Mercadona Replaces Traditional Fish Counters for Better Quality and Freshness

Mercadona shifts to tray-packed fish, confirms products can be frozen with exceptions Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has clarified that its new line of tray-packed fish products can be frozen, with the exception of certain items where packaging indicates otherwise. The company confirmed the information on its website, advising customers to always check labels for specific storage instructions. The shift forms part of Mercadona’s broader rollout of its ‘T9’ store model, which replaces traditional fish counters with pre-prepared, refrigerated trays containing cleaned and cut fish such as fillets, steaks, or whole specimens. According to the company, the change aims to reduce the time between when fish leaves the water and when it reaches the consumer, enhancing freshness and minimizing waste. Mercadona said the initiative followed years of analyzing customer feedback, blind taste tests, in-store surveys, and sales data. The goal, the retailer stated, is to improve the quality of fish arriving at customers’ homes whereas streamlining the shopping experience. The new system also eliminates waiting times at fish counters and allows for a more intuitive store layout, aligning product availability with actual consumption patterns. Mercadona plans to expand the T9 format to 60 stores across Spain by the end of 2026. The move reflects a wider trend in retail toward efficiency and sustainability, with Mercadona emphasizing that tray packaging helps preserve product quality and supports efforts to reduce food waste by enabling consumers to buy only what they need. While the company affirmed that most tray-packed fish can be frozen for later use, it reiterated that exceptions exist and urged shoppers to refer to packaging details before freezing. The changes are already visible in select locations, including two towns in La Rioja where the new model was first introduced. Mercadona described the transition as part of its ongoing effort to modernize stores and respond to evolving customer preferences under the leadership of chairman Juan Roig. No financial figures or specific investment amounts related to the transition were disclosed in the company’s communications.