Supermarket chain begins hiring ahead of opening of new store at Nova Vila Retail Park
Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has announced that its first store in the Algarve will open in Portimão in October.
The store will be located at the Nova Vila Retail Park – inaugurated last year – and forms part of the company’s ongoing expansion in Portugal, where it already operates 72 supermarkets.
With a sales area of around 1,900 square metres, the new outlet will include sections such as butcher, fishmonger, deli, bakery and pastry, fruit and vegetables, as well as household goods, perfumery, pet care, a wine cellar and a ready-to-eat area with takeaway and dine-in options.
The company has begun recruitment to fill all available positions, highlighting its focus on stable employment and long-term career opportunities. Roles include supermarket operators, with a 40-hour working week and a starting annual salary of €15,293, rising to more than €20,900 after four years, along with up to 29 days of holiday. Maintenance assistant positions are also available under similar conditions.
According to the company, all roles offer permanent contracts from day one, with paid training provided. Training-related expenses, including meals, transport and accommodation, are covered by the employer.
This will be the first Mercadona store to open in the Algarve, although the chain is also planning to open a second store in Faro’s Vale da Amoreira.
“The arrival (of Mercadona) in the Algarve has been requested for many years and represents an important milestone in our path of internationalisation. It will bring the natural challenges of a region that combines seasonality with year-round life, which our teams were eager to embrace,” said Inês Santos, Institutional Relations Director of Mercadona in Portugal, in September 2025.
More information on the available positions can be found on the chain’s website.
