On Monday 28 April 2025, a major power blackout took place which subsequently affected mainland Portugal, Spain and parts of France. The power outage left millions of people without electricity with the snap blackout causing knock-on effects for many. Similarly when disaster strikes, so panic-buying skyrockets with shelves in supermarkets quickly emptying in many parts of Spain.
But the biggest loss has been for the supermarkets with the sector reporting a total “loss of £45 million (€53 million)”. So dire in fact, supermarkets are now calling for clearer emergency protocols to be activated ‘in minute zero’ of a national crisis.
Despite the widespread chaos the blackout caused in Spain, most large retailers including supermarkets quickly reopened and were back up and running without much delays.
But the time during the blackout has reportedly hit these Spanish supermarkets hard due to food having to be disposed of.
The Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service Stores and Supermarkets saw the April 28 blackout cost the sector £45 million (€53 million), according to ASEDAS, a main player in Spain’s food distribution network accounting for 75% of Spain’s food distribution.
ASEDAS added that this figure, however, is described as a ‘first conservative estimate’, expecting to rise as more data emerges.
Mercia Today reported the total cost of the blackout to be in the region of £1.36 billion (€1.6 billion).
According to the Olive Press, Spain’s supermarket has seen staggering economic losses and called for a national crisis plan to prevent further chaos.
ASEDAS, who represent major brands including Lidl, Mercadona and Ahorramas, said the crisis proved just how vulnerable essential infrastructure is, including how unprepared authorities remain.
Director general of ASEDAS, Ignacio Garcia Magarzo said: “The blackout once again highlights the urgent need for the government to work with us on a crisis plan that ensures our ability to operate and includes extraordinary protections for damaged products and facilities.”
ASEDAS also added how the power cut was a “clear reflection of the urgent need for real and automatic protection mechanisms for this strategic sector.”
Among the first items to disappear first in supermarkets during the panic-buying included toilet paper and bottle water, scenes not too dissimilar to COVID-19 times.
The blackout also impacted many other industries as it caused widespread logistical disruption.
As such, many companies had no choice but to spend heavily on fuel for emergency generators, transport, waste disposal and extra security.
