Spain’s Hospitality Sector Wants Fair Competition from Supermarkets
A debate that could affect the wider hospitality sector
Spain’s hospitality industry is asking the next government to look again at the rules governing businesses that sell prepared food for customers to eat on their premises. The debate has gathered pace as more supermarkets introduce ready-to-eat meals and spaces where shoppers can sit down to eat.
Hostelería de España, the national employers’ association representing bars, restaurants and cafés, has sent political parties a package of 30 proposals ahead of the general election scheduled for 29 November 2026. One of its central requests is that businesses offering comparable food-and-drink services should face comparable tax, food-safety, labour and licensing requirements.
Why supermarkets are part of the discussion
Ready-made salads, hot meals, sandwiches and other convenience foods can offer customers a quick and often lower-cost alternative to a traditional café or restaurant. Some supermarkets now provide tables, microwaves or designated eating areas, blurring the line between food retail and eating out.
The hospitality association argues that where customers can buy food and consume it on site, the rules should reflect the activity taking place. This is the association’s position, rather than a finding that every supermarket is breaking the law. The legal question can depend on the precise services offered and the licences and regulations that apply to each premises.
The wider package of proposals
The 30-point document covers more than supermarket dining. Among the headline requests are maintaining the reduced 10% VAT rate for hospitality, reviewing an additional social-security cost associated with hiring extra staff for busy periods, and improving support for small businesses and self-employed operators. The proposals also address training, sustainability, food culture and tourism linked to gastronomy.
Hostelería de España says the sector represents around 6.7% of Spain’s GDP and provides direct work for about two million people. Those figures help explain why changes affecting bars, restaurants and cafés are watched closely well beyond the largest cities.
What could it mean for Lanzarote?
For Lanzarote, where restaurants, cafés, hotel dining rooms and independent bars are part of the visitor experience as well as everyday local life, the debate is relevant even though the proposals are national and are not a new Lanzarote-specific rule. Hospitality businesses on the island operate in a market shaped by tourism seasonality, staffing needs, food costs and customers looking for different price points.
There is no confirmed immediate change for Lanzarote restaurants as a result of this announcement. Any impact would depend on whether the proposals are adopted, how legislation is written and how it is applied. For residents and visitors, supermarkets and traditional restaurants also serve different needs: a quick prepared meal can be convenient, while a local restaurant offers table service, a wider dining experience and the chance to discover Canarian dishes.
Fair rules, consumer choice and the next steps
The central issue is how to maintain fair competition while allowing businesses to innovate and customers to choose where and how they eat. Supermarket meal areas have become part of changing shopping habits, but traditional hospitality businesses argue that similar activities should be subject to equivalent obligations.
The proposals have been submitted to political parties; they are requests, not proof that new regulations have already been approved. The next stage will be to see which ideas, if any, are taken up by parties and translated into policy after the election.
