Mercadona is a Spanish retail chain that has over 1,600 supermarkets in Spain and Portugal. The chain does not have stores in France, but several points of sale located near the Catalan border regularly attract French consumers, particularly from the south of Occitanie.
The Tienda 9 format of Mercadona: what changes in stores near the border
Mercadona is rolling out a new supermarket concept called Tienda 9, which is gradually replacing the old model (Tienda 8) across its network. The chain plans to invest 3.7 billion euros between 2026 and 2033 to transform almost all of its stores.
What makes this change relevant for French visitors: several Tienda 9 are opening in Catalonia, in the corridor that leads directly to the border areas frequented from Perpignan or Céret. Cities like Blanes, Sitges, Cambrils, or La Bisbal d’Empordà are already hosting this new format.
The changes are concrete. The fruit, vegetable, and fresh produce sections occupy a larger space, with an emphasis on local and seasonal products. The bakery offers more items prepared on-site. The overall layout facilitates movement, with wider aisles and simplified signage.
For a French consumer used to Carrefour or Leclerc formats, the difference is mainly noticeable in the visible freshness of the fruit and vegetable sections and in the clarity of the offering, which is intentionally limited compared to a traditional hypermarket. Before planning your visit, the reviews of Mercadona in France shared by other visitors can help calibrate your expectations.
Mercadona in Figueres and La Jonquera: which store to choose from France
Two Spanish cities concentrate the majority of French visits: Figueres and La Jonquera. The Mercadona store in Figueres (Carrer Sant Llàtzer) is about a 25-minute drive from the Perthus border crossing. La Jonquera, on the other hand, is literally at the border.
The choice between the two depends on what you are looking for.
Figueres for grocery shopping
The Mercadona in Figueres is a standard-sized supermarket, well-stocked, with the entire range of private label brands. It is the most cited point of sale by French consumers who specifically travel for Mercadona products.
The advantage of Figueres also lies in its commercial environment: other Spanish brands are accessible nearby, allowing for price comparisons during the same trip.
La Jonquera for a quick stop
La Jonquera attracts more holidaymakers in transit on the AP-7 highway. The Gran Jonquera shopping center includes several brands. A quick stop allows for combining grocery shopping and various purchases, but the crowd is significantly larger during the summer season.
An article from L’Indépendant noted in August 2026 that holidaymakers split between La Jonquera and Le Perthus for their shopping in Spain, with preferences varying based on the type of products sought.
Mercadona private labels: the products that justify the trip
Mercadona’s business model is based on a limited assortment dominated by its private labels. This strategy, in contrast to hypermarkets with 30,000 references, explains both the low prices and the loyalty of Spanish customers.
The two brands most sought after by French consumers are:
- Hacendado (food): olive oil, canned goods, snacks, dairy products. The quality-price ratio is often cited as superior to French equivalents, including private labels
- Deliplus (cosmetics and personal care): creams, shampoos, sun products. Some references have gained a reputation that far exceeds Spain, especially through French-speaking social networks
- Bosque Verde (cleaning): laundry detergents and household products at very competitive prices, often two to three times cheaper than their national brand equivalents in France
The chain does not offer major international brands in most categories. If you are looking for a specific brand (Nutella, Coca-Cola), it may sometimes be absent or available in limited form. This deliberate choice of reducing the assortment in favor of private labels can be disorienting at first glance, but it is the mechanism that allows for price differences.
Hours and practical organization for a visit from the south of France
Since September, Mercadona has adjusted its hours in Spain. Stores generally open early in the morning and close in the early evening, but the hours vary by location. Checking the exact hours of the targeted store on the official Mercadona website remains the most reliable precaution.
Here are a few points to anticipate before your visit:
- Payment by French bank card works everywhere, but exchange fees depend on your bank (check your card’s conditions for payments in the euro zone)
- Plastic bags are not provided for free, so bring your own reusable bags
- Saturday mornings remain the busiest time in border stores, especially in Figueres
- Labels are in Spanish (and sometimes in Catalan), without French translation, which can complicate reading the compositions on some products
The Figueres store is accessible without tolls from Le Perthus via the national road. The AP-7 highway is the quick but paid alternative.
The price difference observed between a comparable shopping cart in France and Spain motivates the majority of trips. For fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and cosmetics, the difference remains significant enough to justify the journey, even when accounting for fuel from Perpignan or Narbonne.
