1. Louise Hoste MD SPAR UK addressing colleagues at the 2022 national SPAR conference held in Gran Canaria

Source: Spar

It follows a £125m investment into the business last year

Spar UK has promised to invest £122m into its supply chain and stores over the next 12 months.

The money will go towards store acquisitions and refits, while bolstering its supply chain with new lorries and warehousing facilities. It will also help to create the next generation of technology solutions, including EPoS and security equipment, the symbol group said.

It follows a £125m investment into the business last year, which also helped to ramp up its store estate and supply chain efficiency.

Speaking at the Spar UK national conference in Gran Canaria earlier this month, MD Louise Hoste highlighted the group’s performance.

“Spar is delivering robust growth well ahead of the symbol sector and continues to report year-on-year sales increases. We are outperforming our competitor set in value growth and seeing smaller trips to stores growing by 10%. This footfall growth is a massive opportunity, especially when we capitalise on it with extra items in the basket.

“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. 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.”

During the conference, £28,172 was raised for Spar UK’s national charity partner, Marie Curie, following a silent auction, while the same amount was also given to local charity Caritas Diocesana.

Hoste added: “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 to 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.”