Small footprint, big heart: Vilafranca supermarket designed as inclusive neighborhood hub

Caprabo, one of Spain's larger supermarket chains, recently opened its first Supermercado Inclusivo y Social (SIS) in the Catalonian city of Vilafranca del Penedés. In addition to creating 11 jobs for people with disabilities and from vulnerable groups, the 299 square-meter store was conceived as a social hub for its neighborhood.

The SIS concept features a bar and cafe where Caprabo and community groups will host workshops, exhibitions, book presentations and other activities. On the retail front, the store promotes items by local producers, agricultural cooperatives and mission-driven brands. The goal? To advance the social and solidarity economy — a model that prioritizes beneficial social (and increasingly also environmental) outcomes over profit.

On an individual level, Caprabo provides opportunities for people from disadvantaged groups and engages customers in tangible efforts to rebalance economic, social and environmental objectives. The store's emphasis on cohesion and inclusivity could help create a virtuous circle on a societal level, too — building awareness of the need for systemic change through the ordinary act of shopping for groceries.