Mercadona has consolidated the fresh Canarian cheese as one of the star products on its shelves in the Archipelago. During 2025, the supermarket chain reached five million units sold of this product, which translates into a notable increase in demand compared to the previous year.
This growth, calculated in a 20% more sales which in the previous year, is part of the company's strategy to strengthen its collaboration with the Canary Islands primary sector and give priority to local products, made with local raw materials and geared towards the consumption habits of the residents of the islands.
A local product in full expansion
According to data released by the company, by 2025 Mercadona will have reached the point of selling five million units of fresh cheese produced in the Canary Islands. This figure, which represents a 20% increase compared to 2024, confirms that fresh cheese produced on the islands has become one of the most sought-after products by customers in the archipelago.
This sales volume reflects not only the product's appeal, but also the consolidation of a stable collaboration model between the distribution chain and local cheese dairies. The company emphasizes that the positive reception of Canarian fresh cheese is based on factors such as freshness, flavor, and local production, aspects highly valued by consumers when choosing a dairy product for everyday consumption.
Canarian fresh cheese occupies a prominent place as high-turnover product in the company's supermarkets, especially in the Canary Islands, where this type of cheese is a staple in many households. The combination of the island's livestock farming tradition and its presence in a major distribution chain has allowed it to reach a broad and diverse audience.
From an economic perspective, the increase in sales represents a boost for the islands' cheese and livestock sector, which sees this agreement as a way to to provide a stable outlet for its production and gain visibility in a highly competitive environment. The continued collaboration also helps to sustain activity in rural areas and keep the livestock-related production network alive.
The company emphasizes that the commercial success of Canarian fresh cheese occurs within a context of growing interest in the origin of food and for locally sourced products. More and more consumers are paying attention to the origin of what they consume, something that, in this case, works in favor of local producers.
Four specialist suppliers and six varieties
The assortment of fresh Canarian cheese sold by Mercadona is produced through four specialist suppliers based in the islands. These are SAT Number 8275, named Queso Flor Valsequillo, QueserÃa El Faro SL, Quesos San Mateo and Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura SL, companies with a long history linked to dairy production in Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.
Within this group of suppliers, the following stand out due to their specific weight: Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura SLA company from Fuerteventura has strengthened its role within the regional food chain thanks to the success of its fresh cheese. Its participation highlights the importance of the island's goat and cattle farming in the products that ultimately reach supermarket shelves.
The current catalog includes six varieties of fresh Canarian cheese These cheeses aim to cater to diverse tastes and nutritional needs. Available options include cow's milk cheese, goat's milk cheese, a blend of cow's and goat's milk cheese, smoked goat's milk cheese, lactose-free cow's milk cheese, and a light cow's milk cheese.
This range of references allows the company to cover different culinary uses and consumption habitsFrom those who prefer a mild cheese for breakfast or a snack, to those who opt for more intense flavors, lactose-free options, or lower-fat alternatives, the product's versatility makes it easy to incorporate into cold recipes, salads, toast, or traditional Canarian dishes.
Mercadona indicates that fresh Canarian cheese is among the top-rated references by their customersBoth its texture and flavor, along with the sense of local pride it evokes as a product made right here on the islands, have been praised. This positive feedback has motivated them to continue developing new presentations and expanding their product range.
Co-innovation and adaptation to customer preferences
The development of this product is based on the so-called Co-innovation Model Mercadona. The chain has 20 co-innovation centers spread across Spain, two of them located in the Canary Islands, specifically in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. These centers analyze firsthand the needs, suggestions, and consumption habits of customers.
In these centers, consumers share their user experiences and preferencesproviding ideas on formats, flavors, piece sizes, and packaging types. With this information, the company adjusts the recipes and presentations of its Canarian fresh cheese to best meet actual market demand.
Applying this model allows, for example, optimizing the cut, weight or packaging of cheeses, as well as introducing versions adapted to specific audiences, such as people looking for lactose-free products or lower-fat alternatives. In this way, the assortment is constantly evolving, depending on how consumption patterns change.
Mercadona emphasizes that the goal is to offer products that combine quality, flavor and freshness with a competitive price. Canarian fresh cheese is no exception and efforts are made to ensure it meets expectations in terms of texture, shelf life and ease of use, both at home and in small-scale restaurants.
Furthermore, the continuous monitoring of customer satisfaction It allows for quick adjustments when new trends or needs are detected, helping to maintain the product's appeal in a market where the range of cheeses is increasingly broad, as shown by the World Cheese Awards.
Economic impact on the Canary Islands primary sector
Beyond the specific sales figures for fresh cheese, Mercadona's commitment to the Canary Islands economy is reflected in the total volume of purchases made in the archipelago. During 2024, the company acquired products and services from suppliers and inter-suppliers in the islands for a value of 694 millones de euros.
This amount represents an increase of 11% compared to 2023 and contributes to strengthening the local production network, fostering the implementation and consolidation of long-term projects. Canarian fresh cheese, made with local milk, stands out as one of the emblematic examples of this commitment to local products.
In total, the chain collaborates with more than 100 product suppliers and around 600 non-commercial and service providers. This network makes it possible to offer a broad and competitive assortment, while generating activity in different links of the agri-food chain, from the field to the processing industry and logistics.
In the livestock and cheese sector, the stable relationship with Mercadona helps to to guarantee a certain stability of demandThis is a key aspect for planning investments and farm maintenance. The sale of millions of units of fresh Canarian cheese each year translates, in practice, into a constant outlet for the milk produced in the islands.
The company insists that its purchasing policy gives preference to fresh products of national originAnd in the case of the Canary Islands, this translates into agreements with strategic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and fishing. The idea is to move towards shared growth, with stability, secure purchasing, and greater specialization among suppliers.
Quality, local origin and food control
Another element that the chain highlights is its focus on the quality and food safety of Canarian fresh cheese. The suppliers work with local milk subjected to strict controls throughout the entire production process, from collection on the farms to final packaging.
These controls aim to ensure that every unit that arrives on the shelf meets the requirements hygiene, freshness and traceability standards required. The proximity between livestock farms, cheese factories and points of sale also helps to reduce transport times, a relevant factor when it comes to a fresh product with a limited shelf life.
The local origin of Canarian fresh cheese not only has an economic impact, but also influences consumer perception, as they value being able to purchase a product made in its immediate surroundingsThis connection with the territory reinforces the identity of the brand associated with these cheeses within the company's supermarkets.
In parallel, collaboration with specialist suppliers allows progress in continuous improvements to the recipes, textures and flavor profiles, maintaining the essence of traditional Canarian fresh cheese but adapted to current requirements of preservation, presentation and ease of consumption.
With this approach, fresh Canarian cheese has established itself as a key ingredient in the dairy products offer of the chain in the islands, combining the experience of the local primary sector with the distribution capacity and customer listening skills of a large supermarket company.
The evolution of recent years shows how a product as everyday as fresh cheese can become a engine of collaboration between distribution and producers, generating value for consumers, strengthening the regional economy and supporting the Canary Islands countryside, while consolidating its presence in the shopping basket of thousands of households.
