Blakemore Trade Partners reports it is going from strength to strength with retailer recruitment and has welcomed three new multiple-site forecourt retailers to its estate since August. Between them, forecourt retailers Raj Odedra, Lawrence Wells and Christian Watts have re-launched nine stores
Spar stores across the UK are celebrating improved Mystery Shopper scores following the successful relaunch of the group’s Sparkling Service programme. The award winning customer service initiative was relaunched in January, with the purpose of helping retailers create a clear
AF Blakemore has posted a 7.4% increase in profits and 5% increase in sales in its latest set of accounts. The West Midlands-based food retail, wholesale and distribution business recorded annual sales of £1.19bn with pre-tax profits up from £7.1m
Spar is relaunching its own label pet food range. The four-strong range comprises Spar Dog Mixer (RRP £2.75), Spar Cat Complete Chicken (RRP £0.89), Spar Dog Complete Chicken & Veg and Spar Dog Complete Beef & Veg (both RRP £2.99). -
Blakemore Retail has opened a new, purpose-built petrol forecourt store in Louth, Lincolnshire. The store, situated on the Fairfield Industrial Estate, is the first of Blakemore Retail’s sites to combine a Spar convenience offer with both Greggs and Subway franchises,
Two Interspar stores with a combined sales area of 2,600sq m have opened in the heart of Vienna’s new Central Station. There is a large hypermarket for the supply of food products and everyday items as well as a compact convenient
Spar stores and customers across the North of England have helped to raise £200,000 for the NSPCC’s ChildLine Schools Service simply by having a bite to eat. The money has been raised since 2011 through a sandwich promotion on a
Spar’s streamlined consolidation centre system is annually reducing the number of road miles its delivery lorries take by 7.4m miles – a huge jump in productivity and fantastic news for the environment, the retailer reports. The consolidation centre is reported to be an exceptional
Independent Spar retailers can thrive by focusing upon their point of difference in the marketplace and the unique position that they are in to win the ‘mission battle’. That was the key message from this year’s Blakemore Trade Partners Spar
Spar reports its service levels are at their highest ever – currently running at 98.7%, with all five Spar wholesalers recording on average 97.5% of deliveries arriving on time over 13,000 deliveries made per week. This success is thanks to Spar’s
HKS Retail, a leading operator of filling stations and convenience stores nationally, has embarked on a joint venture with Spar and Blakemore Trade Partners. On 8 August 2014 HKS Retail launched its first Spar forecourt store on Ashby Road in Ibstock,
Spar, the UK’s leading symbol store group, is launching its first major mobile marketing drive today (11 August 2014). Working in conjunction with i-movo, the market leader in secure digital vouchers, the campaign is called ‘Shop & Win. It is
Spar is expanding rapidly in Croatia with the acquisition of 20 stores, bought from retail organisation Dinova-Diona d.o.o. The deal takes the Spar network in Croatia to 47 stores, and will see all 335 Diona employees be taken on by
James Hall & Co, the Spar wholesaler for the North of England, has hosted this year’s Spar International Future Leaders conference, welcoming 36 people from 11 Spar countries to Preston. Delegates from across the globe all had the opportunity to
The Republic of Angola in southern Africa is the latest country to partner with Spar in 2014, after Spar International granted a licence to Spar Group South Africa to operate the Spar brand in the country. 2013 was a year of sustained global
The Mallusk-based Henderson Group saw its turnover rise to £642.8m in 2013, an increase of 3.6% on 2012. The leading retail, wholesale and foodservice group had record profits of £18.4m in 2013, up 17.5% on the previous year. The family-run
Spar’s wine range has been celebrated once again at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), taking home two silver awards – proof that Spar’s own label wines are going from strength to strength, the retailer claims. Spar scooped silver awards at
Spar has highlighted its focus on sourcing the best fresh locally-produced food by holding a celebration event for its top suppliers at the Balmoral Show. The Henderson Group, owner of the Spar franchise in Northern Ireland and a platinum sponsor of
RAF Boulmer station commander, group captain Atkinson and ISS general manager Karen Summerfield officially opened the new Post Office counter at ISS Spar Longhoughton on 5 March 2014. The counter will be available during shop opening hours, meaning the local
Blakemore Trade Partners, the Spar division of AF Blakemore, has appointed Sarah Ellis as its new head of marketing, responsible for the delivery of innovative marketing solutions across Spar’s Meridian & Welsh Guild. Ellis joined AF Blakemore on 3 March 2014
Spar customers in the Netherlands can now pay for their online orders upon delivery or collection with Shuttle, the Adyen mobile Point-of-Sale terminal (mPOS) for credit and debit card payments. The international retail chain has rolled out Shuttle across 54
A Blakemore Retail Spar store at the heart of the community in Stannington, Sheffield, has joined forces with a local voluntary organisation, inviting residents to take positive action to keep their community clean. Action for Stannington is a public awareness
Spar has launched a new training package that will provide retailers with the tools to deliver unbeatable customer service standards. Sparkling Service has been relaunched with increased emphasis placed upon in-store behaviours, continuous improvement and community involvement. The package has been designed
Henderson Retail is to roll out an online learning platform from Upskill People across its Spar, and EuroSpar, retail brands. The roll out follows a successful pilot across 10 stores and will now include online training for more than 70
Jacqui Bailey, owner of Spar London Road Bakery, Boston, Lincolnshire, has today donated £500 worth of food following the most serious tidal surge to hit the east coast for more than 60 years. Over 300 homes were flooded when the
