A Pioneer Approach to Employee Profit Sharing at Mercadona
Mercadona’s leadership has expanded its profit-sharing plan to reward the vast team that powers the company. More than 100,000 people participate in the annual objective bonus, including 5,800 teammates from Alicante. This year, the company allocates 600 million euros to employee bonuses, a 50 percent increase from 2023, when 405 million euros were distributed.
Since 2001, when Mercadona’s shareholders launched the initiative, the business has paid out over 5.58 billion euros to its workers. This milestone demonstrates the retailer’s strong commitment to shared growth and mutual benefit among its staff.
In March, employees who have served five years or more will receive an extra monthly payment equivalent to two months of their salary, provided they meet the yearly goals and targets. This year, workers will also receive an extra bonus equal to half of their monthly pay, in addition to the standard incentive for seniority.
The company notes that these measures reaffirm that Mercadona staff are the primary drivers of the company’s success. The workers are described as the key asset by the organization, which internally refers to its customers as the “Bosses.” The emphasis on quality improvement and efficient management supports the company’s strategy to provide a highly affordable, high-quality menu basket. As a result, more customers choose Mercadona each day, contributing to steady growth and a rising market share.
A Mercadona marketing professional serving clients in Benidorm is among those cited as witnessing the positive impact of these programs and the daily dedication of the team.
Sources describe the decision as a clear acknowledgment of the extraordinary commitment shown by the more than 100,000 Mercadona employees to enhance the customer experience and to elevate product quality. Ongoing investments in technology and process improvements help streamline daily operations. Even with higher incentive payments this year, the overall compensation increases reflect the company’s view that generous rewards support sustained effort and better service across the entire organization.
Mercadona’s human resources strategy emphasizes supporting the professional, personal, and family needs of its staff. In Spain, the company led the industry in 2020 by introducing a five-day workweek with two days off (5+2), guaranteeing at least eight weekends per year. This policy is being gradually extended in 2024 and will complete in 2025 for employees in specialized online sales hubs and distribution blocks, aligning work-life balance with evolving work patterns.