They are a familiar sight to over a generation of expat residents and holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol, but next year Supersol supermarkets are set to disappear for good.
On Thursday, it was announced that the stores, currently owned by Lithuanians, were being sold to Carrefour for 78 million euros.
The French retail giant plans to roll out its Carrefour Express or Market brands instead of Supersol, as well as its separate Supeco low-cost stores, after the sale of 172 stores is completed at the start of 2021.
At the moment Supersol has 173 supermarkets in Spain and 90 per cent of these are in Andalucía and Madrid.
Carrefour said that the new sales points will help it expand its home delivery capability.
Supersol employs over 4,000 people and last year turned over 450 million euros but has faced stiffer competition from other, faster-moving supermarket chains in recent years and its market share has declined. Lithuania's Maxima bought Supersol from Dinosol in 2012.