Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona is set to enter the Portuguese market in July of this year.
The first store will open in Vila Nova da Gaia on 2 July, followed by three more launches in the coming weeks in Matosinhos, Maia, and Gondomar.
It is the retailer's first launch outside of Spain, where it is has a 25% share.
In November of last year, Mercadona confirmed plans to launch in Portugal.
Expansion Plans
The retailer has already invested an estimated €160 million and is aiming for 10 stores in Portugal by the end of the year.
The other locations include Porto, Ovar, Braga, São João da Madeira, Barcelos and Vila Nova de Gaia.
In March of this year, during the presentation of annual results, Mercadona’s chief executive, Juan Roig Alfonso, said the company aims to open at least 150 stores in Portugal.
Unlike Spain, Mercadona’s supermarkets in Portugal will operate on Sundays, which is the second most profitable day for food retail after Saturday.
The head office of the Portuguese operation will be located in Porto, while Matosinhos will host a Co-innovation Centre, and a 1,000 square-metre laboratory where Mercadona will study local tastes and habits for product innovation in Portugal.
Mercadona completed the construction of its 50,000 square-metre logistics base in Póvoa de Varzim, which will supply supermarkets in the northern part of Portugal.
It houses two 12,000 square-metre warehouses for the storage of dry, chilled and frozen products.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
