Which Supermarkets Are Open on October 11 and 12 in Spain?

Mercadona Maintains Nationwide Shutdown

Mercadona, the country’s leading grocery retailer, has confirmed it will not deviate from its established corporate policy regarding national holidays. This follows a period of inactivity, as the company also remained closed on Sunday, October 11. The firm, led by Juan Roig, generally restricts operations on Sundays and bank holidays, with rare exceptions limited to peak summer tourist seasons. In the Valencian Community, the chain had previously closed on October 9 for the regional holiday. Customers seeking specific store status are directed to the official corporate website’s store locator, as the company closes the majority of its nearly 1,600 locations, with only minor exceptions.

Mixed Availability Across Major Retail Chains

Unlike Mercadona, several competitors are utilizing local regulatory flexibility to capture consumer demand during the holiday. El Mundo reports that Lidl will maintain its standard operating hours in various regions, including Málaga, where stores will be open from 09:00 to 21:30. Similarly, Aldi has confirmed that select locations will operate on Monday, though schedules vary significantly by municipality. For instance, specific stores in Madrid are slated to open with windows ranging from 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00, depending on local demand and municipal licensing. In other cities, Aldi stores will maintain their standard 09:00 to 21:30 schedule. Other chains are also adjusting: Maskom will remain open in Málaga, and Eroski stores will generally operate from 10:00 to 22:00, including their location in Larios Centro.

Carrefour is managing the holiday through a bifurcated strategy. While its large-format hypermarkets will largely remain closed across the country, the brand’s proximity-focused formats, such as Carrefour Express and select Carrefour Market locations, are expected to open with reduced hours—often concluding service by 15:00. In Málaga, however, some Carrefour locations will open exceptionally from 10:00 to 22:00. Meanwhile, DIA stores will apply flexible hours due to their franchise model, with many shops opening between 09:00 and 14:30 or continuing service until 21:30. Alcampo hypermarkets will mostly remain closed, though their smaller “Mi Alcampo” convenience stores often remain operational.

Regional Variations in Málaga and Beyond

The retail landscape in Málaga presents a distinct scenario due to the classification of the Day of the Pilar as an authorized opening holiday in the region. Diario Sur indicates that, unlike in other parts of the country, many shopping centers in the Costa del Sol capital, such as Larios Centro, Vialia-Estación María Zambrano, and Plaza Mayor, will open their doors for both retail and dining. This includes large-format retailers like El Corte Inglés, IKEA, and Leroy Merlin, which are leveraging the holiday to maintain commercial momentum. However, these retailers typically observe a compressed schedule, often delaying opening by one hour and closing one hour earlier than standard business days.

El Corte Inglés branches in Mijas and Marbella will also serve customers. For independent retailers and smaller chains, the decision to open is often governed by municipal regulations and store size. Businesses with a floor space under 300 square meters often possess the legal authority to determine their own holiday schedules.

Operational Outlook for the Final Quarter

As the retail sector moves past this holiday, focus shifts toward the upcoming December bridge, which represents the next major disruption to standard operating hours. Because November 1, the Day of All Saints, falls on a Sunday, the next change in distribution schedules will not occur until the December holidays.