Mercabarna is a food-trading estate that concentrates wholesale markets (fruit and vegetables, fish and flowers) and Barcelona's abattoir, as well as a large area of complementary activities (ZAC), boasting some 450 fresh-food preparation, commercial, distribution, importing and exporting businesses.
In the past, wholesale food markets were situated in central locations within the city of Barcelona and occupied buildings which are now used for important social, cultural and leisure facilities.
The growth of the city and of its population led to problems of all kinds for these central markets in terms of capacity, communications, the environment and so forth.
The economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the sales of some of these businesses, especially those in the hospitality and catering sector.
[2] It also includes the ZAC, comprised by the complementary activities of the food market: