After a seven month trial period across 19 stores, Spain's largest supermarket chain Mercadona has made the the decision to invest over €14 million in opening fresh meat counters throughout the country.
42 supermarkets are to be immediately equipped with new butcher counters, and Mercadona say that the plan is to bring that count up to 248 by May of this year.
Most of these will be located in the provinces of Valencia, Castellón, Balearic Islands and Alicante. This phase involves a total investment of €14.8 million, of which €1.8 million related to training for 1,984 workers.
Ten years ago, Mercadona got rid of all fresh meat counters from their supermarkets, a model which at the time the company said was not supported by its customers.
Four years ago the family-owned chain reintroduced meat counters to stores, but only through pre-packed cuts.
The strategy for selling fresh produce announced by President of Mercadona, Juan Roig, aims to double its sales in this channel as it slows down on international expansion.
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine by Enda Dowling
