A unique shop and café in Lagos championing organic produce and sustainable living
In 2007, Pedro Gonçalves and Ana António set out to adopt a healthier diet prioritising high-quality products.
They started by running an online shop out of a modest warehouse in Portimão, where they lived, selling organic products. At the time, options for organic goods in the Algarve were scarce, and the couple recognised the need to open physical space so customers weren’t limited to shopping online.
They decided to set up a small shop at their warehouse and opened to the public just two days a week, but growing demand meant the operation quickly expanded with extended opening hours.
By March 2014, they opened their first full working shop: Mercearia Bio Café, in Portimão.
The idea developed gradually, shaped by both their personal and professional experiences in different parts of Portugal and abroad. Their aim was to create “a grassroots project that would be innovative and serve more than one purpose, centred around family, healthy eating, and sustainability”, they explain.
As interest grew, so did their ambition. In 2022, the search for new markets and a desire to expand the brand led them to open a second Mercearia Bio in Lagos.
They moved their warehouse, upgraded logistics for their online store, and launched the new location, prioritising local, regional and national producers, but also European ones.
This dedication is one of the factors that sets them apart, along with the way they run the business, which they say is “centred on the individuality of customers and always focused on certified organic and sustainable products”.
To ensure that their service is as personalised as possible, they have developed close relationships with the local community.
“It goes far beyond a simple commercial transaction,” they point out, highlighting how they recognise the specific needs of each individual and therefore can offer the right products for each client.
Although fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as eggs and meat “from animals raised with dignity and respect” are among the customers’ favourites – and at the top of the owners’ suggestions list – the shop offers a wide variety of products for a fully organic diet.
Another reason to visit Mercearia Bio is the café, which serves a selection of fresh juices, snacks, and light meals.
They also stock household items, gardening supplies, hygiene products, natural cosmetics and dietary supplements.
Pedro emphasises that attention to what we consume has extended to how we care for our bodies and the environment, noting that “environmental concerns are one of the main reasons” for the shop’s popularity in the area.
Originally from Porto, Pedro worked in hospitality for 15 years across several countries – including England, Brazil and Kazakhstan – as well as all around Portugal.
He studied Hotel Management at the Porto School of Hospitality and Tourism, completed a Bachelor’s degree in Estoril, and earned another degree in Hotel Management from Faro’s University of the Algarve. More recently, he completed a Master’s in Marketing Management, also in Faro. His interest in retail is rooted in family history: his maternal grandfather ran a grocery store in the Douro region.
Lisbon-native Ana entered this line of work with Mercearia Bio, joining full-time in 2013.
However, she already had extensive experience in customer service, financial management, and team leadership, gained over nearly 20 years in retail banking.
She holds a degree in Economics from the University of the Algarve and a postgraduate diploma in Strategic Human Resource Management from ISLA (Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração).
Together, they face the current economic, legal and tax challenges with their “heads held high”, relying on “a loyal and dedicated team who help open the door each day with a smile, and maintain the product and service quality so appreciated by all”.
Soon, they plan to take another step forward by opening a kitchen space not just for internal use, but also available for special occasions, “be it workshops, special productions, birthday parties or themed events”.
Follow Inside Algarve Magazine on Instagram and Facebook for more news!
Read also:
Iconic hotel to reopen as five-star Wyndham Grand Carvoeiro Algarve
