The system of food supply in Barcelona changed over the centuries, from the protected market of medieval and modern times, to the liberalisation initiated in the mid-18th century.
The city adapted to the new context with original forms of intervention, such as the central market and the network of municipal markets, and society has contributed others, such as the consumer cooperatives, large retail outlets and specialist shops of today.
And new products were incorporated into diets, which for centuries had been based on cereals, contributing to an overall improvement in health.
