Continente Jobs Portugal: 14 New Stores, 500+ Roles

Continente jobs in Portugal are about to grow: the supermarket chain will open 14 new stores in eight districts over the next three months and says the openings will create more than 500 jobs. Hiring will favour people who live close to each new shop, and vacancies are posted on the MC recruitment site, the careers portal of the Sonae business that owns the brand.

What has Continente announced?

According to The Portugal News, the company made the announcement on 5 November 2026. The pace is fast: 14 shops in roughly three months works out at nearly one opening every week.

Continente has traded in Portugal for more than 40 years and already runs over 400 stores. It uses three main formats: large hypermarkets, mid-sized supermarkets under the Continente Modelo name, and small local shops branded Continente Bom Dia. The company has not said which format each of the 14 new sites will take.

Where are the new stores?

The split of the 14 shops between districts has not been published. For Faro, the report notes that neither the exact Algarve locations nor the number of local jobs has been confirmed yet, and opening dates for individual stores are still to come.

Which roles are likely to be open?

The company has given a total, not a list of job titles. The new shops will have fresh fruit and vegetable sections, a bakery and pastry area, butcher and fish counters, takeaway food and a café, so staff will be needed for each of those.

The MC recruitment site gives a good idea of the typical openings. When we checked it on 11 November, it listed store operator posts ("Operador/a de Loja") at Continente Bom Dia shops in several towns, including part-time evening shifts. Counter roles, shelf replenishment, checkout work and shift supervision are typical for a new supermarket, though these are not confirmed for every one of the 14 sites.

Who can apply?

Continente says it will recruit first from the communities around each store. New staff will get training, and the company promises room for professional development and promotion.

Shop work in Portugal usually needs a working level of Portuguese because the jobs are customer-facing, and the application site itself is in Portuguese. Citizens of EU countries can work in Portugal without a permit. Other nationals need the right to work before they apply; nothing in the announcement mentions sponsorship.

How do I apply?

1. Open the MC opportunities page.
2. Filter by the stores area ("Lojas") and look for your town or district.
3. Create a profile, upload your CV and submit the application online.
4. Check back each week. Because the shops open one after another, adverts for each location should appear in turn.

Applications are free. Be wary of anyone asking for payment to secure a supermarket job.

What it means for job seekers

• More than 500 jobs spread over eight districts means openings outside Lisbon and Porto too, including inland areas such as Vila Real and Viseu.
• Local residents have the advantage, so apply for the shop nearest your home address.
• Part-time shifts are common in Portuguese retail, which can suit students and people who need a second income.
• The run-up to Christmas is the busiest time for supermarkets, so recruitment for stores opening in November and December is likely to move quickly.
• Algarve job seekers should watch for the Faro details, which the company has yet to release.

Other new openings in the region: Ryanair's Porto hangar with 150 engineering jobs and, across the border, Lidl Spain's 11 new supermarkets with 242 jobs.

More openings: all Europe jobs