James Hall & Co to host new SPAR Transform retailer event

James Hall & Co is to host a new one-day retailer event in April for current and prospective SPAR independents.

SPAR Transform will bring together retailers from across the North of England on 18 April at the Harrogate Convention Centre, and the event is an expansion of the company’s annual independent retailer business update.

Keynote speakers include Dominic Hall, joint managing director of James Hall & Co, and Tobias Wasmuht, managing director of SPAR International. Topics to be presented include company innovations, customer loyalty, retail technology and community initiatives.

There will also be personal accounts from independent retailers on how the SPAR brand and support from James Hall & Co has transformed their business.

More than 40 suppliers will be in attendance, and breakout sessions focusing on specific subject areas will be hosted by Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Carlsberg and Walkers.

A showcase of James Hall & Co brands will be offered through pop-ups like the Cheeky Coffee Lounge, and a spotlight will shine on SPAR own-brand products through concepts such as the SPAR wine bar.

Independent SPAR retailers will also be joined by area managers and store managers from James Hall & Co’s G&E Murgatroyd company-owned stores division for networking opportunities and sharing of best practice.

The event will close with an informal social evening of food, drinks and entertainment.

Peter Dodding (pictured), sales director and chairman of the SPAR Northern Guild of retailers, said: “We are hugely excited to deliver a bigger and better retailer event for our network of independent retailers with SPAR Transform.

“We have a strong line-up of speakers sharing our future vision and strategy, as well as highlighting how we set the standard for excellence in community retailing, wholesaling and manufacturing.

“The event gives retailers the opportunity to network, connect and engage with retail partners and suppliers, share knowledge and insights, and ultimately drive sales.”

James Hall & Co is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.