Heart Distribution, the AF Blakemore operation set up to aid small, local producers with getting their products to market, has launched a new initiative to help small producers grow their businesses. The Heart Distribution Producer Growth Scheme, which was launched in
A Worcester-based hospice has received funding from a Spar retailer to support the day-to-day care of patients at the hospice. Burn’s & Co’s Spar Malvern Springs Service Station donated £428 to St Richard’s Hospice through the stores open event on
AF Blakemore has extended its charitable trust to recognise the wide range of community activity undertaken by independent Spar stores across the Meridian & Welsh Guild. The Blakemore Foundation, which represents two per cent of AF Blakemore’s pre-tax profits, was
Employees from Blakemore Foodservice have donated £6,000 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital through 12 months of fundraising initiatives. Employees nominated Birmingham Children’s Hospital as their charity of the year for 2012/13 and held a number of fundraising activities throughout the year
An employee from Spar wholesaler, AF Blakemore, has completed a 227 mile cycle challenge from Holyhead to Pontypool in aid of the Bristol Children’s Hospital. Iestyn Rhodes from AF Blakemore’s IT Support team raised £1,000 for Bristol Children’s Hospital by
Irish food wholesaler, Musgrave, is investing in space planning and planogram automation solutions from software supplier Symphony EYC. This will provide Musgrave with the ability to optimise retail shelf space and generate planograms automatically for its independent retail partners and make
James Hall, the Spar wholesaler for the north of England, is re-launching its Hall’s Family Butchers meat range in its 150th anniversary year. The range’s new packaging highlights the British origin and traceability of the meat and includes a ‘Try
The Spar Lancashire School Games, a leading UK sporting event for children, kicked-off at The Breck primary school, Poulton le Fylde on 4 February 2013. The Lancashire Lion; school games organiser, Lee Cadwallader; Rachel Wood from Lancashire Sport; Fiona Addison and
The 2012 Spar Lancashire School Games were reported to be a roaring success, completed by more than 2,300 primary and secondary school pupils from across Lancashire. Part of the national £128m school games programme, the Spar Lancashire School Games are
Spar wholesaler, James Hall & Co, has revamped its Spar brand Savoury Pies and Slices range and moved to a local supplier to improve the quality and value of an already successful range.The new range will be packed in pre-printed
Spar wholesaler, James Hall, has launched a range of fresh fish from upmarket supplier, Fine Seafood Company. The Spar wholesaler for the north of England said it has made the move in order to improve the quality and shelf-life of
The People’s Supermarket is teaming up with Spar to help secure the future for the central London co-operative supermarket. Under the partnership agreement, Spar wholesaler and retailer, AF Blakemore, will become the main wholesale grocery supplier for The People’s Supermarket; alongside
Discount retailer, Poundworld is targeting independent retailers, e-Bay sellers and market traders, with the launch of a discount wholesale website, www.discount-wholesale.co.uk. Launching this week, Poundworld claims the website will help Britain’s small retailers succeed in their business ventures by offering the
Spar retailer and wholesaler AF Blakemore has been presented with a certificate of appreciation for its ongoing support of the Poppy Appeal by The Royal British Legion. The certificate presentation (11 April 2012) was arranged by The Royal British Legion
Spar has renewed its platinum sponsorship of the Balmoral Show, 16–18 May 2012 at the King’s Hall, Belfast. According to the retailer, the move underlines its commitment and support of the agricultural sector and local suppliers. Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director
Metro Cash & Carry Germany, a leading self-service wholesaler with 107 wholesale stores and 3.5m customers, has completed its implementation of JDA Space & Category Management solutions, including JDA Space Planning and JDA Floor Planning. According to JDA Software its Space Planning solution provides store-specific, micro-merchandising and collaboration capabilities
CJ LANG & Son, the long-established Dundee-based independent food and drink wholesaler, has been named the Best Licensed Wholesaler (Off Trade) at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards. Still a family-owned business, CJ Lang owns 108 Spar stores across Scotland and supplies
Makro, the UK arm of worldwide wholesaler Metro, has awarded a £24m contract to UK-based transport, logistics and distribution company, Advanced Supply Chain. According to Advanced Supply Chain, the three-year contract will result in 10%–15% growth per annum for its
Eighty school children from six Black Country schools put their best striking skills into action at the ninth annual AF Blakemore Junior Football Competition. Pupils from Bantock, Busil Jones, Castle, Fibbersley Park, Harden and Hillary Primary Schools fought it out
Spar wholesaler, James Hall, is planning to build its business with retailers in the north west by promoting fresh foods and in-store investment. The move follows the opening of a new depot in Preston. The Bowland View depot, which became fully
Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co has quenched the thirsts of more than 1,000 cyclists raising money for the NSPCC, as part of Spar UK’s ongoing support of the children’s charity. The Preston-based wholesaler and distributor donated 2,000 bottles of
Appleby Westward, the regional distribution company for Spar stores in the south west, is launching a new incentive scheme for retailers, offering capital funds based on purchases from the company’s two depots. The scheme – called FUNd$4all – will provide
AF Blakemore has acquired fellow Spar retailer and wholesaler Capper & Co. The merger will create the largest Spar wholesaler in the UK, serving a total of 1,096 stores, and a group with a combined turnover of £1.1bn. South Wales-based
Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore is investing £1m to reduce the wholesale prices of volume lines including milk, Fosters/Carling cans, granulated sugar and Red Bull. According to Blakemore, the savings are worth on average £5,000 per annum per store and build
Henderson Group, owner of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra retail brands in Northern Ireland, has reported strong sales growth in 2009, despite tough economic conditions. Compared to 2008, sales increased by 11% to £500m last year. Ron Whitten,
