Are you planning a trip near the Spanish border and thinking of filling your trunk at Mercadona? It’s good to know before programming your GPS: no Mercadona store is located on French soil in 2026. The Valencian chain, despite the enthusiasm it generates among French consumers, has never opened a store in France and has not communicated any timeline for doing so.
Mercadona and the Tienda 9 format: why France will wait
The reason there are no Mercadona stores in France is not due to a lack of interest in the French market. It is due to a colossal project that the chain has been undertaking internally for several years: the transformation of its existing supermarkets into a new concept called Tienda 9.
This format rethinks the complete layout of the store, from fresh produce to the checkout area, with a total investment estimated at 3.7 billion euros by 2033 in Spain and Portugal. As long as this overhaul of the store network is not completed, Mercadona is focusing its resources on its current markets.
The only country where the chain has established itself outside of Spain remains Portugal, with about 81 stores planned by the end of 2026 and 12 new openings scheduled for this year. The investment in Portugal is around 150 million euros for the year 2026 alone, with openings in Beja, Vila Real, the Algarve, Amarante, Esposende, and Maia.
To find out where to find a Mercadona store in France, the answer has been the same for years: nowhere, and no official project has been announced.
Mercadona stores near the French border: useful addresses
The practical solution for the French who want to shop at Mercadona involves a detour to the Spanish side. Several stores are accessible within less than an hour’s drive from the border crossings in the Pyrenees.
On the Basque side
Mercadona Irun is the most frequented stop for cross-border shoppers. From Hendaye, you cross the bridge and you’re there in a few minutes. The store offers the full range, from fresh products to Deliplus cosmetics.
San Sebastián also has several points of sale, but parking is significantly more complicated than in Irun. For a quick round trip dedicated to shopping, Irun remains the logical choice.
On the Catalonia side
From Perpignan or Le Boulou, the Mercadona in Figueres (Carrer Sant Llàtzer, 54) is the most accessible. Expect about forty minutes of driving from Perpignan.
La Jonquera, just after the border crossing at Perthus, also offers options for Spanish large-scale distribution, but feedback varies on the availability of a Mercadona at that specific location. Figueres remains the safe bet.
Stores to remember for a trip from France
- Mercadona Irun: the closest to the French Basque Country, accessible from Hendaye in a few minutes, ideal for a quick shopping trip
- Mercadona Figueres: the best option from the Pyrénées-Orientales, about forty minutes from Perpignan via the AP-7 motorway
- Mercadona San Sebastián: several stores in the city, but parking makes the operation less smooth than in Irun
Mercadona products worth the trip for French consumers
You don’t cross the border to buy milk or pasta. What motivates the French to make the trip are the exclusive ranges at Mercadona, which cannot be found in French stores.
Hacendado, the in-house food brand, covers a wide spectrum: canned goods, snacks, sauces, prepared meals. Prices are significantly lower than those of private label equivalents in France, and the perceived quality has generated real enthusiasm on social media.
Deliplus, the cosmetic range, attracts customers who come specifically for creams, shampoos, and skincare products at reduced prices. Some Deliplus references have gained a reputation that far exceeds Spanish borders.
- Hacendado: food products (canned goods, olive oil, cold cuts, biscuits) with a recognized quality-price ratio
- Deliplus: cosmetics and body care at low prices, often compared to more expensive brands
- Bosque Verde: household cleaning products, a complete and economical range
Mercadona in France: what the Portuguese model teaches us
To estimate whether Mercadona could one day establish itself in France, the Portuguese case is the only concrete indicator available. The chain took six years to reach about 80 stores in Portugal, with a methodical progression city by city.
This pace, slow compared to the usual expansions of large retailers, reflects the Mercadona model: no franchises, no licenses, everything is integrated. Each store is owned and managed directly by the company. This model involves heavy investments in logistics and real estate before each new establishment.
The French market, with its firmly established chains (Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché, Lidl), represents a challenge of another magnitude. The density of the existing distribution network leaves few vacant catchment areas, and the cost of commercial real estate in France is an additional obstacle.
Nothing indicates that Mercadona is considering France before completing the Tienda 9 transformation of its Iberian network. The realistic horizon for a first opening in France extends beyond 2033, if the project ever materializes. In the meantime, the Pyrenees remain the only border to cross to fill your cart at Mercadona.
