SHARING CITIES: an innovative partnership between the Bel Group and street vendors

Abstract

Street vendors and street food play a significant role in the informal sector in emerging markets. Street vendors stand as a primary source of supply in terms of food purchase for low-income consumers. However, their work is threatened by the rapid modernization of economies in developing and emerging countries and the evolution of the food retail industry. Furthermore, harassment, thugs, corruption, and economic insecurities hamper the street vendor's daily life. It is therefore essential to support street vendors in gaining resilience and adapting to the modernization of the economy of their countries. This article analyses how a corporate-led initiative –Sharing Cities designed by the Bel Group– can at the same time empower street vendors and provide business opportunities for the Group. Its aim is to study the interface between a formal company and the informal sector