Eroski opens 30 franchised stores in the first half of 2026

Eroski opened 30 franchised stores and three company-operated outlets in the first half of 2026. The co-operative reported these figures when announcing its five wins at the 2026–2027 Retailer of the Year Awards, including Best Franchise of the Year in the neighbourhood supermarket category. The figures show that franchising was the company’s main route for opening new stores during this period.

Thirty of the 33 openings are franchised stores

The half-year figures highlight the role of franchised businesses in Eroski’s expansion: 30 of the 33 openings were franchises, compared with three company-operated stores. These are actual openings during the first six months of 2026, not an expansion forecast for the full year.

The co-operative places these additions within a broader record of more than 300 openings over the past five years. That figure refers to the growth reported by the company and should not be confused with the 30 franchised stores opened during the half-year, or interpreted as the total size of its franchise network.

For those considering Spain’s franchise market, the split between company-operated and franchised stores provides a concrete indication of how the brand is growing. During this period, most openings were delivered through franchisees, although the company also continued to open directly managed stores.

A dedicated award for neighbourhood supermarket franchising

The opening figures accompany Eroski’s announcement of its wins at the 15th edition of the 2026–2027 Retailer of the Year Awards. According to the company’s statement dated 15 October, it was named Best Retailer of the Year and Best Franchise of the Year in the neighbourhood supermarket category for the fifth consecutive time.

The awards are decided directly by consumers. Their relevance to the franchise sector lies in the fact that one explicitly recognises the franchised format, alongside the broader award for neighbourhood retailing.

Eroski sees these two awards as an endorsement of its focus on local accessibility, convenience and service quality, as well as its model of shared growth. That is the co-operative’s interpretation: the awards reflect consumers’ choices within the competition, but do not in themselves measure the profitability of individual stores.

Eroski/City combines its store format with common standards

According to the company, the Eroski/City brand is one of the main drivers of this growth. Its franchised format comprises supermarkets of between 250 and 400 square metres, offering a grocery range, self-service fresh produce and personal service.

The co-operative says its franchise model follows the same quality, product range and service standards as its company-operated network. It also offers formats tailored to the needs of each local area. The proposition therefore combines common operating standards with adaptation to each store’s location.

The statement also mentions Caprabo alongside Eroski/City when describing how their franchise networks contribute to economic and social development in the areas where they operate. The company links this contribution to locally focused growth tailored to consumers’ needs.

Five awards in a single edition

Alongside the two neighbourhood retail awards, Eroski won Best Retailer of the Year in the hypermarket and fresh food categories. Completing the set was Best Online Retailer of the Year in the supermarket and hypermarket category, which it won for the tenth consecutive year.

The five awards therefore cover different aspects of its retail operations. Anyone considering joining the network should distinguish this brand recognition from the format’s operating characteristics: floor space, product range, service and the specific terms of each proposed store.

Practical takeaway: the 30 franchised openings illustrate the importance of franchising in Eroski’s recent expansion. Before considering joining the network, prospective franchisees should assess whether the advertised format suits their proposed location and examine the store’s financial and contractual terms.