Jordi Arias Takes Helm of City’s Key Commerce Body

The board of the Barcelona Comerç Foundation has unanimously elected Jordi Arias as its new president, succeeding Pròsper Puig, who announced his resignation during the 20th edition of the Premis Barcelona Comerç on Tuesday 20th October 2026, according to an official notice from the Ajuntament de Barcelona. Arias, who has served as president of Sant Antoni Comerç and as a board member of the foundation since 2023, will lead a renewed executive team focused on strengthening the city’s 24 commercial axes and addressing key challenges facing local commerce.

A Family Legacy in Local Commerce

Jordi Arias holds a degree in Pedagogy from the Universitat de Barcelona and is the founder of Bebe-Té, a business specialising in tea, infusions and coffee. He grew up in the Horta neighbourhood in a family deeply rooted in local commerce; his father, Manuel Arias, ran a watch and jewellery shop and was a longstanding president of the Cor d’Horta commercial axis. This background, the foundation notes, introduced Arias to the realities of neighbourhood commerce from an early age. He opened his first store in Horta in 2007 and expanded to Sant Antoni in 2014.

The strength of Barcelona Comerç is the sum of its 24 commercial axes and the ability to work together. We want to strengthen them with tools and resources that allow them to be more competitive.

, Jordi Arias, newly elected president

New Priorities for Local Business Revitalisation

The new board’s immediate priorities include boosting commercial revitalisation across neighbourhoods and fostering collaboration between commercial associations. This will involve sharing resources, initiatives and best practices to strengthen local economic activity. Barcelona Comerç aims to provide more direct support to commercial associations, offering tools to professionalise management, develop new projects and enhance services for their members. The foundation also plans to focus on generational change, making local commerce an attractive career path for younger entrepreneurs to ensure business continuity and preserve the city’s commercial heritage.

Ongoing Challenges and City-Wide Representation

The new executive will continue to advocate on major urban issues affecting commerce, including rental prices, mobility, security, tourism and urban planning. The foundation will maintain its active role in city debates and uphold its European profile as a leading voice for local commerce. Barcelona Comerç represents over 5,000 associated businesses across 24 commercial axes, covering more than 25,000 commercial establishments citywide. Its mission is to connect, support and represent these networks to strengthen Barcelona’s local economy. For more information on the foundation and its initiatives, visit the Ajuntament’s official commerce page.

Sources: El Periódico, Ajuntament de Barcelona, bipadi.ub.edu.