Granel Madrid

When you think about your business, what are you most proud of?

To have created a space in the neighbourhood that promotes life and social networking in the area and that is also a place that promotes values of awareness, responsibility with consumption, personal care, the environment and makes it accessible to all audiences and budgets. Providing a quality and variety of products that used to be not very accessible in certain cases.

What is the history of your commerce?

It is a project that started with a lot of enthusiasm to create a space in Madrid where certain characteristics that did not exist at the time could be brought together; buying in bulk, waste reduction, variety of products, organic products, vegan food in bulk, responsible consumption with the quantities that one takes. I think it is a necessary space and I am very proud to set it up from scratch together with my partner Juan almost 7 years ago at a time like that.

What is your professional experience?

We started from scratch. Beyond what we could know as consumers who were looking for an alternative to what was already there, we had no experience in setting up a business and had no knowledge of the sector. But through effort, hard work and the experience gained over the years, I think we have acquired many tools, knowledge and professionalism. Although we are always learning and improving. It was a project that we embarked on because there had to be a space like this in Madrid, which to date had not existed. And although the two of us, Juan and I, came from very different professional backgrounds, when Juan told me that he wanted to set it up, I didnt hesitate.

How has covid 19 affected your business?

It has been a complicated time, although food has not been so restricted as it is a basic need. But we have had staffing problems due to long-term sick leave because of Covid, having to close several times because of protocol due to having been in contact with people who have tested positive etc. It has also been annoying for the clients to have to wait in the street due to capacity issues. And then the sadness of seeing people leaving the neighbourhood because they could no longer pay their rents or having to adjust tremendously because they didnt have the usual income after losing their jobs or being in Ertes. But in spite of all the bad things, we have to feel lucky because it has not been as hard as the great majority of sectors that have had it worse.

What other NGOs do you collaborate with?

With many since I belonged to that sector before setting up the shop and I know many people working on projects. With doctors without borders, with Aldeas infantiles, with amnesty international. We also collaborate by giving food to the Dragones de Lavapiés neighbourhood association and with another association in Tetuán.