Two Spar directors have handed in their notice and will leave later this year.

Retail director Richard Bennett will leave at the end of August while supply chain and management information director Steve Blackmore has decided to retire at the end of 2011.

"We entirely respect Richard's desire to progress his career in a new direction and are working with him to effect an efficient handover," said outgoing managing director Jerry Marwood.

"As Debbie Robinson is due to take over as managing director in September, it would be inappropriate at this point to make a firm decision on Richard's replacement, so we have re-organised internally to make sure that the retail function has appropriate cover until Debbie decides what sort of reporting structure she would like," he added.

Bennett joined Spar in 2005 following an 18-year career with Marks and Spencer. As retail director, he was a crucial player in the development of Spar's Stores of The Future programme.

The programme developed flagship stores in six different formats such as neighbourhood affluent, in transit and daily needs.

"Richard has put in six years of hard work that have changed the shape of many of our retail operations most notably in the area of national accounts which has increased significantly in value and quality under his tenure," Marwood said.

Bennett is expected to reveal his future plans nearer his departure.

The resignations from Spar's board of directors are the third in seven months. In November, Marwood announced that he would step down this September after nine years at the helm. He has since been appointed a non-exective director of field marketing agency eXPD8 and will advise it on promotional compliance in c-stores.

Spar said it had no plans to replace Blackmore and would assign his roles to new departments over the remainder of the year. Blackmore's role was created in 2005 when Bennett joined as retail director, the position previously held by Blackmore.