in the neighbourhood.

Held in the Sala Oval at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), the gala was attended by some 400 people, including representatives from associations, shopping hubs and municipal markets in the city.

The awards are organised by Barcelona City Council’s Directorate for Commerce, Restaurants and Food. They recognise the efforts of people working behind the counter, those responsible for filling the streets of Barcelona with innovative, sustainable and high-quality commerce.