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The Mercadona Model not only aims to satisfy “The Boss” (Client), the Employee or the Supplier, but also the Society in which the company interacts. To do so, the model is based on shared growth.

One of Mercadona's commitments towards society is to contribute to its sustainable development and progress by creating a business model that people are proud exists.

Mercadona cooperates with manufacturers and suppliers to boost shared sustainable growth that generates value in the environments in which it is present. The company also supports the creation and consolidation of a productive and efficient industry for the country.

In addition to working with integrated suppliers, Mercadona collaborates with more than 700 specialist suppliers. In the last years, this has promoted an important industrial cluster in the country with 249 factories and 54,163 total employees.

The joint investment by Mercadona and its industrial cluster exceeded €1,700 million in 2017.

Furthermore, Mercadona's indirect activities are also a source of shared growth for Society, thanks to the cooperation with more than 2,700 commercial and service suppliers and 20,000 SMEs and local raw material producers.

According to the latest report of the Valencian Economic Research Centre (IVIE), Mercadona's activity and its assembly line account for 1.7% of the GDP, with a €19,500 million contribution, and 3% of total employment in Spain, with 545,000 direct, indirect and generated jobs.

Regarding jobs, Mercadona generated 5,000 new stable quality jobs in 2017, reaching a staff of 84,000 people, and its integrated suppliers created more than 3,900 new jobs, which re-invigorates economy.

In addition, in 2017, Mercadona contributed €1,441 million in direct and indirect taxes to the Public Administration.

Mercadona chooses Spanish origin and the primary industry

Mercadona is working to update its Sustainable Food Chain by supporting stability, future prospects, purchase security and specialisation, so that all parties are profitable and, therefore, sustainable. To do so, Mercadona works with the Spanish primary industry. Specifically, with 8,600 farmers, 5,200 stockbreeders and 12,000 fishermen in the country.

This support allows Mercadona to reinforce its efficient assortment, by collaborating with the best suppliers in the industry, which become more local and specialists of the products, as well as to pursue its commitment of using Spanish origin raw materials, when possible. Proof of this is that Mercadona makes purchases in Spain in excess of €17,500 million each year, 85% of the total products and services.

Transforming Mercadona: social impact

Mercadona's transformation —renewing its stores, logistics and other processes— also has a significant positive impact on society. In fact, the €1,008 million investment in 2017 has had a relevant multiplying effect on the economy in the areas in which Mercadona is present, generating a clear boost of industrial activity, employment and income in the areas where the company operates.

In this same line, Mercadona will also invest €8,500 million to transform the company during 2018-2023, which will have a positive impact of the society it is part of.

A social responsibility and innovation model

Mercadona is committed to sustainable growth, reflected in the responsible development of its activities. This commitment allows to achieve the different Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations. Mercadona is also a partner of the UN Global Compact.

The company continues to promote its Social Action Plan, by means of which it has supported different initiatives carried out in all Autonomous Communities. In 2017, Mercadona donated more than 9,600 tonnes of food to food banks and other entities. Within that same framework, the company cooperates daily with more than 140 feeding centres all over Spain.

Furthermore, in 2017 Mercadona has reinforced social innovation in its stores, after investing more than €1.5 million in 3,142 new murals made with the trencadis technique, installed in the Fish section and Meat cutting area of the stores. To do so, it has collaborated with 28 foundations and occupational centres, as well as with Pamesa Cerámica. More than 1,000 people with intellectual disabilities have put their daily effort into creating these murals.

Regarding the environment, Mercadona has its own Environment Management System geared to three areas: logistics optimisation, energy efficiency and waste reduction. The company has several strategies in place to reduce food waste.

In this sense, Mercadona has been acknowledged as the second most responsible company in the Corporate Responsibility and Governance 2017 category of the Merco classification, which evaluates variables such as ethical behaviour, transparency, environmental commitment and work quality.