Mercadona’s response to BHRRC’s request, 12 November 2024

• On Tuesday 29th October the approximately 900.000 people who live in the affected areas were living their day to day lives, given that the emergency notice was not received by any of us until 20:00, when it was already too late.
• We were all (neighbours, companies and businesses) taken by surprise by this situation.
• All Mercadona employees are well.
• With regards to the measures implemented alongside our workforce affected by the DANA, we would like to highlight:
  • All the affected employees have been informed to prioritise what really matters (their families, homes…etc), with no affection to their salaries and without having to recover the time dedicated to this prioritization.
  • Facilitate the mobility of those affected that employees that are going to work, so that they can travel safely to their workplace.
  • Coordinate a group of 1.000 volunteer employees from other departments within the company to help with the cleaning and adaptation tasks of the stores.

The assistance approved for workers are part of a broader global commitment, as Mercadona remains steadfast in its support for all those impacted by the DANA. A clear demonstration of this commitment lies in the implementation of a series of measures since the onset of the disaster, aimed at alleviating the social and economic consequences of the DANA in an efficient and timely manner.

These measures are primarily focused on the donation of essential goods (food, equipment, materials, etc.), totaling 300 tons, in collaboration with its suppliers to assist affected residents. Furthermore, the company is actively cooperating with the relevant authorities by providing a range of logistical, technical, and human resources to facilitate their support efforts and contribute to the recovery process.

Moreover, it has been publicly announced today that Juan Roig, President of Mercadona, is allocating €25 million in direct financial assistance to companies affected by the DANA. This contribution, drawn from his personal assets, aims to swiftly reactivate the economy of the impacted regions and minimize the number of businesses forced to close. The aid is non-repayable, with individual companies eligible to receive up to €10,000 in support.

Additionally, Mercadona has approved another measure of €40 million in aid for the affected workers, with the goal of preventing them from having to rebuild their lives from 0. This financial support will be allocated to those whose homes have been affected, with contributions ranging from €50,000 to €25,000; and to those whose vehicles have been affected, with amounts ranging from €15,000 to €500.

The company is evaluating other potential additional actions, as it is operating under the principle of “doing whatever is necessary and for as long as necessary, because now is the time to support each other”.