The former leader of Unió Democràtica, Josep Antoni Duran Lleida, has been appointed president of Aseda, the Spanish association that represents distributors, supermarkets, and the retail trade. For the past four years, he has served in this role, and the organization stresses that his leadership reinforces a culture of constructive dialogue and ongoing reconciliation while ensuring continuity in its mission. Aseda notes that Duran Lleida brings a steady hand and a long track record of public service to the presidency, values that align with the association’s goals of stability and progress for the sector.
In the announcement of the Board of Directors, Aseda highlights that the organization encompasses a vast majority of the industry’s activity by representing about three quarters of the sector’s companies. The group celebrates Duran Lleida’s extensive personal and professional career and acknowledges his capacity to carry important political responsibilities at local, regional, national, and European levels. His parliamentary and international experience is presented as a resource that can broaden the advocacy work of Aseda and strengthen ties with policymakers and stakeholders across markets in North America and Europe alike.
For his part, Duran Lleida has emphasized the central role of local food distribution, as expressed by supermarkets, in shaping regional economies and daily life. He points out that Aseda operates in a sector that creates jobs and wealth, contributes to regional development, and underpins everyday consumer life. He notes the ongoing legislative activity at regional, national, and European levels that touches on the circular economy, consumer protection, and trade relations, and he expresses a commitment to expanding the association’s efforts to engage with lawmakers, regulators, and industry partners as much as possible to advance practical, market-friendly policies.
In reflecting on the organization’s founding values, the Duran Lleida figure is seen by companies as embodying two decades of institutional principles. These include a focus on environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and social responsibility within the food distribution system. Aseda continues to navigate a period of change marked by a multi-factor crisis that requires thoughtful leadership, adaptive strategies, and a clear vision for sustainable growth. The forthcoming work plan is expected to stress sustainable practices, responsible sourcing, and operational efficiency, alongside a continued emphasis on dialogue with communities, suppliers, and customers to safeguard the sector’s essential role in daily life and regional vitality.