Mercadona, a physical supermarket and online sales company, participates in the Great Food Collection 2022 organized by the Spanish Federation of Food Banks, FESBAL, from 25 November to 6 December. The retailer opens its sales points to fundraising efforts to invite customers to join this nationwide solidarity event that supports Food Banks across Spain.
In total, 1,623 Mercadona stores nationwide join the campaign, including 97 locations in Alicante. As in previous years, the collection relies on monetary donations set at multiples of €1, which customers can contribute at checkout during regular purchases. The donated funds are converted into food for delivery to each participating Food Bank, which assesses its exact needs, determines the types of food required, and schedules the delivery. Boxed donations offer a flexible approach that aligns with the real requirements of each food bank’s final beneficiaries and enhances efficiency in distribution.
Mercadona’s donation activity in 2022 continues to reflect strong community engagement. By late October, the company had provided 18,800 tons of food and essential items to soup kitchens, food banks, and other social organizations in Spain and Portugal. This cumulative effort equates to roughly 313,300 shopping carts. The retailer collaborates with more than 400 soup kitchens and over 60 food banks, along with additional organizations that receive daily contributions to support people facing hardship. This sustained giving is embedded in Mercadona’s CSR strategy as a core element of its social action model.
One commitment Mercadona maintains is to share part of what it receives from the community. To this end, a Social Responsibility Plan has been established to address social and ethical considerations through diverse sustainable actions that reinforce the company’s pledge to shared growth.
Beyond food donations, Mercadona works with 32 foundations and vocational centers to decorate stores with trencadis murals crafted by more than 1,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. This initiative blends cultural enrichment with social inclusion, reflecting the company’s broader approach to community participation and empowerment.
A key strategic axis of the Social Responsibility Plan is sustainability. The company operates its own Environmental Management System grounded in circular economy principles, emphasizing logistics optimization, energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable production, and plastic reduction. In collaboration with its suppliers Totaler, Mercadona advances Strategy 6.25 with a triple goal for 2025: cut plastic use by 25 percent, ensure all packaging is recyclable, and recycle all plastic waste. Additional efforts focus on improving urban air quality through the Sustainable Urban Distribution Project and by deploying trucks and vans powered by cleaner, more efficient technologies.
Since 2011, Mercadona has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact, supporting core values in human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. This long-standing alliance underlines the retailer’s commitment to responsible practices and transparent governance across its operations in Spain and beyond. This integrated approach shows how Mercadona seeks to align business success with the well‑being of customers, workers, and the broader communities it serves. Sources for these commitments include the company’s CSR and sustainability disclosures, which document ongoing programs and measurable targets.