In El Albir there’s a kind of supermarket that doesn’t fit in with the big chains. More local, more personal, with things you won’t find just anywhere.
That’s Mendoza.
A classic, old-school supermarket that has adapted to what El Albir is today: a mix of locals, expats and people who no longer shop on price alone, but for quality and for finding something different.
If Consum is the practical choice and Mercadona the cheap one for everyday shopping, Mendoza plays in a different league: here you come for products that are genuinely worth it, things you won’t find in other shops, and a more personal experience, without that hypermarket feel.
In this guide I’ll explain exactly what Mendoza is, what it has, what it doesn’t have, and how to make the most of it without overspending.
If you’d like to compare it with other, more affordable options, or see which one suits your case best, check out our complete guide to supermarkets in El Albir.
WHERE IS THE MENDOZA SUPERMARKET?
Address: Camí Vell d’Altea, 03581, El Albir (L’Alfàs del Pi)
Phone: 966 86 44 36
Official website: supermendoza.com
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: closed (may open until 3:00 PM during high season)
The location is very convenient: it’s close to the Bulevar area, surrounded by homes, small hotels and residential complexes.
And there’s a key detail a lot of people don’t know: it has its own underground car park. In summer, when parking in El Albir gets tricky, that makes all the difference.
You can walk there from many areas, and if you’re driving, you’re in, parked, and back out again in no time, without wasting time.
WHAT KIND OF SUPERMARKET IS MENDOZA?
Mendoza isn’t Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi or Consum. It plays in a different league.
✔ It’s a family-run, locally managed supermarket
✔ It’s built for the local resident, not the passing tourist
✔ It has a strong focus on international products
✔ It blends tradition and modernity without feeling forced
Here you’re not just a number. You can feel it in how they treat you.
They serve you calmly, they look at you, and they’ll often recommend products — the way it used to be, but without losing any efficiency.THE BIG REASON PEOPLE LOVE MENDOZA IN EL ALBIR: ITS INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTS
If in other supermarkets the international section is fairly small, at Mendoza it’s one of the pillars.
Here you’ll find products from many countries, because El Albir is such an international place… and this supermarket understood that before anyone else.
It’s not unusual to see British, Norwegian, German, Dutch or French shoppers here buying things they can’t find in other shops.
What can you find?
- British cereals, biscuits and sweets
- Nordic sauces and products
- German tinned goods
- Specialty chocolates
- International spices
- Snacks you rarely find in other supermarkets
- Imported drinks
- Bread and flours for recipes from other countries
It’s not just a random shelf — it’s a serious section that saves you a trip to Benidorm hunting for hard-to-find things.
For expats, it’s a blessing.If you love cooking and trying new things, this is a dangerous place to be (in the best way).
Mendoza looks after its selection the way a well-run local shop does, where quality matters more than quantity. Fruits and vegetables
- Good turnover
- Seasonal produce
- More flavor than in many big chains
- Real vegetables for cooking, not just pre-packaged ones
It doesn’t have the size of Consum, but the quality is usually better.
Butcher counter and cold cuts
- One of its best sections
- Clean cuts and good meat
- Cold cuts worth trying
They work the old-fashioned way here: they cut it for you, give advice, and explain things.
Fish counter
- It’s not huge, but it does the job well
- Fresh produce for everyday shopping
- Perfect for a quick meal without any hassle
Bakery
- Traditional bread, loaves
- A few sweet treats
- No frills, but reliable
Wine cellar and drinks
- Alicante and Spanish wines
- Basic spirits
- Local and international beers
- Ciders and imported drinks (highly valued by expats) Household and hygiene products
- Small section but enough
- Basic products and well-known brands Parking: one of its best-kept secrets
Lots of supermarkets in El Albir have one clear problem: parking.
Not Mendoza.
It has its own underground car park, and that changes the experience completely.
You arrive, park, shop, and leave in 20 minutes without any stress.
In summer, that’s worth more than any discount.
Advantages of Mendoza
- Genuinely international products
- Warm, personal service
- Its own parking
- Great quality in fresh produce
- Home delivery
- Compact and easy to get around
What could be better
- No es el más barato (para básicos, Mercadona gana)
- No tiene tamaño de hipermercado
- Horario de domingo poco claro
- Algunos productos importados son caros
- Menos opciones bio/eco que otros supermercados
COMPARATIVA RÁPIDA DE OTROS SUPERMERCADOS DEL ALBIR
Mendoza
For: quality, specialty products, and quick shopping
Consum
For: a full, varied shop
Mercadona
For: price and basics
Lidl
For: occasional deals
Aldi
For: budget shopping
If you want to see the full comparison, check out our guide to supermarkets in El Albir where we break down which one to choose based on what you need.
CONSEJOS DE VECINO PARA COMPRAR EN MENDOZA
- Go in the morning for the best fresh produce
- Take advantage of the parking
- Buy basics elsewhere if you want to save money
- Ask about international products
- Check out the drinks section
- Check the website for new arrivals
CONCLUSION
Mendoza isn’t the cheapest supermarket in El Albir.
But it’s the one you end up using when you want to shop better, find something different, or leave feeling like you made the right call.
And once you’ve been here a while, that happens more often than you’d think.
