chains Archives - usatoday24

regional chains like Froiz yes

April 10, 2026 by usatoday24

For a long time now, talking about supermarkets in Spain has been equivalent to talking about Mercadona. The Valencian chain leads the sector with a business share that around 30% and is the spearhead of some of its most relevant trends, such as bet on the short assortmentthe white labelthe ready foods to eat and the tray as star format for the fresh ones. That does not mean that Juan Roig’s signature is the only one that indicates the path to follow. Another equally interesting trend can be found in the super regionals. In case there were any doubts, Froiz just reminded us. What has happened? That they have just transcended the billing and growth data of Froiz, a chain of stores based in Poio (Pontevedra) and present mainly in Galicia, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid and the north of Portugal. Said like this, it may not sound interesting (its weight in the sector is very inferior that of the large chains), but it is if we broaden the focus. Beyond the details of billing or profits, Froiz’s accounts confirm that regional chains keep the pulse in a sector in which only Mercadona, Carrefour and Lidl monopolized almost 43% of the entire pie last year, according to the latest data published by the consulting firm NielsenIQ. And how has it been? Relatively good. In 2025 Froiz reached a business volume of 970 million euroswhich translates into 3.2% more than in 2024 (940 million) and leaves the Galician group one step closer to the psychological barrier of the 1 billion. Its turnover also rises constantly. In 2024 it had already registered 3.1% and in 2023, in a scenario marked by inflation, it reached shoot up 11%. These are figures much lower than those managed by Mercadona, which in 2025 invoiced 41,858 millionbut they still reflect growth. Did it only grow in sales? No. The Pontevedra-based chain also expanded its workforce by 3.7%, placing it at 7,000 employeesand expanded its network of points of sale. Right now sum 268 spread across Galicia, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Community of Madrid and four districts of Portugal. There are half a dozen more establishments than the previous year, a growth that has been achieved thanks in part to the acquisition of several points of sale in León and investments in the capital. The firm basically works through “super” format locals (249), although it also manages seven hypermarketsa dozen cash & carry and has another 80 franchised stores. Why is it relevant? We still lack data from other food chains to have a general picture (for example those of Gadisa and Eroskidirect competitors in Galicia), but Froiz’s results connect with a trend that comes from long ago: the resistance of regional companies against the advance of giants food, such as the Carrefour, Lidl, Dia and especially Mercadona groups. Only the Valencian company reached a quota in 2025 29.5% after registering a year-on-year growth of almost half a point. Is there more data? In a recent report Regarding the sector, the consulting firm Worldpanel by Numerator (the former Kantar) in fact highlights two major trends. The first is the growth of “short assortment” chains, which facilitate the shopping experience by limiting supply and focusing above all on prices (often betting on their own private labels). The second trend that the study highlights is the behavior of regional supermarkets, which, although they have not had as good a year as previous ones, still represent an important player in the market. “In addition to the short assortment, the 2025 balance of distribution leaves us with other focuses of interest, such as regional chains, which have shown symptoms of deceleration. They grow together by 0.4 percentage points (pp) to the current 18.5%. However, they are slowed down in the second half of the year in the packaged food part, although in fresh products they continue to be differential,” comment Bernardo Rodilla, one of the directors of Worpanel by Numerator. What does that mean? Its growth as a block may have been modest (0.4 pp, according to Worldpanel), but it maintains the trend of recent years. The same consulting firm estimates that in 2019 regional supermarkets accumulated a share of 15.4%a percentage that had increased in 2024 up to 17.7%. Its latest balance already speaks of 18.5%. They are not the only signs that tell us about their resistance. Other reports have reported its ability to increase profits and muscle commercial (including sales area) in recent years. How do they grow then? Just a year ago FRS gave some keys that help understand how food sales are being redistributed and, above all, which branches are coming out worst. Specifically, it pointed to two: the “specialist channels” and the hypermarkets. Large chains and firms like Froiz may be growing, but this expansion coincides with a loss of strength of traditional businesses such as fruit shops, bakeries, butchers or fishmongers. This last case is particularly interesting, since it coincides with a historical crisis in fish consumption. The Fedepesca employers’ association estimates that since 2007 some 350 fishmongers traditional every year. Why are we going to regionals? The other big question. A recent OCU report shows that seven out of ten Chains most valued by consumers are precisely regional. Its attractiveness (and resistance) responds to a sum of factors: bets on fresh products, local merchandise and direct and personal treatment with specialists such as fruit sellers, butchers and fishmongers. Exactly opposite that happens in other large chains in the sector. The regional ones also stand out for their presence in neighborhoods and towns, brand recognition and commercial policies that usually prioritize loyalty, for example through points programs, raffles or sponsorships. There are those who simply consider them the successors from neighborhood stores. Images | Froiz In Xataka | Years ago we feared that an “apocalypse” would sweep through shopping centers. In Spain, exactly the opposite is happening.

Mercadona has been a threat to other supermarket and restaurant chains for years. Now it is for Starbucks

March 18, 2026 by usatoday24

Mercadona gained fame (and money) as a supermarket chain, but it has long since explore business avenues in sectors that go far beyond the retail traditional. The clearest movement was made in 2018, when it launched a section of cooked dishes and “ready to eat” (in fact the service is literally called that) that has grown at record speed. Today it is already offered in 1,110 stores and has allowed Juan Roig’s chain to become an unexpected rival for hoteliers, who have seen how the firm monopolizes almost 20% of the expense in food and drink, more than bars and restaurants. Now there is another sector with reasons to be on guard: coffee shops. What has happened? That Mercadona has just launched a new service in Euskadi. At the end of February The Mail revealed that the Valencian chain installed a freshly ground coffee machine ready to go in a supermarket in Bilbao. Said like this, it may seem like minor news, but it has more to it than it seems. To begin with, because it is the first Mercadona establishment to adopt this service in Basque lands. Second, because it demonstrates the speed with which the company is filling its supermarkets with ground coffee machines. Are you riding that many? It’s not so much that coffee makers are available in many stores as it is the speed at which they are expanding. Mercadona’s commitment to freshly ground coffee machines is very recent. People began to talk about her in March 2025when the company started its first tests in a handful of locations in the province of Valencia. “This is a laboratory,” the company then recognizedwho did not hide his desire to move the bet beyond Valencia. Its initial objective was that (if the idea worked) it would move to premises in the Community of Madrid after the summer. Now it is looking further, as demonstrated by its premiere in Bilbao. Is it really growing? Yes. At least if we take as reference the dossier of gastronomic services published by Mercadona itself on its website. It details that the company has continued to expand its network of coffee services, taking it to new cities. Not only that. For months Mercadona advertise the service with a specific section in which it states that it has black coffee, milk, coffee and cappuccinos. The cups can be consumed on the premises. The bet connects in part with Mercadona’s new store concept, the T9which seeks to adapt the premises to new consumer trends. Why is it important? Everything that revolves around Mercadona generates expectation. And it’s normal. Roig’s firm has managed to conquer a market share of about 30%which (beyond struggles within the retail) means that it is the chain that thousands of families trust when they need to fill their refrigerators. This growth has allowed it to become a heavyweight in the food sector, one that is no longer just viewed with suspicion by the rest of the supermarket chains. Its long shadow is also felt in the hospitality industry. Recently the consulting firm Worldpanel by Numerator published a report in which it states that Mercadona already has a value share in food and beverage consumption of 19.7%. What does that mean? That practically a fifth of everything we spend on food and drink ends up at Mercadona checkouts. The percentage is tremendous not only because of its reach. It is also the case when compared with other actors analyzed in the same study. The sum of bars, cafes and terraces is assigned a quota of around 11.2% and independent restaurants 8.6%. Conclusion: Mercadona is not only ending the idea of cooking at home, it threatens to do the same with restaurants. Why is it important? Because regardless of how Mercadona is doing, its commitment reflects profound changes in the consumption habits of Spaniards. In fact, the chain’s success is largely explained by its aim when drawing up strategies. First, it opted for the short assortment model, filling its shelves with private label items. He then launched himself into the prepared food market, convinced that kitchens have the days counted. Now your new bet invites you to ask yourself another question: Will we continue going to cafes for a mid-morning coffee or will we have it at the supermarket? Images | Mercadona In Xataka | The war against Mercadona in Spanish retail is having a great beneficiary: the supermarket next to home

Three chains are devouring the supermarket business in Spain year after year: Mercadona, Lidl and Aldi

January 6, 2026 by usatoday24

From ugly duckling to goose that lays the golden eggs. The white label revolution seems to find no ceiling in the retail Spanish. Until not so long ago, the brands associated with supermarkets carried a stigma in Spain compared to items from manufacturer brands clearly recognized by customers. It was not even strange for words like “Estandado” to be used in a pejorative way. Buying white was synonymous with buying ‘poor quality’‘option B’. Not anymore. Spanish families are increasingly betting on white label. And that is making gold for some of the country’s big chains. What has happened? That the white label is experiencing his particular revolution in it retail Spanish. And that is still striking if you take into account that until not so long ago, firms like Hacendado or Auchan carried a certain stigma compared to their competitors, the brands associated with manufacturers. It’s nothing new. For a long time we have been confirming how the white label is driving some chains of “short assortment”supermarkets that are committed to offering customers a limited selection of items. That is, instead of including a dozen different brands of cookies (or other items) on their shelves, they offer only two or one, among which they include their own brand. Chain Market share in value Difference (PP) compared to the 2024 quota Mercadona 37.0% 0.9 Carrefour Group 12.3% -0.2 Lidl 8.0% 0.5 Day Group 4.7% 0.1 Consum Group 4.5% 0.0 Eroski Group 4.4% -0.1 Alcampo Group 3.6% -0.3 aldi 2.5% 0.4 Bon Preu Group 2.4% 0.0 You save 23% 0.1 Gadis Group 1.7% 0.0 Magnifying glass 1.1% -0.1 El Corte Inglés Group 1.0% -0.2 dinosol 0.9% 0.0 Froiz 0.8% 0.0 Alimerka 0.8% 0.0 Rest of Modern distribution 12.0% -1.1 Why is it news? Because the latest data from 2025 reveal that this strategy is driving some brands to catapult them to unprecedented market shares. This is suggested by at least one recent report from Algori on consumption prepared with data from the first ten months of the year. The study shows that at the end of October the three chains that were gaining the greatest market share (in terms of value) in Spain were Mercadona (0.9 percentage points), Lidl (0.5 pp) and Aldi (0.4). Between the three, they also held a market share of 47.5%, a share clearly led by Juan Roig’s company, which alone holds 37%. DIA and Ahorramás are also growing, while others like Carrefour, Alcampo or Eroski are stagnating or decreasing. Chain % of white label sales 2023 % of white label sales 2024 % of white label sales 2025 Lidl 79.7% 81.9% 80.7% Mercadona 72.9% 74.5% 77.8% aldi 68.8% 69.1% 74.5% Day 54.2% 56.3% 65.1% consumption 33% 35.9% 37.4% Carrefour 29.3% 31.4% 33.3% Eroski 25.6% 28.4% 31.2% Alcampo 21.5% 24.3% 23.8% Why is it important? Because Mercadona, Lidl and Aldi are not just any chains. They are precisely the ones that give the greatest prominence to their own brands. At least according to another recent study from Worldpannel by Numerator, which shows that if we talk about the weight of private labels in total sales, Lidl heads the list with 80.7%, followed by Mercadona (77.8%) and Aldi (74.5%). In summary: the chains that gained the greatest market share in 2025 were the ones that most clearly opted for their own products, a strategy that often arrives backed by aggressive price differentiation. elEconomista.es precise Furthermore, Mercadona, Lidl and Aldi have increased their market shares to record figures. Their 47.5% share is more than two percentage points higher than last year, when they accounted for a total of 45.2% of the market. Everything, they explain from Algori, while the entire sector experiences growth both in terms of volume and value. And what are the forecasts? The sector is optimistic. AECOC, the consumer association, states in one of its latest reports that 44% of companies expect to close 2025 with growth data above 5%. 28% expect to increase their activity, although to a lesser extent, and 11% expect to fall. They are led by Lidl and especially Mercadona, which has been expanding its market share until it approaches or even surpasses 30% thanks to a strategy based on white label, territorial dispersion and ready-made foods. Images | Wikipedia and Vitaly Gariev (Unsplash) In Xataka | Mercadona has found a vein to grow beyond its white label and prepared food: tourism

Hotel chains are strengthening their loyalty programs for a reason that has nothing to do with hotels: AI

December 29, 2025 by usatoday24

Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, three of the largest hotel chains in the world, are accelerating their loyalty programs to get direct reservations, he explains Financial Times. The immediate objective is to save the 15-25% commissions they pay to Booking or Expedia, but the real concern is another: to prepare for when AI agents book trips for us. Why is it important. Who controls the relationship with the client when the AI agents become widespread will control the business. Hotel chains have seen this movie before: This is what happened to e-commerce stores that sold directly, but were disintermediated by Amazon Marketplace. Or to the bloggers who went from publishing on their own websites to platforms like Substack, which promised range and parne. Or the developers who went from selling software directly to depending on the Apple and Google stores. Or, ahem, the media that lost control of distribution to, basically, Google. The facts. Hotel chains are promoting their programs: Marriott Bonvoy reached 260 million members in September, up 18% from a year ago. Hilton is making it easier to access higher tiers while partnering to use points outside of its wallet. Marriott’s CFO has already stated that AI bookings “could be cheaper than OTAs.” Translation: they prefer to pay commissions to OpenAI than to Booking. But only if they maintain control of the data and the relationship with the customer. Between the lines. The obsession with loyalty programs has its logic. If they can get 260 million people to be “Bonvoy members” with registered preferences and accumulated points, when the AI agents arrive they will have to count on them. Or so they hope. Because this strategy assumes that AI agents will care about brands. But maybe not. Yes, but. A really useful conversational agent will scan all the available offer, compare prices in real time, read thousands of reviews and book. Without needing to see any interface. Without the brand mattering too much. Optimizing for price, location and reviews, not whether it’s a Marriott or a Hilton. If the customer never sees the brand, many decades and many dollars invested in brand recognition evaporate. The big question. Who will we trust more: Booking, which we know charges the hotel a commission, or an AI agent whose incentives we do not know to take us to one place or another? At least current platforms are transparent: they charge the hotel and you pay for what you see. With opaque agents making decisions for us, we won’t even have that. In perspective. This pattern will be repeated in dozens of industries. Insurance comparators, marketplacesrestaurant reservations, investment selection… Any digital intermediary whose value is “helping you choose” can be replaced by an AI agent that chooses for you. Hotels will not be the only ones building loyalty walls. Any company whose contact with the end customer is intermediated by digital platforms should be preparing. Because AI agents won’t arrive in five years. The first ones are already here, clumsy, but improving every quarter. In Xataka | AI agents are very useful, until they turn against you to leak information: the dangers of ‘prompt injection‘ Featured image | Michael Mrozek

Log In

Sign In

Forgot password?

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections