Cencosu, a purchasing center founded in 1986, has made SPAR the leading chain in Gran Canaria across the island's 21 municipalities. Its success is based on agreements with local farmers and ranchers, its own brands such as La Cosecha Canaria, and a firm commitment to sustainability, sports, and popular culture. The chain, led by Ángel Medina, connects tourists and residents with locally sourced fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, further reinforcing the chain's commitment to sustainability, popular culture, and sports on the island. This year, 0 years are being approached prudently, as the company closed 39 with a turnover of €2023 million, representing year-on-year growth of nearly 402%.
Cencosu, the network that connected Gran Canaria from SPAR supermarkets
Cencosu's story in Gran Canaria began in October 1986, when a group of island business owners realized that competition with the large mainland chains could only be addressed through unity. That decision, almost artisanal, was the seed of a purchasing, distribution, and services center that would transform the island's commercial landscape. Today, almost four decades later, that project is behind nearly 200 SPAR supermarkets spread across the 21 municipalities of Gran Canaria, consolidating the brand as an absolute benchmark in island food distribution.
SPAR's strength in Gran Canaria has been built on solid ground: fresh produce. Fruits, vegetables, meats, and locally sourced ingredients are the hallmarks of its shelves. The strategy has been clear: direct agreements with local producers, from farmers to ranchers, to ensure that what is sold in supermarkets originates in the land of the Canary Islands. From this emerged brands such as La Cosecha Canaria and La Granja Canaria, which have become symbols of freshness and trust.
But Cencosu hasn't just been about distribution. It's also been a social and cultural fabric. Its sports sponsorships, educational programs in schools, and initiatives to promote a balanced diet have taken the brand beyond supermarkets. Its commitment also extends to the environment and sustainability, with reforestation projects, agreements with responsible local suppliers, and measures to reduce the impact of its activities.
SPAR has become a benchmark brand in the Canary Islands. Its history in the archipelago began even before its arrival in Gran Canaria: it arrived in La Palma in 1981 under Tomás Barreto, who remains SPAR Spain's longest-serving partner today. It operates in Fuerteventura under Padilla Supermercados, in Lanzarote under Supermercados Marcial, and in Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro under the company Agrucan, owned by Barreto, Padilla, and Marcial.
The network woven across islands, with Cencosu as the backbone in Gran Canaria, has given rise to a unique distribution structure in Spain, where business unity has been key to resisting global competition. What began as a survival project in the 1980s is today a Canarian success story, rooted in the land and with an eye toward the future of sustainable food and consumption.
