Supermarkets in Spain are allowed to sell DIY and garden products

In several regions in Spain, supermarkets and large-scale consumer stores have been allowed to open again since 11 May 2020 as part of the so-called Phase 1 of lockdown easing. The fact that this is permitted without any product range restrictions has been met with criticism, in particular also among DIY stores which continue to remain closed. This is because food retailers such as Lidl or Carrefour are also offering products from the DIY and garden segment on a large scale, according to reports by the Spanish industry service C de Comunicación.

In further regions however, Phase 1 will not begin until 25 May while other parts of the country, including the capital of Madrid, will still be stuck in Phase 0 at that time. DIY stores and hardware businesses with more than 400 m² retail space will only be allowed to open in Phase 2.