Lidl GB: Supermarket of the Year Spain: Mercadona will no longer provide plastic bags to customers Supermarket chain Mercadona has announced the withdrawal of plastic bags both in physical stores and in home and online service. This comes as part of its 6.25 Strategy, and means that compostable bags made using potato starch will be available for purchases in all store sections. China: Yonghui opens 37 new stores The retailer has opened 34 new supermarkets in December and an additional 3 in January, bringing its total store network to 1,022. As one of the fastest growing grocery retailers in China, Yonghui is regarded by many as a regional operator. Founded in Fujian in 2001, it entered Chongqing in 2004 and then Beijing in 2009.