Spar this week opened an 86,000 sq ft flagship hypermarket in India and announced plans to run 25 stores in the country by the end of 2012.

The hypermarket in Bangalore is the biggest store in any mall in India and boasts the biggest trolley fleet in south India. "The launch of the Mantri Mall store reflects the expansion of Spar, not just in India but globally, into new markets thanks to our winning retail formats," said Dr Gordon Campbell, MD of Spar International.

The store has a strong food-to-go offering, including fish and bakery counters that allows consumers to watch their food being prepared, with most products locally sourced, he added. An own-label range of sauces, ketchup, jams, noodles and juices will be available from April.

Spar has three other hypermarkets in Bangalore and Hyderabad and sees potential for "huge expansion" in the country.