Mercadona supermarkets in Spain 2021

The Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona saw a significant increase in its number of stores over the last few years. The chain grew from 1.3 thousand in 2010 to over 1.6 thousand shops in 2021, which represents an increase of more than three hundred stores during the period considered. However, in 2020, Mercadona closed five supermarkets compared to the previous year. In 2021, 12 new stores opened in the country.

Mercadona: the indisputable leader in the supermarket scene

Mercadona was the leading supermarket chain in Spain in 2021, with one quarter of the country’s market share. Carrefour held 9.3 percent of this market, ranking the French multinational retailer second on the list. The German chain Lidl followed third, taking up 6.9 percent of the market share in the Mediterranean country.

Larger workforce, but not always on permanent contracts

Just like the number of stores, Mercadona’s headcount experienced a considerable boost in recent years. The supermarket chain had approximately 71.3 thousand professionals working at its shops and premises across the country in 2012, and the figures gradually increased and stood at 93.3 thousand employees in 2021. Even though the share of permanent employees in their staff dwindled slightly, more than 95 percent of the professionals working at Mercadona did so on a permanent contract, with contractors taking up only 4.95 percent of the chain’s workforce.