Spanish retail giant Mercadona is set to open its first stores in the Algarve by the end of this summer, marking the supermarket chain’s long-awaited arrival in Portugal’s southernmost region.
The announcement was made by CEO Juan Roig during the company’s annual results presentation in Valencia, where he revealed plans to open 12 new stores across Portugal in 2026, according to Jornal Económico.
Among the first locations scheduled to open this year are at Portimão’s Nova Vila Retail Park – the retail park which opened in May with its supermarket area still vacant – and in Faro’s Vale da Amoreira, bringing the brand to the Algarve for the first time.
The new openings are part of a wider national expansion that will also see stores launched in Viseu, Covilhã, Sintra, Moita, Beja, Vila Real, Amarante, Maia and Esposende.
With these additions, Mercadona will expand into four new districts in Portugal: Faro, Vila Real, Beja and Castelo Branco.
The retailer plans to invest €150 million in Portugal this year as it continues to strengthen its position in the market. Mercadona already holds an estimated 8.8% market share in the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Roig said the company is continuing to learn about the Portuguese market as it grows its operations.
“Portugal is getting better and better,” he said. “But we still need to be more Portuguese. We need to understand the reality of the country even better.”
Mercadona operates a major logistics hub in Almeirim, which supports its expanding network of stores across the country.
The company closed 2025 with an 18% increase in revenue in Portugal and profits of €26 million, figures Roig described as encouraging, though he added that the company aims to further improve profitability.
“We are very satisfied with how sales are progressing in Portugal,” he said.
