Mercadona, benchmark for 'The Times'

In its latest addition, 'The Economist' highlights the success of the Spanish Supermarket Mercadona, despite the crisis plaguing Spain, showing that the country's economic problems "seem to have made stronger" the company headed by Juan Roig.

In an article titled "Why a low-price retailer is thriving," the British weekly newspaper says that few domestic firms are advancing in the Spanish economic situation, except Mercadona.

Thus, they recall that the biggest Spanish supermarket chain in sales, with an annual turnover of 16.5 million euros and a network of 1,310 stores, has enjoyed double-digit growth for over a decade. Although profits fell in 2009, they rose 47% last year, after undertaking forceful cost cutting.

Mercadona's strength is low prices, says 'The Economist', which draws attention to the long-term relationships with over 100 private label suppliers. The chain does not splurge on advertising, but "does not spare" on technology or logistics.

"Mercadona is unique in several respects," the financial weekly said Zeynep Ton, of Harvard University, who has done a study of the chain. Its 63,500 workers have permanent contracts and receive 20 times more training than the average worker in the distribution sector in the U.S., making them more productive.

According to 'The Economist', the company still has "plenty of room to grow at home" and among its goals is to enter the Italian and French markets next year.