Mercadona has reported gross sales of €15.5bn (£13.8bn) for its 2009 financial year - up 0.8% on the year before.

Net income declined 16% to €270m (£240.7m).

The grocery retailer invested about €600m (£534.9m) in the business over the year, opening a further 74 stores to take its total to 1,264 supermarkets by the end of the year.