Pescadería Espe, located at stall 12 of the Mercado de la Bretxa in Donostia, has been named Gipuzkoa Commerce 2026 in the 22nd edition of awards recognizing best practices in the sector and valuing its contribution to economic development and the dynamism of streets and neighborhoods.
IKO Igeldoko Kooperatiba, also from Donostia, has been awarded for its sustainability, and Ness by Esti García, from Ordizia, received the Basque Retail School award for its continuous training.
The event, organized by the Chamber of Gipuzkoa, was attended by Jakes Aguirrezabal, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Commerce of the Basque Government; Amaia Arregui, Provincial Director of Economic Promotion; and Ane Oyarbide, Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Equality, Economy, and Local Employment of the Donostia City Council. A key message emphasized the need to maintain a vibrant and competitive commercial activity, as the territory's economy is a shared responsibility.
Pescadería Espe, with 88 years of history, is currently managed by the third generation, led by Carolina Archeli, a nurse with a master's in nutrition. The Chamber of Gipuzkoa highlighted its "significant evolution from a traditional fishmonger model towards a more innovative, customer-friendly, and client-oriented approach," incorporating technology such as WhatsApp and YouTube to showcase its daily products and share information on fish's nutritional properties.
The business at the Mercado de la Bretxa also offers home delivery and has agreements with other businesses for pick-up points, in addition to making team management and well-being a "fundamental pillar." The Chamber entity underscores its "ability to adapt to new market demands, customer orientation, and service quality, as well as its modernization process in a traditional sector".
The award for Sustainable Commerce has gone to IKO Igeldoko Kooperatiba, located in the Igeldo neighborhood. Founded in 1911 to strengthen the alliance between producers and consumers, it opened its current store and headquarters in 2005 with the aim of "improving the quality of life for the inhabitants of Igeldo and its surroundings through close, quality commerce with a strong local connection," according to the Chamber of Gipuzkoa.
The cooperative not only promotes zero-kilometer products but also revitalizes the neighborhood with a tourist service that allows participants to learn about the natural and historical heritage of Igeldo while accessing the benefits of local produce, thus fostering the "responsible consumption" for which it has been awarded.
Ness by Esti García, a business in Ordizia with over 25 years of experience, has received the Basque Retail School award for its strong commitment to continuous training. It has established itself as a multi-brand "concept store" for women's clothing and accessories. Its owner, Esti García, constantly pursues further education through courses, fairs, forums, and webinars.
The Chamber of Gipuzkoa highlights that Ness by Esti García "offers a close, attentive, and pressure-free shopping experience, where the client can feel comfortable, receive professional styling advice, and enjoy the process in a relaxed environment, even with small touches like a coffee during the visit".
The Chamber of Gipuzkoa aims to "extend this recognition to the entire territory's commerce" through the 10 Bitxiak category, which highlights ten businesses from the territory, one per region. These awards are popular in nature, with businesses chosen by the "inhabitants of each region and local merchant associations".
This year's recognized businesses include Ormazabal Loradenda (Buruntzaldea), Raos (Debagoiena), Pitxintxu (Debabarrena), Leiresh (Goierri), Inma Lo (Donostialdea), Pastelería Aguirre (Bidasoa), Larrarte (Oarsoaldea), Boutique MP (Tolosaldea), Julita Mertzeria (Urola Garaia), and The Pass (Urola Kosta).
