Eroski and the Basque formula in Spanish retail
Localisms, convenience, freshness, modernity and private label are the five cornerstones of a cooperative supported by successful women.
Eroski, founded in 1969, is one of the most important and influential companies in Spain, proud of its legal status as a ‘hybrid worker consumer cooperative’. It’s part of the Mondragon Group, a federation of cooperatives that stands out in Spain for its financial position and boasts undisputed leadership in the Basque autonomous region.
Eroski’s nature allows to sustain itself through the simultaneous activities of its members and consumers, for an overall result that gives it the rank of both a simple business and a commercial entity dedicated to serving its member community. Eroski is now moving into the future after closing 2024 with encouraging figures and reports.
Company figures
Last year, turnover was €5.885 billion, thanks to the operation of 1 502 stores featuring various concepts and an ambitious program, with 60 new openings planned. This Spanish player offers approximately 1.2 million square metres of physical retail space. In Spain, its market share is just under 5%, behind Mercadona, Carrefour, and Lidl, but ahead of Dia. The cooperative began 2025 with a large and cohesive team of 27 625 direct employees (plus 3 624 in the franchising channel), 76% of whom are women.
Among them, Rosa Carabel holds the important position of CEO and Leire Mugerza chairs the Governing Council. Eroski’s overall operations have never failed to fulfill key ethical and social obligations, so much so that (in 2024 alone) it donated 2, 600 tons of food for charity and properly recycled 40 140 tons of waste (with best eco-sustainable practices).
Among the merits that are objectively recognised by the outside world, this Basque operator also includes a determined approach to consolidating sales, its proven competitiveness in the distribution sector (particularly highlighted in specific regions such as Galicia and the Balearic Islands), and the large-scale promotion of local businesses, starting with a robust program supporting suppliers (in addition to Basque ones) from the regions of Aragon, Galicia, and Navarre. This latest approach was developed to promote agri food supplies in compliance with best environmental, social and corporate governance practices, with a com mitment to innovation and sustainability, and with the aim of renewing consumer engagement through new and more appealing contents.
Strategic direction Rosa Carabel (CEO of Eroski since July 2022) recently stated (in the introduction to the latest Annual Report) the strategic direction the company has decided to follow for the foreseeable future: “Our priorities, which remain immovable, will be: competitiveness through pricing, massive and personalised promotions, and the enhancement of our brand, which must reflect a clear positioning.” Specifically, the top executive stated.
