Mercadona Unveils Innovative 'Store 9' Model: A Fresh Approach to Grocery Shopping

On Tuesday, Juan Roig, the president of Mercadona, introduced a groundbreaking store concept named 'Store 9' during the company's results presentation. This innovative store format is designed with a focus on fresh products and a streamlined shopping experience, featuring a logical grouping of items, such as refrigerated and frozen goods being placed in close proximity. The Store 9 model includes a Central Workshop area that optimizes cutting, cooking, and packaging processes, making it easier for customers to access prepared meals. Roig emphasized that these changes aim to create a shopping environment that is both agile and simple. He stated, "Store 9 is the new model we are developing and learning from. This evolution represents a paradigm shift, moving from organizing the store by business to organizing it by processes." Currently being piloted in Xirivella, Valencia, Mercadona plans to roll out the Store 9 format to 59 locations by 2026 following a significant investment of 3.7 billion euros. The Xirivella location has been testing this new design for several months, adapting category organization to include wider aisles and layouts that minimize unnecessary movements. This initiative also aims to enhance the efficiency of product restocking by increasing the visibility of merchandise directly on pallets. Mercadona has faced some challenges in customer perception regarding this new model. In response to concerns raised on social media about the potential reduction of staff in the fish section due to these changes, the company clarified, "The entire team of the fish section continues to be part of Mercadona. With this change, their role adapts to other needs within the store, allowing us to maintain high service levels for our customers." In terms of performance, Mercadona reported a remarkable profit of 17.29 billion euros for 2025, marking a 24.9% increase from the previous year, supported by an 8% rise in sales reaching a total of 41.9 billion euros. Roig described this fiscal year as historic, also noting an increase of their market share by 0.6%, bringing it to 28.5% of the total market. Additionally, the company's total tax contribution reached 3.4 billion euros. Mercadona has also made strides in employment growth, creating 5,000 jobs in 2025, bringing the total workforce to 115,000 employees across Spain and Portugal. The average net salary reported for employees after four years of tenure is 2,200 euros per month, with 71% of the staff benefiting from this average wage. The launch of Store 9 is creating excitement among consumers, especially with the introduction of a new product that quickly became a best-seller, leading to significant demand across supermarkets. As Mercadona forges ahead with this refreshing store format, it will undoubtedly seek to enhance customer experience while maintaining its commitment to quality and service. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2