Mercadona
 | |
 | |
| Company type | Private (Sociedad Anónima) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Francisco Roig Ballester |
| Headquarters | , Spain |
Number of locations | 1,672 stores (4 October 2024)[1] |
Area served | Spain, Portugal |
Key people | Juan Roig (Chairman & CEO) |
| Products | Groceries |
| Revenue | €35.5 billion (US$39 billion) (2023)[2] |
| Total assets | 8,194,637,000 ±1000 (2016)  |
| Owner |
|
Number of employees | 100,000[1] |
| Website | www |
Mercadona (Valencian pronunciation: [meɾkaˈðɔna], Spanish pronunciation: [meɾkaˈðona]) is a Spanish supermarket chain operating 1,618 stores in Spain and 61 in Portugal as of April 2025.[1]
History
The company was founded in 1977 by Francisco Roig Ballester and Trinidad Alfonso Mocholí in Tavernes Blanques, Valencian Community. Initially operating as a butcher’s shop, it expanded into grocery retail and developed into one of Spain’s largest supermarket chains.[3][4]
In 1981, Juan Roig became CEO, initiating a period of nationwide expansion. In the 1990s, the company redesigned store formats, updated branding, and adopted operational changes to compete with rivals such as Carrefour and Eroski.
Recent developments
Mercadona has pursued significant international expansion in recent years, particularly in Portugal. By 2025, the company had invested over €1 billion in Portuguese operations, opening 63 stores and planning to reach 70 by the end of the year.[5] This includes entry into the Lisbon market, with planned openings in Alta de Lisboa and Quinta do Lambert.[6]
In June 2025, Mercadona inaugurated its largest logistics centre to date in Almeirim, Portugal, covering 120,000 m² and employing 630 people, with an investment of €290 million.[7]
The company has also introduced price reductions on selected staple products, such as certain Hacendado coffee varieties, as part of a long-term affordability strategy.[8]
Controversies
In June 2025, Mercadona was fined €2.6 million by Spanish data protection authorities for using facial recognition technology in stores without adequate legal basis, raising privacy concerns.[9]
Labour unions have also reported cases of workplace harassment. In June 2025, the Galician CIG union filed a complaint alleging verbal abuse, isolation, and undue pressure on employees at the Porto do Molle store in Nigrán, Spain.[10]
In another widely reported incident, an employee in Spain was dismissed for eating store products (croissants and cookies) without payment. The dismissal was upheld by the courts as proportionate and supported by security footage.[11]
References
- ^ a b c Mercadona now employs more than 100,000 people (official site)
- ^ Mercadona achieves revenues of 35,527 million euros in 2023 (12 March 2023)
- ^ "Mercadona reveals suppliers to fight claims of ditching Spanish produce". El País. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ Ball, Deborah and Ilan Brat (23 October 2012). "Spanish Supermarket Chain Finds Recipe". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Mercadona activa la avalancha de supermercados fuera de España". HuffPost. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "El cambio que llega a Mercadona a partir de 2025". AS. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Mercadona inaugura en Portugal su mayor centro logístico tras una inversión de 290 millones". Cinco Días. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Juan Roig and Mercadona unsettle the market with a decision that many are already celebrating". E-Notícies. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Is your supermarket spying on you? Mercadona, Carrefour got caught". Euro Weekly News. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "La CIG denuncia acoso laboral en el Mercadona de Porto do Molle, en Nigrán". Cadena SER. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "El caso del empleado de Mercadona despedido por comer croissants". HuffPost. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
External links
