In a year in which it opened another dozen stores, reaching a total of 49 after four years of operation, sales on this side of the border almost doubled (+90%) compared to the previous year.

“We are very satisfied with Portugal. We managed to make customers welcome us and we already have an 8% market share [in the country]. For the first time, we did not lose money in Portugal, and, in 2024, we are certain that we will make money in Portugal. (…) The project is already profitable”, said the president, Juan Roig, as reported by ECO.

The announcement was made during the results presentation press conference, held in Valencia. With 1,800 jobs created in 2023, the distribution company now has 5,300 employees in Portugal, where it arrived in 2019 and which is the first internationalization experience of the food retail leader in Spain.

After 291 million euros invested in Portugal last year, in 2024 it plans to invest another 196 million euros, destined for the opening of 11 stores and the completion of the Almeirim logistics block, in the district of Santarém, which is scheduled to open in July. It will be the second in the country – there is another in Póvoa de Varzim.

According to the expansion plan for 2024, the retailer will open 11 new commercial spaces in Portugal and debut in two districts: Guarda and Évora. Furthermore, in the second half of the year, the Almeirim (Santarém) logistics block will be inaugurated, which will be the company's largest in the Iberian Peninsula.

Guarda, Oliveira de Azeméis, Coimbra (Solum and Eiras), Leiria, Évora, Vila Nova de Gaia (Canelas), Sintra (Rio de Mouro), Maia (Moreira), Seixal (Fernão Ferro) and Barreiro (Lavradio) are the next locations of Mercadona supermarkets in Portugal, which expects to end this year with a total of 60 stores nationwide.