Smaller trips to SPAR stores increase by 10%

SPAR UK is seeing smaller trips to stores growing by 10%.

SPAR UK is committing to investing £122 million over the next 12 months in stores and supply chain.

“This footfall growth is a massive opportunity, especially when we capitalise on it with extra items in the basket,” SPAR UK’s managing director Louise Hoste told delegates at the organisation’s national conference in Gran Canaria.

“SPAR is delivering robust growth well ahead of the symbol sector and continues to report year-on-year sales increases,” she added.

To support this sustained solid performance, SPAR UK is committing to investing £122 million over the next 12 months in stores and supply chain, after spending £125 million last year.

“There are some great customer opportunities to make us the force for the future as we continue to focus on our vision of being the most compelling and competitive convenience proposition in the country,” said Hoste. “We will do this by leveraging our unique partnership and the strength of our distinctive SPAR brand.

“We will provide innovative and profitable retail solutions to all our independent retailers, enabling them to serve local communities in ways that exceed customer expectations.”

Around 400 people attended the conference in Gran Canaria. These included independent SPAR retailers, SPAR store managers, suppliers, senior figures from each of SPAR’s five wholesale distribution centres, and executives from SPAR UK central office.

Delegates were invited to visit the SPAR Puerto Rico Market and SPAR Natural Market store at Mogan Mall. The premium SPAR store features specialist departments including a cheese room, wine cellar and beer hall and is owned and run by the SPAR Spain Partner Cencosu.

The large modern supermarket also includes a butcher’s shop, fish market, bakery department, food-to-go section, delicatessen counter, and fresh fruit and vegetable corner. At the instore cafeteria, customers can enjoy sit-down meals from morning to night. There is also a dedicated flower department at the entrance of the store.

SPAR National Guild chairman Dominic Hall (left) and Louise Hoste (right) present a cheque for £28,172 to Megan Townshend of Marie Curie.

The conference also included a gala dinner, where a silent auction was held for charity. As a result, £28,172 was donated to SPAR’s national charity partner Marie Curie, and the same amount was given to Caritas Diocesana, a local charity in Gran Canaria.

Hoste commented: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported our conference both in the UK and in Gran Canaria. We hope our charitable donation will help Marie Curie Nurses and the volunteers from Caritas Diocesana continue with their magnificent work.

“Thanks too to our retailers, suppliers and RDC colleagues for their contribution and making the event a success. There is no doubt that SPAR’s performance is standing out in the convenience industry. Through our ability to share best practice internationally and nationally, and through the camaraderie of our Guilds, we have delivered for our customers, our neighbours.

“And as the market continues to evolve, we have the ability, the agility and the passion to outperform and deliver again. SPAR is the force of the future in the convenience market.”

The 2024 SPAR national conference will take place in Sun City, South Africa, from 12-16 March.