Mercadona is moving forward with a profound change in its fishmongers, gradually replacing the traditional counter model with a system based on clean fish, prepared and ready to go, in a bet that the chain justifies with the need to gain efficiency and reduce the time until the product reaches the customer.
According to the Spanish newspaper, the transformation is part of the remodeling of the company’s stores, as part of the so-called T9 model, which Mercadona is implementing to make supermarkets more adjusted to demand and internal operations. Among the new features, one of the most visible is precisely the complete renovation of the fish section.
In practice, the fish is no longer centralized on the traditional counter and begins to appear on refrigerated trays, already cleaned and prepared, in a format similar to what already happens in other areas of the store, such as the delicatessen or butcher shop. The logic, according to the company, is to simplify the purchasing process and make service faster.
Less time between pickup and store
The explanation given by the network is mainly due to speed. Mercadona says it wants to reduce as much as possible the time from when the fish leaves the water until it reaches the consumer, thus seeking to reinforce the freshness and quality of the product.
Furthermore, the company maintains that this new system allows for better finishes on the fish sold and avoids waiting times in the store, offering a more agile shopping experience for the customer. The change also responds to consumer habits that are more oriented towards ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat solutions.
Another argument used by Mercadona is durability. According to the information provided, fish packaged in trays can be consumed up to six days after purchase, a relevant difference compared to the product sold over the counter under normal conditions.
Local suppliers remain
Despite the change in sales format, the company guarantees that it will continue to work with its usual local suppliers. The promise is to maintain a varied supply of clean fish ready to take, with various cuts and presentations.
The chain also recommends that these products be frozen in their own bags, when necessary, and consumed within less than a month. Once thawed, they must be cooked at over 70 degrees for at least two minutes.
A change that alters the in-store experience
This bet shows that Mercadona wants to bring the fish section closer to a more standardized, fast and predictable model, aligned with the logic of convenience that has been gaining weight in food distribution. The customer finds the product ready, avoids queues and takes home a more immediate solution.
At the same time, the change could mark the gradual end of a classic supermarket image, with fish sold over the counter and freshly prepared. In its place, a more industrialized model is gaining ground, but designed to respond to consumers who value speed, practicality and shorter waiting times.
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