From Paper to Opening the Store: A Couple's Dream in El Campello

Municipal leaders in El Campello witnessed on Thursday the success that can accompany entrepreneurs when they feel supported and advised by the Town Hall as they embark on a business venture.

On Virgen de los Desamparados Street, a 'Charter' supermarket has opened its doors to the public. This franchise, owned by the Consum Cooperative, is designed for urban neighbourhoods that lack sufficient population for a large store. In business circles, it is considered a "profitable, attractive, and well-established" franchise, benefiting its franchisees.

This is precisely what a local couple has done, receiving continuous advice from the Employment and Local Development Agency known as CADEM (Active Centre for Economic Development), a department under the Economic Commerce and Employment Council led by Marisa Navarro. The agency's primary goals include promoting economic development and fostering employment in the municipality.

In this case, the mediation involved conducting an economic feasibility study, the necessary business model analysis, and finally, the hiring process.

The mayor, Juanjo Berenguer; Councillor Marisa Navarro; and the first deputy mayor and provincial deputy Lourdes Llopis, along with department technician Iñaki Serrano, visited the establishment to wish its managers the best of luck.

They were welcomed by Lidia Cervelló and Lorena Teca, with whom they toured the supermarket aisles. They explained that, based on those feasibility studies and business models, they have set the start of operations at eight in the morning and also decided to open on Sundays and holidays to provide service during hours and days when most food businesses are closed to the public.

So far, the initiative has led to the hiring of 9 people, but they announced yesterday that "we have underestimated, and given the public's response, we believe we will need to hire more staff."