It’s well known: in Madrid, you can find everything you’re searching for. This counts for supermarkets too: let’s get to know them!
Mercadona
The largest Spanish supermarket chain has over 1,500 stores across Spain (and neighboring Portugal). Products are reasonably priced but the range can differ depending on the size and location of the store.
This is one of the largest supermarkets with the largest variety of products, most of these supermarkets are located on the outskirts of the city, due to their size. It is ideal if you want to do your shopping online, as they deliver it to your home. They have their own brand of products: Hacendado, which has quickly become one of the most popular in the country due to its quality and above all its price, as it is very affordable.
Carrefour Supermarkets
This supermarket is spread all over Madrid and there are several types, all of them belonging to the Carrefour group: Carrefour are the hypermarkets, that is, the largest of the group, therefore the most complete, Carrefour Market has an intermediate size, so it is located both on the outskirts and in the center, Carrefour Express is much smaller than the previous two, however it is located in the main centers of the city, and its great advantage is its long opening hours, they are usually open until 10 or 11, so they are perfect if you need to buy something last minute, there are even some that are open 24 hours.
And finally, Carrefour Bio is the smallest of the group, offering exclusively organically produced products, so it is a little more expensive than the rest, but if you are concerned about food quality and the environment, it is ideal for you.
El Corte Inglés
It is known in Spain for being a shopping center with all kinds of shops and brands inside, and there are several located in different parts of the city. It also has a supermarket inside. This supermarket is more expensive than the previous ones, but it is also known for its high quality, and if you miss the food from your country you might find it here, there is a large section with food from all over the world.
(And here are some places where you can eat for a good price in Madrid!)
By: Alessia Cuofano, University of Naples L’Orientale ’22
