Ibiza's restaurant sector is calling for clearer rules on supermarkets that sell prepared food and provide tables and chairs for customers to eat inside the establishment.

The issue has become one of the main concerns raised by the Association of Bars, Restaurants and Cafés of Ibiza and Formentera as the 2026 high season comes to an end.

The association does not object to supermarkets selling prepared food for takeaway. Its concern is that some establishments are increasingly offering customers the possibility of consuming that food on site, potentially moving into an area traditionally associated with hospitality businesses.

Restaurants Say the Activities Are Being Mixed

Pimeef Restauració president Miguel Tur Costa argues that the distinction between retail and hospitality needs to be clarified.

His position is that a supermarket with a commercial licence should either restrict prepared food to takeaway or obtain the appropriate authorisation and comply with the same requirements as bars and restaurants.

That could include obligations relating to staffing, labour conditions and the regulations governing hospitality businesses.

The association argues that allowing on-site consumption without the same requirements creates an uneven competitive environment.

Takeaway Food Is Not the Main Problem

The restaurant sector has made an important distinction between selling prepared food and providing a place to eat it.

Supermarkets have increasingly expanded their ready-to-eat sections, with prepared meals and other convenience products becoming a growing part of their offer.

Pimeef Restauració says there is no objection to customers buying that food to take home.

The concern begins when the establishment provides tables and chairs specifically for customers to eat there.

A Growing Trend

The association says the practice is becoming increasingly common as supermarkets adapt to changing consumer habits.

The ready-to-eat category has expanded while some traditional counters, including staffed delicatessen and fish sections, have been reduced.

For supermarkets, offering prepared food responds to demand from customers looking for faster and more convenient options.

For restaurants and cafés, however, the concern is that supermarkets can begin competing for the same customers without necessarily operating under the same regulatory framework.

Pimeef Wants Two Possible Solutions

The restaurant association has proposed two possible ways of dealing with the situation.

The first would be for supermarkets offering on-site food consumption to obtain a dual licence and assume the obligations applicable to hospitality businesses.

The second would be to prohibit the installation of tables and chairs for customers to consume food in establishments operating solely under a commercial licence.

The objective is to establish a clearer administrative distinction between a retail business and a hospitality establishment.

Part of a Wider Cost Problem

The debate over supermarkets comes as Ibiza's hospitality sector faces a difficult year in terms of operating costs.

Pimeef Restauració says businesses are dealing with higher expenditure on areas including waste collection, energy, raw materials, staffing and administrative procedures.

The association has also raised concerns over increases in municipal waste fees.

In Sant Josep, it gives examples of restaurant businesses whose annual waste charges have increased from €1,800 to €9,600 and from €3,000 to €14,000.

The association says other municipalities have also seen increases.

Waste Costs Under Pressure

The sector is particularly concerned that waste costs could rise again if rubbish generated in Ibiza has to be transported to Mallorca for treatment.

Pimeef Restauració argues that repeated increases are difficult for small family-run businesses to absorb, particularly establishments that serve dozens of customers each day.

The association is therefore asking the administrations to avoid adding further financial pressure while also addressing what it considers regulatory imbalances.

Who Is Responsible for the Rules?

The concerns over supermarket dining involve several levels of administration.

The Balearic Government has powers relating to tourism and commerce, while municipalities are responsible for issues such as local waste charges.

That means the hospitality sector cannot address all of its concerns through a single administration.

Pimeef Restauració is calling for greater coordination and clearer rules so businesses know exactly which activities fall under retail and which require hospitality authorisation.

A Debate About Ibiza's Changing Food Scene

The dispute reflects a wider transformation in the way people buy and consume food.

Supermarkets are increasingly becoming places where customers can not only shop for ingredients, but also purchase ready-to-eat meals designed for immediate consumption.

Restaurants and cafés, meanwhile, are facing higher costs and strong competition across Ibiza's food market.

The question now being raised by the hospitality sector is where the regulatory line should be drawn.

Clearer Rules Requested

For Pimeef Restauració, the issue is not about preventing supermarkets from adapting to modern consumer habits.

It is about ensuring that businesses carrying out essentially the same activity are subject to comparable rules.

The association wants the authorities to clarify whether providing tables and chairs for customers to eat prepared food constitutes a hospitality activity and, if so, what licences and obligations should apply.

As Ibiza's food and retail sectors continue to evolve, that distinction could become increasingly important.

For now, the restaurant sector is asking the administrations to provide a clearer framework before the expansion of on-site supermarket dining becomes an even more established part of Ibiza's food scene.