With the arrival of September, Mercadona has ended its special summer campaign and is returning to its usual schedule in most of its stores across Spain. During the summer months, the Valencian chain extended opening hours in more than 300 stores located in tourist destinations to meet increased customer demand. This measure, which included staying open until 22:00 p.m. and, in some cases, also on Sunday mornings, is no longer in effect.
The company, chaired by Juan Roig, is thus returning to its traditional schedule, with opening hours from 9:00 a.m. to 21:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and general closure on Sundays and public holidays. This change particularly affects those who had become accustomed to shopping late in the day, as closing time is now 30 minutes earlier in supermarkets that extended their hours during the summer.
Return to normal schedule
The special summer hours were implemented from the end of June in approximately 320 supermarkets, primarily in coastal towns and popular tourist areas such as Marbella, Ibiza, Benidorm, Cullera, Oropesa del Mar, and Jávea. In these stores, the doors remained open from 9:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and some also opened on Sundays with reduced hours until 15:00 p.m. With the end of the summer season, all these extended hours are discontinued , and the chain returns to its regular year-round hours.
However, not all supermarkets in the national chain are experiencing a change. Those not included in the special campaign already closed at 21:30 p.m. during July and August, so their hours remain unchanged. The change is concentrated in stores that had extended their hours, which are now closing half an hour earlier.
What about Sundays and public holidays?
The company's policy regarding Sundays and public holidays remains the same: stores are generally closed , except for specific exceptions that are communicated in advance. During the summer, some stores in tourist areas opened on Sunday mornings, but this practice will be discontinued starting in September. However, there may be variations depending on the commercial calendar of each municipality or autonomous community, so it's advisable to check the specific information for each store.
Mercadona reminds customers that it has more than 1.600 stores throughout Spain and that opening hours may vary. Therefore, it recommends that its customers, whom it calls "bosses," consult the official store locator on its website to find the exact opening hours of their nearest supermarket. This tool allows users to enter a postal code or address and displays the opening and closing times for each store.
Impact on home delivery service
The change in opening hours also affects the home delivery service that Mercadona offers at some of its stores. Depending on the availability of each store, online orders are dispatched the day after they are placed, but delivery times may vary depending on the area and the specific store . The company recommends checking the specific conditions of each store beforehand to avoid surprises.
For those who usually go to the supermarket in the late afternoon, the earlier closing time may mean a change in their routines. During the first weeks of September, coinciding with the return to work and studies, it is especially important to check the opening hours before going, particularly if you plan to go on a Sunday or a public holiday.
How to check the opening hours of each store
The most reliable way to find out the opening hours of a specific supermarket is to use the official Mercadona store locator. On their website, customers can find their nearest store and see if there have been any changes to the general opening hours. This is especially useful before local, regional, or national holidays , as there may be occasional changes.
In summary, Mercadona is returning to its usual opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 21:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It will be closed on Sundays and public holidays, and the extended summer opening hours have ended. Customers who benefited from the extended hours during the summer months will need to adjust to the new schedule, and it is always advisable to check the specific details of each store before visiting.