Mercadona opened its first supermarket in the district of Beja, marking its entry into a new territory and raising to 75 the number of stores in Portugal. The new unit is located at Estrada das Apolinárias, No. 1, in Beja Jardim Retail. The construction required an investment of over five million euros and had a team of 64 workers, all with permanent contracts from the first day.
The expansion to the south of the country precedes the planned arrival in the Algarve. Portimão should receive the first Algarve unit in October, at Nova Vila Retail Park, followed by Faro about a month later. Thus, the expansion to the Algarve region contemplates two cities, while the Beja unit is already in operation.
Sofia Fonseca, director of External Relations Center and South of Portugal, considered the opening an important milestone for the company. In a statement, she stated that the arrival in the district of Beja represents a significant moment for Mercadona's expansion project in Portugal and expressed satisfaction at opening doors in the region, associating the arrival with job creation and proximity to Alentejo consumers.
