Mercadona is the leading food retailer in Spain, with over 1,600 supermarkets across the Iberian Peninsula. The question of where to find Mercadona in France frequently arises among French consumers, drawn by the competitive prices and private label brands of the chain. The answer, to date, can be summed up in one sentence: Mercadona has no stores on French soil.
Portugal Strategy: Why Mercadona Invests Elsewhere than in France
The Valencian chain focuses all its international expansion efforts on a single country: Portugal.
Mercadona has announced the opening of twelve additional supermarkets in Portugal in 2026, with a stated goal of 81 stores in the country by the end of the year. The annual investment in Portugal is estimated at around 150 million euros. Since 2019, Portugal has remained the only foreign market for the chain.
This Portuguese acceleration is accompanied by a logistical reinforcement designed on an Iberian scale. Mercadona is structuring a supply chain between Spain and Portugal, with new warehouses and calibrated flows for these two markets. No comparable infrastructure exists on the French side, and no official project has been announced for France in the short or medium term.
To consult the list of Mercadona stores in France and understand the alternatives accessible from the Hexagon, one must turn to the border stores on the Spanish side.
Mercadona Stores Near the French Border
In the absence of a retail outlet in France, French consumers wishing to shop at Mercadona must cross the border. Several supermarkets are located just a few kilometers from French territory, mainly in Catalonia and the Spanish Basque Country.
The Most Accessible Stores from France
- Mercadona Figueres, in the province of Girona, is one of the closest for residents of southern France. The city is less than an hour’s drive from Perpignan.
- Mercadona Irun, in the Basque Country, attracts border customers from Hendaye and the French Basque coast. This store is often cited as the most frequented by the French.
- Several other outlets exist in La Jonquera, Roses, or Girona, all accessible during a trip to the Costa Brava.
These border stores offer the same range as any Spanish Mercadona: food products (fresh, frozen, grocery), cosmetics from the Deliplús brand, and cleaning products. The private labels Hacendado and Deliplús make up the bulk of the offering, with a quality-price ratio that explains the enthusiasm of French consumers.
French Grocery Market: Barriers to Entry
The fascination of the French for Mercadona is real, but it is not enough to trigger an establishment. The grocery market in France has characteristics that complicate the arrival of a new foreign player.
The commercial density is already very high. Historical brands (Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché, Auchan, Lidl) occupy the territory tightly, with powerful purchasing centers and mature logistics networks. Finding viable commercial locations involves a long regulatory process, including commercial operating permits and urban planning constraints.
Mercadona’s model relies on integrated control of the chain, without franchising or licensing. The chain manufactures or has a significant portion of its products made through dedicated suppliers, called “interproveedores.” Replicating this model in France would require establishing local industrial partnerships, a process that took several years in Portugal.
Different Consumer Expectations
French shopping habits differ significantly from the Spanish market. The place of national brands, attachment to local circuits (markets, city center shops), and requirements for labeling and traceability create an environment that Mercadona would need to deeply understand before any opening.
On the other hand, the rise of hard discounters in France shows that an aggressive price positioning can work. Lidl took over twenty years to reach its current size in the French market, a timeframe that gives an idea of the time needed to establish itself.
Mercadona in France: Recurring Rumors and Documented Reality
For several years, articles and online discussions have mentioned an imminent arrival of Mercadona in France. These contents generally rely on the declared interest of certain industry players or on the geographical proximity of border stores.
The available data does not confirm a project for establishment. Mercadona’s public roadmap remains strictly Iberian. No official communication from the chain mentions France as a target market, whether in annual reports or management statements.
The name Olivier Zouari, a figure in the distribution sector in France, has been associated with discussions about a possible arrival of Mercadona. However, no formal agreement has been made public at this stage.
- The nearest Mercadona supermarkets remain those in northern Spain, accessible by car from the southwest of France.
- Mercadona products (Hacendado, Deliplús) are not distributed in any French chain, either online or in-store.
- Search results mentioning Mercadona stores in France redirect to the Spanish border outlets, where the offering and prices are identical to the rest of the network.
For French consumers, the situation remains unchanged: access to Mercadona’s offering requires a trip to Spain. The question is not whether Mercadona could succeed in France, but whether the chain will ever choose to take the plunge, as its Portuguese expansion is already mobilizing considerable resources.