Archive of all Spar articles – Page 25

  • News

    Voice picking system cuts waste at depot

    2009-03-21T00:00:00Z

    Henderson Wholesale claims to have saved £175,000 since introducing a new voice picking and stock system.The Northern Ireland-based Spar wholesaler said the system at its ambient depot in Belfast had helped halve its wastage and that it...

  • News

    Spar begins massive revamp of own label

    2009-01-24T00:00:00Z

    Spar is planning a massive overhaul of its 900-strong own-label range this year in what it claims is the company's biggest initiative since Eight Till Late.Next month, the company will relaunch its value range as Spar Extra Value to help...

  • News

    Liptrot joins Blakemore to fuel delivered growth

    2008-11-29T00:00:00Z

    John Liptrot, the former MD of the now-defunct buying group Key Lekkerland, has joined AF Blakemore in the newly created position of sales director for the Spar distributor's wholesale division.Liptrot has worked in wholesale for more than...

  • News

    AF Blakemore approves Spar retailer loans

    2008-11-29T00:00:00Z

    Retailers are beginning to reap the rewards of a new loan scheme from wholesaler AF Blakemore for store refurbishments.Five applications to the Guaranteed Investment Scheme have been approved for loans, while a further 19 are in progress....

  • News

    Euro Garages converting to Spar fascia

    2008-11-15T00:00:00Z

    Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co has signed a deal to supply Euro Garages, which runs 70 forecourts across the north west of England and the Midlands.The independent petrol station operator has converted 20 stores to the Spar fascia and plans...

  • News

    World News 25/10/2008

    2008-10-25T00:00:00Z

    SPAR, INDIA: Spar has entered the Indian market with a 20,000 sq ft supermarket in the city of Hyderabad. Spar will operate under a licence agreement with Landmark Group’s Indian subsidiary, Max Hypermarkets, which will be responsible for the...

  • News

    AF Blakemore picks Carter to be its first marketing director

    2008-10-18T00:00:00Z

    Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore has appointed change specialist Jed Carter as its first marketing director. He joined this month from Asda where he was general manager of step change and also worked on the George brand relaunch. Carter said he wanted...

  • News

    BWG in talks to buy Fresh supermarkets

    2008-09-13T00:00:00Z

    BWG, the Irish-owned retail group that runs the Spar and Mace franchises, is in talks to acquire Fresh, a Dublin-based supermarket chain with four outlets across the city. Fresh was set up two years ago by local businessman Noel Smith with the...

  • News

    Police seize counterfeit Spar vodka

    2008-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Counterfeit Spar vodka containing 160 times the legal safe limit of methanol has been seized by police and council officials in North London and Northumbria. More than 180 bottles of the vodka, which was an imitation of Spar brand Imperial vodka,...

  • News

    All change for newsagents around Jersey

    2008-08-23T00:00:00Z

    Jersey CTN chain Channel Islands Newsagents has been sold to the Channel Island Wholesale Group. Channel Islands Wholesale Group holds the Spar contract for the Channel Islands and as part of the deal bought 12 of Channel Islands Newsagents’ 13...

  • News

    Protest fails to get through to Vodafone

    2008-08-02T00:00:00Z

    Vodafone has refused to back down in its stand-off with independents who rebelled against a move to cut the rate of commission by a single percentage point. Led by Spar, retailers organised three boycotts by refusing to sell its top-ups. But the...

  • News

    Henderson offers food-to-go online

    2008-07-12T00:00:00Z

    Northern Irish Spar wholesaler Henderson Group has launched an online ordering system for its food-to-go offer. The scheme, being trialled at the company-owned Spar store in Great Victoria Street, Belfast, is being run in partnership with...

  • News

    Spar retailers boycott Vodafone over rate cut

    2008-07-12T00:00:00Z

    Almost 3,500 convenience stores boycotted Vodafone yesterday by refusing to sell its top-ups after the mobile phone operator announced it was cutting retailers' commission by one percentage point. Led by Spar retailers, they threatened...

  • News

    Top-Up shop

    2008-06-28T00:00:00Z

    Who we visited co-op group Childwall, Liverpoolone stop Havant, Hampshiresomerfield Crewe, Cheshirespar Holmer Green, Buckinghamshiretesco express Woodville, DerbyshireHow they...

  • News

    Top-Up shop

    2008-06-21T00:00:00Z

    Who we visited costcutter Finchley Road, London LONDIS Harrogate, North Yorkshire somerfield Stamford, Lincolnshire spar Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire tesco express Aberdeen How...

  • News

    Blakemore gives Spar store refurbs pledge

    2008-06-21T00:00:00Z

    AF Blakemore is encouraging independents to spend large sums on refurbishments despite the gloomy economic conditions. The wholesaler, which supplies 700 Spar stores in the Midlands and parts of Wales, has offered to underwrite...

  • News

    independent retailer of the year

    2008-06-15T00:00:00Z

    Mills Group has scooped the title of Independent Retailer of the Year for its original approachFollowing a two-year reign by Spar retailer Tates, c-store and CTN chain Mills Group has made it to the top spot.Mills Group, which...

  • News

    Spar contract won by Southern Salads

    2008-06-14T00:00:00Z

    Southern Salads has started to supply its first UK grocery retailer. The Kent-based grower, which previously only supplied ready-prepared leafy salads, fruit, vegetables and stir-fries to fast food outlets and restaurants, is supplying...

  • News

    Tates posts record profit as it heads for 250 stores mark

    2008-06-14T00:00:00Z

    Leading independent retail chain Tates is riding high after announcing a record £5.4m profit for the year to April. The Spar retailer, number four in The Grocer's Top 50 ranking of the UK's biggest independent retailers, generated £275m...

  • News

    Spar Ireland sales hit €1.67bn in 2007

    2008-06-14T00:00:00Z

    Spar Ireland, the convenience group controlled by BWG, has reported sales of €1.67bn for 2007, 15.7% up on the previous year. Fifty-two new stores were opened during the year, representing an investment of €103m in partnership with its...