Local Business Views Dinosol Supermarkets’ Arrival in La Gomera
“We are absolutely not against HiperDino arriving; quite the opposite. The population of La Gomera has grown significantly, and even more so in San Sebastián. A few months ago, Tu Trébol had to close temporarily, and the only operator, SPAR, was unable to meet the demands of the entire population.” This is how Fernando Morales, manager of the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (Cepyme) in La Gomera, describes local retailers’ views on the impending arrival of a large Dinosol Supermarkets outlet on the Colombina Island.
Plans for a New Hypermarket
In 2022, Dinosol announced its intention to open a hypermarket in San Sebastián, accompanied by a housing development project. Although this initiative was initially set to proceed immediately, the project has faced significant delays. This summer, three years after the announcement, the chain submitted the Detail Study UA–El Calvario 1 to the San Sebastián City Council, which is currently undergoing public review. This urban planning document aims to propose regulations for the site where the construction is intended, though it is not the project itself. It serves as a necessary preliminary step before the developer can present a building project and apply for a construction license. Hence, it may take quite some time, likely years, before the HiperDino in San Sebastián, along with the associated housing, becomes a reality.
Local Shopping Habits
Nevertheless, Cepyme believes La Gomera is in urgent need of a large supermarket to discourage consumers from shopping off the island. “The entry of HiperDino is essential; many people still do their shopping outside La Gomera, in Tenerife, because we have one of the most expensive baskets of goods. The entry of any large operator would be beneficial for consumers,” explains Morales.
Currently, nearly all the supermarket offerings in La Gomera are dominated by SPAR, which operates nearly a dozen establishments on the island. This near-monopolistic situation is only offset by Tu Trébol in San Sebastián, which recently lost its concession to operate in the municipal market, with a new bidding process underway, along with smaller supermarkets like Suma and Udaco, located only in select populated areas and various family-run stores.
Community Support
In San Sebastián, sentiments are also favourable towards the arrival of Dinosol Supermarkets in the city. Besides the ruling government group that approved the Detail Study, the opposition, solely represented by the PSOE, has urged that bureaucracy does not “prolong” the project. When Dinosol first proposed this plan in 2022, the PSOE supported it, arguing that the introduction of new retail space “encourages competition and, consequently, reduces prices.”
