Spar to drive own label focus on to frozen, ambient and non-food items next year

Spar is to put a greater focus on developing its own label range across frozen, ambient and non-food items next year, in a bid to cater changing consumer behaviour during the cost of living crisis.

MD Louise Hoste told The Grocer it was in response to shoppers actively seeking own-label lines in categories that were traditionally brand-led.

The symbol group did not reveal what new products it will be launching, but said it planned to create 90 new lines during 2023 across the three categories, having met that target each year since 2020.

Its own label range currently comprises close to 1,000 lines, across chilled, fresh and BWS, as well as frozen, ambient and non-food.

“Own label share is growing faster than brands in categories such as health and beauty, and we are well-placed to meet this growing need,” said Hoste. “Frozen is a category which serves many customers’ needs at a keen price point, whilst also enabling customers to manage their food waste and being able to have meal solutions ready to go straight from the freezer.

“Inevitably, considering the cost of living crisis, the Spar brand team are reviewing all categories to ensure customers have suitable options for their budgets, whether that is customers that are still looking to treat themselves with premium, or customers looking for value products.”

It comes as Spar recently launched a new initiative called Spotlight, which aims to maximise distribution of its core own label range. It consists of a product list made up of more than 100 lines that highlight “great sellers in stores, fulfiled key customer needs, and delivered shopper value for money”.