Spar International has set up a working group to address how the organisation can utilise the internet to develop the Spar business worldwide. Deputy general manager Gerrit Kok said two parallel working parties had been set up to devise a long-term strategy for b2b and b2c e-commerce. They meet for the first time this week. "They will review developments and look at issues such as participation in the new online marketplaces," said Kok. He is in talks with a series of technology providers about working with Spar on the new projects. An intranet linking Spar members across the globe is on track to launch in the autumn. Retailers will receive passwords giving them access to manuals, articles, information on Spar branded products and minutes of meetings. Transactional functions for ordering International Spar brand products online will follow next year making it a fully interactive service. Spar's international unit is also looking at ways to develop the Spar brand through new store formats. Wholesalers from all over the world are approaching the organisation for licences to trade under the Spar or Eurospar fascia, Kok said. The company recently established offices in Moscow, in partnership with local wholesaler Rusmed, to co-ordinate the search for new sites in the area. Kok views the country as a key growth opportunity. "Usually we go in with just one partner, country by country, but Russia is so huge we are looking at a series of regional licences." A state of the art 1,800 sq m "flagship Russian Eurospar" will open in Moscow in August. In neighbouring Ukraine two stores will be opened this year by a Kiev entrepreneur with the rights to develop the brand nationwide. {{NEWS }}

Topics