More than 4,8 million tourists visit Gran Canaria each year, and nearly 70% of them are concentrated in the south of the island, especially in the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán. In this context, Spar Gran Canaria has consolidated its leadership in sales penetration and adaptation to the tourist customer, surpassing national chains that operate with more homogeneous formulas. HiperDino is not even present in this battle.
While national retailers focus on large formats and rigid opening hours, Spar has increased its presence in tourist areas, achieving coverage that allows it to capture a large share of the market, which represents more than 60% of tourist spending on food outside hotels. This strategy has led more than 40% of foreign tourists to choose Spar for their regular shopping.
“Long-stay tourists in Gran Canaria spend an average of between 30 and 50 euros per week on supermarket purchases,” says a retail expert with extensive experience in the tourism sector. “They particularly value the international products, freshly prepared fruit, and healthy options, aspects that Spar has pioneered.”
For its part, Mercadona maintains a food market share in the Canary Islands of nearly 36%, but its presence in southern tourist areas fails to capture the visiting market, which demands multilingual labeling and greater variety. Furthermore, its limited opening hours, generally until 21:30 p.m., make it difficult for tourists to shop outside of normal hours, especially on weekends, when traffic increases by 25%.
Lidl and Aldi have grown on the islands and strengthened their offerings in urban areas, but their impact on the tourist market remains limited. Average spending per tourist in supermarkets is over €180 for a 10-day stay, but the lack of multilingual staff and the limited presence of recognized international brands limits their reach among visitors.
Spar, on the other hand, has established partnerships with more than 150 Canarian producers to promote local products such as DOP cheeses, regional wines, and artisanal bakery products, with a gourmet line that has increased sales by 23% in the last year. This commitment to local products not only attracts tourists but also builds loyalty among residents, who account for approximately 35% of consumption in these stores.
Between 2023 and 2025, Spar has opened several stores in strategic locations in the south, increasing its annual turnover to levels exceeding €385 million in Gran Canaria. In contrast, Mercadona has opted for a more conservative expansion, focusing on large stores located outside the busiest pedestrian areas.
The average tourist in southern Gran Canaria stays more than 8,5 days, and more than 60% make recurring purchases at supermarkets to complement their stay in non-hotel accommodations. In this scenario, Spar not only functions as a supermarket: it positions itself as a true host, adapting its offering to the multiple cultures, habits, and preferences of a demanding public.
