Lidl reaches 13,000 stores amid intensifying rivalry with Mercadona

Lidl has reached a significant milestone by opening its 13,000th store globally, a milestone marked by a new opening in Raunheim, Germany. The German-based retailer currently operates in 32 countries, including 3,250 stores in Germany and over 730 in Spain.

In the competitive landscape of the Iberian Peninsula, the rivalry between Lidl and Mercadona is intensifying. While Mercadona maintains a larger store count in Spain with 1,599 locations, Lidl is aggressively pursuing expansion to close the gap.

In Portugal, the competition has shifted toward market share and consumer behavior. Data from the first half of 2026 indicates that Lidl holds a 13.8% market share, outpacing Mercadona’s 7.4%. Although Mercadona is successfully attracting more households and expanding its physical footprint in Portugal, Lidl is seeing higher shopping frequency per customer, allowing it to widen its lead in market share.