HISPACOOP Meets Vice-President Yolanda Díaz on Consumer Co-ops Priorities

HISPACOOP recently met with Spain’s Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, to present the key challenges and priorities of the consumer co-operative retail sector. Prior to the institutional meeting, Vice-President Díaz visited La Osa Co-operative Supermarket, highlighting how the co-operative model successfully merges member participation, responsible consumption, and social commitment.

During the round table, HISPACOOP underlined the sector’s economic footprint: consumer co-operatives handle around 8% of the national food retail market (nearly 10% including service co-operatives), feeding one in ten people in Spain. HISPACOOP unites a diverse network, from small eco-initiatives like La Osa, Biolíbere, and Besana to major market leaders like Eroski and Consum. Across all sizes, members share key principles: pioneering consumer advocacy against food waste, active democratic engagement, and strong female leadership.

Looking ahead, HISPACOOP outlined crucial challenges, including sustainable digital transition, e-commerce, local sourcing, and regulatory simplification to protect consumers from added costs. A central topic of discussion was the Comprehensive Law for the Promotion of the Social Economy (Ley Integral de Impulso de la Economía Social). While acknowledging the law as a relevant opportunity, HISPACOOP expressed a shared sentiment among co-operatives that the legislation could have gone further. Specifically, HISPACOOP called on public authorities to fully recognize the specific economic and social contribution of consumer co-operatives, remove legal and organizational barriers, and modernise an outdated tax framework that currently operates under regulations dating back to the last century.

Euro Coop stands fully with HISPACOOP in calling for supportive public policies that empower consumer co-operatives across Spain and Europe.

Read the news on HISPACOOP.es [ESP]