Spar - Latest News and Analysis – Page 31
-
News
Focus on fresh lifts Tates performance
Sales at Tates, the 185-strong chain of Spar stores owned by AF Blakemore, have smashed through the £200m barrier.
The rise, to £213.9m for the year to April, represents a £3.9m increase on company sales forecasts.
Managing director Geoff… -
News
Scots consolidation continues with Scotmid’s SCS buy
Consolidation in the Scottish c-store sector continued this week with the acquisition of Spar retailer SCS (Scotland) by Scotmid.The 13-store chain, built up by the Sokolowski family and which at its peak owned 16 stores, was purchased by the...
-
News
Spar turns on to Immedia radio
Spar UK has struck a deal with Immedia Broadcasting to install live satellite radio across its estate in the autumn.AIM-listed Immedia, which was set up by former Radio I DJ Bruno Brookes, currently broadcasts dedicated material from its...
-
News
Spar Live on its way this autumn
Spar UK has struck a deal with Immedia Broadcasting to install live satellite radio across its estate in the autumn. AIM-listed Immedia, which was set up by former radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes, currently broadcasts dedicated material from its...
-
News
Co-operative Group buys Conveco
The Co-operative Group has purchased the Conveco c-store chain for an undisclosed sum.The 64-store chain, 38 of which trade under the Spar fascia, is based in the West Country and is ranked 23 in The Grocer Top 50.Commenting on the...
-
News
BWG ready for growth
Irish wholesale group BWG said this year would be its year of growth after a “dramatic” year of disposals in 2003.BWG group chief executive Leo Crawford said the group was now focused on expanding its three key elements – Spar in the Irish...
-
News
Spar angry with Axfood
International Spar said it was “extremely disappointed” that its franchise operator in Sweden Axfood was to merge its Spar business into the Axfood Hemköp supermarket chain.Spar said nine new stores were added to the chain in Sweden during...
-
News
A Russian revolution
Spar, Auchan and Metro have carved their way into Russia, but with local retailers sharpening their act, could other would-be entrants find themselves missing out on serious money? John Wood reportsAnyone stepping into one of...
-
News
Budgens takes on the symbols
Budgens is taking on Spar and Londis in its fight to attract entrepreneurial retailers. It is encouraging applications from all interested parties as it forges a future as a franchise-only operation.The retail chain’s Irish parent company...
-
News
John Henderson hires Doody as sales director
John Henderson, the Northern Ireland Spar wholesaler, has appointed a new sales director charged with growing its franchise business.Based at John Henderson’s head office at Mallusk, Co Antrim, Patrick Doody will develop and implement a...
-
News
Chilled in its proper place
An exclusive analysis of Spar’s chilled ready meal pilot scheme provides pointers on how to tackle the category widely seen as key to success in convenience. Siân Harrington reportsFresh and chilled foods are seen as the key to...
-
News
BWG’s bid for ADM Londis thrown out
Irish convenience store group ADM Londis has rejected a E35m takeover bid from its rival, BWG, which operates the Spar and Mace franchises in the Republic.The offer, which followed a series of contacts between the two over the past year, was...
-
News
Spar blitz looks to women
Spar is upping the ante as it seeks to become the biggest and best convenience brand in the UK and to stay one step ahead of its multiple rivals.A series of initiatives has been designed to help improve customer perceptions of the Spar brand...
-
News
Spar aims to up standards
Spar is to clamp down on store standards as competition in the convenience sector intensifies.In June it will launch a scheme to cover minimum legal requirements, millennium store compliance and standards. The scheme will have two strands...
-
News
Blakemore looks to tourist trade
Blakemore Food Service is rolling out catering sections to 21 Spar stores in tourist locations, offering supplies to a range of foodservice customers.The stores, located mainly in seaside towns, are owned by Tates, the company-owned stores...
-
News
Self-heat meals listed nationwide
Self-heating canned ready meals are finally making inroads into the mass market with products under the Hotcan brand getting nationwide listings.Launching now in Moto service stations, the range is also listed in Palmer & Harvey, Aldi, Spar...
-
News
Bartfield rises as Spar UK boosts its category focus
Spar UK has promoted Rachel Bartfield to trading manager as part of a wider restructure of its trading department.Bartfield, one of three trading managers in the company, said: “Spar has merged its own label and branded departments tomake...
-
News
Digital on the double
Encouraged by the favourable results from its trial of promotions-based instore screen advertising, Spar plans to roll it out to more stores. Siân Harrington reportsAs Tesco approaches the first anniversary of its digital media...
-
News
CJ Lang chases 17 Spar stores
Scottish Spar wholesaler CJ Lang is chasing a top 10 slot in The Grocer Top 50 through a deal to acquire 17 stores from Spar retailer AJ Gillespie.The deal – at the due diligence stage – would boost turnover at CJ Lang’s company-owned stores...