Not Mercadona, not Lidl, not Carrefour. The Spanish people’s favorite supermarket is an American chain , as revealed by the latest satisfaction survey conducted by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), and it only has two stores in Madrid.
It is Costco, a hypermarket with a wide variety of products and brands that has won over the public with its promotions and the overallquality of its food. It follows a shopping model that is unusual in Spain, as access to the stores is reserved exclusively for its members.
What attracts people to Costco
Wide aisles at Costco. | Editorial credit: Steve Proehl
To join the Costco club, you just need to be over 18 and purchase an annual card. For individuals , it costs €30 plus VAT, while for businesses the price is lower: €25 plus VAT per year.
According to a survey of 7,600 consumersconducted by the OCU , the most valued aspects are convenience and accessibility, good prices, product quality, and a wide range of products.
In the case of Costco, its stores are large industrial warehouses with all kinds of food, appliances, electronics, sporting goods , jewelry, furniture, beauty products , books, toys, and much more.
Thanks to the orderliness, wide aisles, and good lighting, the shopping experience at Costco is comfortable and pleasant, another criterion that customers value most, according to the OCU survey.
Two stores: south and northwest
Products in the supermarket. | Editorial credit: Pachu Villén and C.H.D via Google Maps
Currently, there are only two Costco stores in the Community of Madrid. One is located in the south, in Getafe, in the Los Gavilanes Business Park (Calle Agustín de Betancourt, 17).
At the other end, in the northwest of Madrid, is the Costco in Las Rozas, located at 19 Calle Innovación. In both cases, the hours are uninterrupted from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Promotions and “treasure hunt”
Cookies at Costco. | Editorial credit: Miguel Martínez via Google Maps
Costco’s big draw is its offers, as it continuously renews its products and offers exclusive prices. This is what they call “the treasure hunt,“ a kind of secret game in which they make limited-time promotions available to customers, who must find them in the stores.
According to the OCU, the average monthly expenditure per household amounts to €407, higher than the average in previous years. In addition, the shopping basket has become 36% more expensive in the last four years, which explains why families are looking for discounted options in supermarkets, making Costco one of their favorites.