Spar - Latest News and Analysis – Page 33

  • News

    Simon Howie joins Spar for breakfast

    2003-06-14T00:00:00Z

    A Scottish butcher is hoping for success with both independents and multiples. Dunning-based Simon Howie Foods has teamed up with both Sainsbury and Spar wholesaler CJ Lang in two separate projects. Wholesaler CJ Lang is offering a range of...

  • News

    Botterills in mood to grow

    2003-06-14T00:00:00Z

    Scottish Spar chain Botterills was in good shape to expand and add batches of new stores when opportunities arise said managing director Jim Botterill. The 37-store Botterills chain increased sales by 12% to £55.5m and like-for-like sales by...

  • News

    E200m pledge for Spar growth

    2003-05-31T00:00:00Z

    Anne Bruce BWG plans to put almost E200m into expanding Spar in the Irish Republic over the next three years, bringing the portfolio up to around 500 stores. The move was announced this week following a strategic review in the wake of the...

  • News

    Hendersons given green light to buy main NI rival

    2003-05-17T00:00:00Z

    Julian Hunt Spar wholesaler John Henderson Holdings stunned the independent retail scene in Northern Ireland this week by unveiling plans to acquire arch rival J&J Haslett for an undisclosed sum. Hendersons has been given an exclusivity...

  • News

    Pure Dynamite...

    2003-05-03T00:00:00Z

    Golfing fans at Spar Scotland's show in Fife last week made a dash for the bunkers when a security alert caused an evacuation of the venue. Being within driving range of golfing mecca The Old Course' at St Andrews, when the alarm turned out to...

  • News

    Acquisitions arm set up by CJ Lang

    2003-05-03T00:00:00Z

    Scottish wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang is to aggressively expand its Spar business by recruiting more members and has a "war chest" for acquisitions, but it will no longer be looking to grow its VG membership. At Spar Scotland's trade show in...

  • News

    CJ Lang ready with ‘war chest’

    2003-04-25T00:00:00Z

    Spar Scottish wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang is to aggressively seek business through further store improvements and has a “war chest” for acquisitions.At Spar Scotland’s trade show in Fife, CJ Lang MD designate Ed Ferguson revealed that...

  • News

    Spar manager moves to Booker confectionery

    2003-04-12T00:00:00Z

    Booker has recruited Andrew Davenport-Jones as its confectionery buyer, replacing Anthony Taylor who took the post of proprietary brand trading controller at Spar in January. Davenport-Jones moves to a category which he claims is worth about 16%...

  • News

    Spar chairman takes on BRC role

    2003-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The British Retail Consortium has signalled its intention to increase its focus on small store issues with the appointment of Spar's Morton Middleditch as deputy chairman. Middleditch, who is Spar UK's chairman, fills a gap created by the...

  • News

    Miller will head up Spar trading

    2003-01-25T00:00:00Z

    Spar UK has recruited Booker's trading director Peter Miller to fill the newly-created post of group trading director. Miller will take responsibility for all Spar's trading activities and divisions and will report directly to Spar UK managing...

  • News

    Spar bags deal to supply Stars News c-stores...

    2003-01-25T00:00:00Z

    John Wood Spar has topped last week's 56-store win ( Right Choice deal swells Spar', The Grocer, January 18, p6) with a deal to supply 63 c-stores in the Wolverhampton-based Stars News chain. Spar's biggest wholesaler AF Blakemore has signed...

  • News

    Right Choice deal swells Spar

    2003-01-21T00:00:00Z

    Elaine Watson Spar has scored a major coup in the north of England after striking a deal to supply 56 Right Choice c-stores. Cellar 5 purchasing and marketing director Andy Smallman and operations director Steve McArdle led a management...

  • News

    Right Choice deal swells Spar

    2003-01-21T00:00:00Z

    Spar has scored a major coup in the north of England after striking a deal to supply 56 Right Choice c-stores.Cellar 5 purchasing and marketing director Andy Smallman and operations director Steve McArdle led a management buyout of the 59...

  • News

    The Tates modern

    2003-01-18T00:00:00Z

    A big spend on refurbishments is helping Tates achieve 4% growth as it aims for 250 stores by 2005 says Elaine Watson When Geoff Hallam joined Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore, it had 12 company-owned stores, and they weren't making much money....

  • News

    Taylor boost for Spar buying power

    2003-01-11T00:00:00Z

    Spar has recruited Booker confectionery buyer Anthony Taylor as proprietary brand trading controller to increase its buying power in the convenience sector. Taylor joins the trading team at Harrow and will report directly to buying director Mark...

  • News

    Scottish Spar chain aims for 20% profit

    2002-11-30T00:00:00Z

    Scottish Spar chain Botterills has set itself a sales target of £55.8m for the year to May 2003 and is aiming for 20% gross profit. Profits will be ploughed into extending and refurbishing the portfolio, with two or three new stores scheduled to...

  • News

    Alfred Jones' faith in its locations is so strong that it..

    2002-11-23T00:00:00Z

    Warrington-based Spar chain Alfred Jones sent Tesco its congratulations for swallowing up local rival T&S, because, far from being intimidated by the prospect of the Tesco Express convenience format on his doorstep, MD Tom Calderbank is confident...

  • News

    Spar Kick Starts Pub As Hub

    2002-11-01T00:00:00Z

    Midlands Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore has recruited the first pubs to branch out into convenience retailing as part of its ‘pub as the hub’ initiative to encourage rural businesses to join Spar.Retail director Elwyn Davies said two pubs in...

  • News

    Alcoholic drinks dominate our promotional chart this month ­

    2002-10-19T00:00:00Z

    Budweiser and Heineken share the top of the chart. Both brands focus predominantly upon multibuy offers, with Budweiser featuring heavily in Londis and Heineken leaning more towards Spar. The promotions being run by Beck's, Carling and Red Square...

  • News

    Alcohol brands feature strongly in our look at the promotion

    2002-09-21T00:00:00Z

    A host of alcoholic drinks brands were spotted on promotion by our store audit teams, and three make it into our chart. In particular, Caffreys and Strongbow were noted for making good use of multibuy promotions. Caffreys was on offer in the Spar...