Portugal Supermarkets Stay Open Amid Strike: 5 Tips for Shoppers

While a general strike looms over Portugal’s retail sector, Continente’s corridors are set to stay bustling, not silent. In a brief media session in Porto, Sonae MC’s chief framed the walkout as another obstacle already well mapped within the company’s risk playbook.

Key takeaways:

• Continente primes itself for “normal services” on December 11.

• Unions CGTP and UGT mobilize against Trabalho XXI.

• Niches of Portugal’s supply chain fine-tune contingency rosters.

• Competing chains deploy alternative staffing models.

• Sonae MC eyes 100 new outlets and 3,000 hires by 2030.

A steadied supply chain: management’s game plan

Luís Moutinho, at the helm of Sonae MC for 16 years, told journalists that he does not anticipate any store closures despite the CGTP and UGT strike notice. Pointing to prior walkouts without lasting fallout, he underlined the firm’s established internal protocols—from back-up rosters to real-time transport support—that keep shelves stocked and tills operating.

The labour law dispute fueling the walkout

At the center of the dispute sits the government’s Trabalho XXI package, which aims to extend fixed-term contracts, reintroduce the individual bank of hours, and loosen restrictions on post-layoff outsourcing. Unions dismiss these moves as a roll-back of worker protections, while employers argue for increased flexibility amid economic headwinds.

Retail rivals adapt behind the scenes

Across Portugal, Pingo Doce, Lidl, and Auchan have quietly updated their strike playbooks. From volunteer shift swaps to temporary logistics hubs, each operator is leveraging lessons from past stoppages. Industry body APED predicts limited disruption, noting historically low participation rates in retail strikes.

What consumers in Portugal should know

To avoid surprises this weekend, shoppers may:

Verify opening hours via store websites or the My Continente app.

Pick up perishables—dairy, fresh produce—early in the day.

Explore neighbourhood outlets, which often run shorter cleaning rotations.

Watch for digital vouchers; chains sometimes roll out extra coupons when footfall dips.

Keep an eye on public transport updates, especially for evening and suburban routes.

Looking beyond the strike: growth on the horizon

Despite the labour tensions, Sonae MC is pressing ahead with its mainland expansion, planning 100 additional outlets and recruiting 3,000 new staff by 2030. After withdrawing from markets like Brazil and Angola, the group pledges to concentrate on Portuguese districts where discount models remain under-served. Economists at Nova SBE estimate the programme could channel over €220 M into the domestic economy.

Even as union banners flutter in front of Parliament, Portugal’s supermarkets appear determined to keep the lights on—and the carts rolling.