Spar - Latest News and Analysis – Page 23

  • News

    My Alternative CV: Adam Margolin, head of marketing support, Spar UK

    2009-11-07T00:00:00Z

    Adam Margolin, head of marketing support at Spar UK, on cheese, Megan Fox and crocodile salad

  • News

    Eurospar debuts in the south of England

    2009-10-10T00:00:00Z

    Appleby Westward Group is to open the first Eurospar stores in southern England after securing three Somerfield stores from The Co-operative Group.The Spar wholesaler will reopen the stores in Keynsham, Liskeard and Minehead by Christmas...

  • News

    Spar sales soar 8.1% as recession propels local shopping trend

    2009-09-26T00:00:00Z

    Spar has credited a strong sales uplift to the rise of local shopping coupled with a recession-driven revamp of its own-label range and advertising strategy. Sales shot up 8.1% in the three months to the end of June, with like-for-like...

  • News

    Gillett’s claims its banking woes are over

    2009-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Gillett's has insisted its banking troubles are over after it emerged the southwestern Spar retailer was fined last year for breaching lending covenants.Accounts at Companies House show Gillett's was charged by Royal Bank of Scotland...

  • News

    Hall buys plant to lift retailer sarnie profits

    2009-06-20T00:00:00Z

    Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co has bought a sandwich factory to supply Spar stores in the north of England, cutting Greencore out of the chain.Hall has spent more than £1m buying the plant in Blackpool and seven lorries to help deliver the...

  • News

    World News 20/6/09

    2009-06-20T00:00:00Z

    Spar is set for further expansion in China after international managing director Gordon Campbell said the retailer would enter Hunan province over the next year, moving within reach of 400 million Chinese customers. Spar's retail sales area...

  • News

    Tates reopens Somerfields as Eurospars

    2009-06-13T00:00:00Z

    Spar retailer Tates has opened the first Eurospar stores on the British mainland this week in Nottingham and Sheffield.

  • News

    James switches stores from Budgens to Spar

    2009-06-06T00:00:00Z

    One of Budgens' most well-known retailers, Jonathan James, has switched two of his five stores to the Spar fascia. James changed the stores in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, from Budgens to Spar after Musgrave opened a new store in the small...

  • News

    Core range initiative helps Spar fight off slump in wine sales

    2009-05-02T00:00:00Z

    Spar UK has bucked the recent trend of falling wine sales in the off-trade. The symbol operator’s wine sales for the first three months of 2009 were up 9.7% year-on-year to £17.8m.

  • News

    Row breaks out as Co-op Group and Spar ads use same slogan

    2009-04-18T00:00:00Z

    A row has erupted after The Co-operative Group adopted an advertising slogan that is also used by Spar.The Co-op Group's latest TV ad promotes salmon, potatoes and green beans with a voiceover that says: "Dinner for two for under five pounds...

  • News

    Spar’s McCammond set for move to Sainsbury's

    2009-04-11T00:00:00Z

    Sainsbury's has poached Mark McCammond, operations director of retail for Spar’s Northern Ireland wholesaler Henderson Group, to take charge of its convenience stores in northern England and Scotland, The Grocer has learnt. McCammond is due to start...

  • EUROSPAR
    News

    Eurospar format set to make its debut on the British mainland

    2009-04-11T00:00:00Z

    The first Eurospars are due to open on the UK mainland next month. Tates, the retail arm of AF Blakemore, which distributes for Spar in the Midlands and parts of Wales, will open a 5,000 sq ft store in Nottingham at the beginning of May and a...

  • News

    Pattison takes reins as MD Connell leaves Appleby Westward

    2009-04-11T00:00:00Z

    John Pattison is taking over from Ian Connell as Appleby Westward's managing director.The former retail managing director for Somerfield's west division takes the reins from Connell, who is retiring from the Spar wholesaler after nine years...

  • 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...