No one wants to be left behind in today’s fast-moving retail landscape. Online sales remain a small slice of the food and pharmacy markets, yet major retail groups are pouring money into every available channel to capture the largest possible share as demand shifts online. Just days after Mercadona unveiled its hive system in Alicante to manage online orders across most of the province, DAY followed with a similar move, announcing a new logistics hub designed to serve online shoppers as well. The idea is clear and closely aligned with market dynamics unfolding nearby.
The company disclosed the lease this Thursday: a 2,554-square-meter warehouse in the Mercalicante area will be dedicated exclusively to online order preparation. In the early phase, one notable feature DIA offers in the Alicante province is among the first nationwide implementations by the food group, which has already reached an agreement with Amazon to sell its products through this channel. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)
To equip the facility for its new role, an investment of one million euros will be allocated. This funding will enable the installation of a cold storage room and the procurement of specialized equipment to handle the varied online trading operations that will be coordinated from the new logistics point. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)
The warehouse is slated to begin operations in June of this year. Executives explained that Mercalicante was chosen for its strategic location, which supports last-mile distribution not only in Alicante but beyond. The surrounding wholesale complex is one of the most coveted logistics zones, attracting interest from many operators, including Amazon, due to its highway access and proximity to Alicante’s city center. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)
Projections estimate the platform will generate around 40 direct jobs and about 40 indirect roles as capacity grows. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)
Rafael Sanchez, Director of Clients at DIA Spain, emphasized that these facilities will shorten delivery times for customers and expand the service radius across the region. A standout feature will be rapid delivery within Alicante city limits, with options promising delivery within an hour in select neighborhoods. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)
Dolores Mejía, Director at Mercalicante, highlighted that the food cluster benefits from excellent connectivity that strengthens its role as a distribution hub for food products. She noted that the arrival of the new DIA platform expands the cluster’s service portfolio, enhancing supply chain efficiency and improving traceability of food products as demand grows. (Citation: DIA Spain press materials)