Easter tip: Find out who really produces Mercadona’s torrija bread.

Many people in Spain casually pick up a particular loaf from Mercadona during Holy Week so they can fry sweet Torrijas at home. Despite the budget-friendly Hacendado branding, the bread is not made by a faceless industrial giant: it comes from a long-established bakery in Alcalá de Henares that has supplied major retail chains for decades-and has recently earned top marks from the consumer organisation OCU.

What Torrijas are-and why the bread makes or breaks them

Torrijas are widely regarded in Spain as the Easter dessert. At their simplest, they are similar to French toast: slices of bread soaked in milk, dipped in beaten egg, fried in plenty of oil, then finished with sugar and cinnamon. The method sounds straightforward, but the loaf you choose is often the difference between a soggy result and one that holds its shape with a soft centre.

The ideal slice should stay tender inside, yet it must not collapse when soaked and fried. That calls for a fairly firm, fine-crumb white bread with more structure than standard sandwich bread. Many home cooks prefer day-old bread from a bakery for exactly this reason-although everyday convenience and cost often tip the balance towards the supermarket shelf.

In Spain, there are now dedicated speciality loaves made specifically for Torrijas, with a tailored shape, an adjusted crumb, and a familiar lemon-and-cinnamon profile.

Mercadona, Hacendado and Panificadora Alcalá: the maker behind the Torrijas loaf

Mercadona-one of Spain’s largest food retailers-has been selling a specific “for Torrijas” loaf under its Hacendado own label for several years. The producer is Panificadora Alcalá, based in Alcalá de Henares, about 35 kilometres east of Madrid.

Founded in 1955, the business evolved from a local bakery into a supplier for major chains. Initially, it focused mainly on the regions of Madrid, Castile–La Mancha and Castile and León; from 2000 onwards, its operations expanded across Spain.

Since 2006, Panificadora Alcalá has been part of Mercadona’s established supplier network. For Hacendado, the company produces not only the Torrijas bread but also a wider range of baked goods, including:

• pre-sliced multigrain bread with five seeds

Practical notes for getting better Torrijas at home

Even with a purpose-made “for Torrijas” loaf, results improve when you control a few basics: let the slices rest briefly after soaking so the liquid distributes evenly, and keep the oil at a steady temperature so the outside browns without the middle turning heavy. Once fried, draining well helps the final sugar-and-cinnamon coating cling without becoming greasy.

If you are buying specifically for Holy Week, planning ahead can help too. Bread designed for Torrijas is intended to absorb milk while keeping its structure, so it is worth checking that the slices are thick enough for soaking and that the crumb is tight rather than airy; stored well, it can also be bought in advance to reduce last-minute shopping.