Mercadona Opens New Supermarket Model in Two Major Spanish Cities

Mercadona, one of Spain's leading supermarket chains, has unveiled a new store model called 'Tienda 9' in two of the country's largest cities, Bilbao and Madrid, following a combined investment of 11 million euros.

The launch represents the latest step in Mercadona's ongoing effort to modernise its retail network and adapt its stores to new consumer expectations, particularly around technology and store design.

In Bilbao, the new store opened in the Miribilla neighbourhood, with an individual investment of 1.9 million euros. Reports describe the store as a significant shift in how the company approaches supermarket design, suggesting it could serve as a template for future openings.

A comparable store has also opened in Madrid under the same 'Tienda 9' concept, reinforcing the idea that this format may be rolled out more widely across Spain in the coming months or years.

Central to this new model is an increased emphasis on technology, a priority long championed by Juan Roig, Mercadona's founder and president. Roig has consistently advocated for integrating advanced tools and systems into the company's stores, and this latest investment appears to confirm that his strategy remains firmly in place.

According to the reporting, Roig's commitment to technological innovation shows no signs of slowing, even as Mercadona continues to expand its physical footprint across Spanish cities.

Mercadona has built its reputation as one of Spain's most influential supermarket groups, and moves such as this one are closely watched by industry observers as indicators of broader trends in Spanish retail.

While specific details about the technological features of the new 'Tienda 9' stores have not been fully outlined in the available reporting, the scale of investment suggests the company views this model as a meaningful evolution rather than a minor update.

The opening of these two flagship-style locations in major urban centres may also signal Mercadona's intent to prioritise high-visibility markets as it tests and refines this updated store concept before any potential wider rollout.