How a shopping trolley is made at Garmol: crafted with care, by hand and in Spain for over 50 years

Have you ever wondered how a shopping trolley is made? Some people think Shopping trolleys simply appear in shops after arriving from faraway lands. Sorry to spoil the magic, but that’s not the case. The truth is that behind every trolley there are many skilled hands, decades of experience and quite a few cups of coffee. 

Behind every Garmol trolley there is much more than steel tubes, wheels and a bag. There are people who have spent decades doing their job with the same care as on their very first day, using quality materials, working with local suppliers and following one very clear philosophy: making something as everyday as shopping much more comfortable, a little more stylish and, why not, a bit more enjoyable too.

Today we’d like to invite you inside our factory to discover how a shopping trolley made in Spain is made and why we’ve spent more than 50 years believing that quality still matters.

Over 50 years creating a different way to shop

The story of Garmol began in 1968 in Dénia (Alicante), where we still design and manufacture our Shopping trolleys more than half a century later.

We’re a family business, and that shows in the way we work. We like to take our time, pay attention to every detail and, above all, look after people. In fact, many members of our team have been with us for more than twenty or even thirty years. That experience is one of our greatest strengths, and it can be seen in every trolley that leaves our factory.

Over the years we’ve produced hundreds of thousands of Shopping trolleys that have accompanied several generations. Many have travelled countless miles between supermarkets, local markets and neighbourhood shops. Others have travelled thousands of miles further, ending up on the streets of Chile or Japan. And many are still in use today, proving that when something is made properly, it lasts.

But at Garmol we’ve never wanted to manufacture trolleys alone. We’ve also wanted to change the way people think about shopping.

Our philosophy can be summed up in one idea that has been with us for years: Happy Shopping.

We believe shopping doesn’t have to feel like a boring chore. If it’s something we do every week, why not make it more comfortable, more colourful, more stylish and more enjoyable? For us, Happy Shopping means exactly that: turning an everyday task into a better experience with more comfort, more design, more capacity, more sustainability, more colour, more joy — more of everything, always.

Everything starts long before the wheels are fitted

When people ask how a shopping trolley is made, they usually picture the final assembly. In reality, a great trolley starts much earlier.

It all begins with selecting materials designed to stay with you for many years. We use robust steel frames, durable fabrics made to withstand everyday use, and high-quality recycled plastic components manufactured by local companies.

Whenever possible, we choose to work with local suppliers. Our bags, for example, are made in a nearby workshop with which we’ve shared a long-standing relationship. Our plastic components are also manufactured close to our facilities, while the epoxy coating applied to the chassis is carried out by specialists who ensure a durable, hard-wearing finish.

Choosing local businesses not only allows us to maintain closer control over quality. It also means supporting local industry, reducing transport and continuing to back responsible manufacturing in Spain.

A shopping trolley isn’t made by machines alone

Although modern tools and machinery make many processes easier, the truth is that people are still at the heart of every shopping trolley.

The steel is cut and bent to shape the chassis, while the fabrics are cut using semi-manual processes and specialised machinery for each stage, such as a fabric cutting press that makes the most of every piece while ensuring a precise cut. 

One of the most distinctive details is that the Garmol logo is screen-printed by hand onto every bag. It’s a small touch that has been part of our identity for years and helps make every shopping trolley genuinely authentic.

Every frame, every wheel and every bag pass through different hands before becoming a shopping trolley ready to leave the factory.

Designing a shopping trolley is also part of making it

If there’s one thing that defines Garmol, it’s that we’ve never seen the shopping trolley as a boring object. Plain colours are still our best sellers, especially in many shops. They’re elegant, timeless and go with everything. But our playful spirit also inspires us to create trolleys with bold prints and vibrant colours for people looking for something a little different.

That’s why we develop new prints and collections with their own personality. Some designs, such as Savia and Urban Move, are created entirely by our in-house design team, whose aim is to produce original, distinctive bags.

We enjoy being bold. We like the idea that anyone choosing a Garmol shopping trolley can decide between a discreet design or one full of character. After all, a shopping trolley is also part of your lifestyle. And if you can choose one that makes you smile every time you head out shopping, even better. That’s what Happy Shopping is all about.

There isn’t one perfect shopping trolley. There’s a perfect shopping trolley for every person.

At Garmol, we don’t just think about how a shopping trolley looks. We also think about how you’re going to use it.

Not everyone shops in the same way. Some people walk to the supermarket every day, some fill their trolley once a week, some have to climb stairs in buildings without a lift, and others look for a lightweight model because they have limited space at home.

That is why, as well as designing bags with personality, we have spent years developing a wide variety of chassis and configurations to suit very different needs.

From classic 2-wheel trolleys, which are lightweight and easy to handle, to 4-wheel models that allow you to push your shopping comfortably. We also offer folding Shopping trolleys, stair-climbing models, large-capacity versions, trolleys with an insulated bag, models with swivel wheels for those looking for maximum mobility, and even specific solutions such as the Relax shopping trolley with a seat or the Jumbo Pet, designed to carry pets in complete comfort.

This is also part of the Garmol philosophy: we design Shopping trolleys that adapt to each customer’s lifestyle and needs, and that is Happy Shopping.

Manufacturing locally also means manufacturing products that last

At a time when many products are designed to last only as long as necessary, we still believe in a different way of manufacturing. 

We would rather make a robust shopping trolley that can stay with you for many years than one designed to be replaced quickly. Sustainability is not only about using recycled plastic, reducing environmental impact through local production or lowering our carbon footprint by installing solar panels to optimise electricity consumption. Sustainability is also about creating long-lasting products. After all, the most sustainable shopping trolley is the one that is still being used years later.

That is why we take great care when choosing materials, opting for quality components and looking for solutions that help extend the product’s useful life. We believe that manufacturing products properly is also a way of caring for the planet.

Our work doesn’t end when the trolley leaves the factory

There is something that matters just as much to us as making a good shopping trolley: continuing to be there when you need us.

Every year, we receive messages from customers who bought a trolley many years ago and need a spare part or simply have a question. 

Whenever we can, we look for a solution. Because to us, a trolley does not stop being ours when it leaves the factory. It remains a Garmol trolley for many years to come.

Customer service is part of the way we understand our work. We like to listen, offer advice and help ensure that every trolley can continue to accompany you and make your life easier for many years.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why so many customers continue to place their trust in us, generation after generation.

Making a Garmol trolley means building trust

Now you know a little more about how a shopping trolley is made.

It begins as a steel tube, a carefully selected fabric and an idea born from many hours of experience. It then passes through different hands, gradually takes shape and eventually becomes a companion for hundreds of shopping trips.

If we had to sum up the way we work in three ideas, they would be:

• We have been manufacturing in Spain since 1968, with a commitment to quality, proximity and experience.
• We design Shopping trolleys made to last, using durable materials, high-quality recycled plastic and working with businesses from our local area.
• We create a wide variety of models, chassis, colours and prints, knowing that everyone shops differently and believing that shopping can also be fun. 

And the next time you see a Garmol trolley out on the street, remember that there is much more behind it than a simple shopping trolley. There are people who have spent decades putting care into their work to make shopping a little more comfortable… and a great deal more cheerful.

Would you like to discover our full collection of Shopping trolleys? Visit our shop and find the perfect model for enjoying authentic Happy Shopping.

Frequently asked questions about how a shopping trolley is made