Spar to invest £125m in business

Managing director, Louise Hoste, told delegates at the Spar virtual conference today (27 May): “Last year was a year which saw accelerated growth as a result of the dedication and focus of our colleagues. Therefore we are going to support them by investing £125m in our business in the year ahead.

“We will invest £100m in stores and we will invest £25m in improving our supply chain and IT capability – everything from depots to vans and electric bikes for home delivery. The potential is huge,” she said.

Spar also unveiled a number of data-driven mission-focused developments, with new formats and propositions, starting with the major redevelopment at Carnon Downs in Cornwall. The 2,600sqft store is the first in the country to unveil the new Spar UK store design concept.

The store will include a strong focus on provenance, with a wide range of local Cornish products across many categories, along with an up-front butchery counter branded in the Cornish language, and emphasis on the store’s reputation for fresh and chilled produce.

A décor of dark grey fixtures and wood effect tiles feature strongly among the warm colours, materials, and finishes throughout the store, along with messages conveying support for local suppliers and producers, with products identified by Cornish flag stickers.

There will be a refill station section where customers can bring their own containers and buy loose products such as nuts, cereals, pulses, rice and flour. Local wines, craft beers, and an artisan bakery will also feature, and the layout will take into account the proposed High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) legislation.