Barcelona newsstands allowed to sell coffee and takeaway food
New measure offers lifeline to struggling industry as traditional print sales decline
Newsstands in Barcelona will now be allowed to sell coffee and takeaway food, expanding beyond newspapers, books and magazines.
Coffee must be made by machine, and any food sold must be pre-packaged and not require handling.
In addition, newsstands will be allowed to sell water and soft drinks, but alcohol will remain strictly prohibited.
This measure, a long-standing demand of the sector, was approved on Wednesday with the support of the Socialists and pro-independence Junts, while other parties abstained.
Another key aspect of the measure is that the space dedicated to the display of newspapers, magazines and books will be reduced from the current 80% to 51%.
However, certain restrictions remain, such as the prohibition on setting up chairs, tables or bars for the consumption of products on site.
The opening hours will also change. Previously, they had to be open at least eight hours, but this has now been reduced to six hours on weekdays.
Over the past five years, many of Barcelona's 320 newsstands have closed, and many others are struggling to stay afloat.
As news consumption has shifted to digital platforms, traditional newsstands have come under increasing pressure to adapt to the changing preferences of their customers.
The new measure offers a lifeline to initiatives like News and Coffee, a kiosk concept that emerged in Barcelona in response to the decline of traditional newsstands, allowing them to expand while maintaining a focus on print products.
For a deeper dive into the evolving newsstand landscape in Barcelona, check out a story we published earlier this year.