Spain's grocery chains battle over rising egg and fish prices
Eggs and hake have become noticeably more expensive in Spain, and price differences now vary by supermarket.
In Spain, the cost of basic groceries like eggs and hake has risen sharply, prompting shoppers to compare supermarkets for better value. Content creator Lluis Lairon recorded a basket of ten staples, finding Lidl at €23.21, Carrefour at €24.40 and Mercadona at €24.86, giving Lidl a slight advantage. OCU’s own-brand price test across ten categories also favored Lidl in nine of them, though Carrefour beat Lidl on minced beef and matched it on fresh cheese and bananas.
Egg prices differ by chain, with Carrefour selling a dozen medium eggs for €2.60, Mercadona at €2.85 and Lidl matching that after a recent reduction. Fish prices climbed 7.8% over the past year, and filleted fish commands a premium of up to 47% compared with whole fish because only about 55% of a whole bream is edible. OCU’s annual index scores the three retailers almost equally, suggesting that shoppers can lower bills by buying eggs at Carrefour, staples at Lidl and produce at Mercadona.
Why it matters
Rising food costs affect household budgets, and price gaps between supermarkets offer opportunities for savings.
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