The characteristics of large retailers in Spain: how did the Mercadona brand become market leader from 2010 to the present day[Les particularismes de la grande distribution en Espagne : comment l’enseigne Mercadona est-elle devenue leader du marché depuis 2010 jusqu’à nos jours ?]

Understanding the specificities of the Spanish retail grocery sector requires us to identify the major stages that have shaped its development, the history of the companies in this sector, as well as the country's social development and the role of the State and the Spanish authorities in managing the regulatory framework of retail trade. This article will examine how these factors have recently led to a convergence of distribution channels in retail sales in Spain. In this context, the Spanish consumer has shown a preference for the supermarket in a highly fragmented sector where the retailer, Mercadona, has become the undisputed leader in food retailing since 2010. Its growth is based not only on cyclical factors, but also on the particular partnership forged with its suppliers, phenomenon we will highlight in order to identify the elements of success of this business model specific to the Spanish context