SPAR UK Conference attracts 480 delegates to South Africa

A total of 480 independent SPAR retailers and families, national account customers, company-owned store colleagues, suppliers, and RDC and central office executives attended the recent SPAR UK 2024 Conference in Sun City, South Africa.

With the theme ‘Winning in Convenience, the event brought together a record number of UK professionals from across SPAR and the convenience sector for a winning exchange of ideas, insights, collaborations and charity-giving.

Dominic Hall, chair of the National Guild of SPAR, commented: “The energy and enthusiasm presented by all our attendees on driving the SPAR business forward emphasised the importance of having such an event. Together, we explored how SPAR is winning in convenience and the opportunities available for future growth and success.

“Throughout the conference, attendees learned about a number of topics spanning technology, foodservice, marketing, digital, brand ownership, supplier partnerships and beyond. We had speakers share their insights and experiences, showing our audience how to navigate their way through the ever-changing convenience landscape with confidence and energy.”

The 2024 SPAR UK Conference provided a platform for showcasing innovative selling techniques by motivational speaker Nicky Pattinson, foodservice and omnichannel best practice from SPAR South Africa, and SPAR global developments. There was also a Q&A session with Khumo Phalatse, founder of It Belongs To Me, a non-profit organisation located near Sun City supporting school girls and vulnerable young women and men.

The event culminated in a charity gala dinner where £65,151 was raised and shared between SPAR’s national charity partner Marie Curie and It Belongs To Me.

“Nurturing our neighbourhoods is hugely important to everyone within the SPAR family and we want to thank all our guests for bringing thousands of books, toys, treats and health and beauty items to donate to It Belongs To Me,” said Hall. “It was overwhelming to see the response to our charity drive and even better to see how much everyone supported our charity partners at the gala dinner.”

In addition to the business activities and charity-giving, the biennial SPAR Guild Challenge took place. A fiercely competitive contest between all five SPAR UK regional Guilds, the Challenge saw the Scottish Guild (CJ Lang & Son) crowned as winners and taking home the Mark Gillett Award for Endeavour.

The SPAR UK Conference takes place every two years. In 2026 it will be held on 24-28 March in Vancouver.