Galician households spend 21 million euros monthly on prepared meals

Households in Galicia are spending approximately 21 million euros per month on supermarket prepared meals, a figure that now exceeds spending on staples like bread, milk, or cheese. This shift in consumer behavior is driven by major retailers expanding their ready-to-eat sections.

Eroski is increasing its prepared food offerings across hypermarkets and supermarkets, collaborating with the Basque Culinary Center and La Familia Gastro to provide diverse recipes. Other major chains, including Gadis and Mercadona, have also prioritized these sections to meet rising demand. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shows that purchases of prepared dishes rose by 7.8% between January and July.

The rise of this 'mercaurante' phenomenon has drawn criticism from the hospitality sector. Hostelería de España has denounced the trend, arguing that supermarkets compete unfairly against traditional restaurants due to lower requirements regarding licenses, operating hours, and labor costs.