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Tag: spar

  • Spar sales soar in Australia as lockdown keeps customers local

    Spar sales soar in Australia as lockdown keeps customers local

    Netherlands-based supermarket chain Spar saw sales increase 7.4 percent for the year to December 2020, hitting $62.5 billion (€39.8 billion).

    And growth was highest in its Australian business, which saw strong revenue growth of 16.5 percent off the back of its proximity and neighborhood format, as communities increasingly shopped locally due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Spar currently has around 120 supermarkets across Australia.

    Sales in the wider Asia-Pacific region grew by 1.5 percent, with $2.9 billion (€1.88 billion) in retail turnover driven by the strong result in Australia and China, which recorded retail sales growth of $2.4 billion (€1.55 billion).

    “Last year was very much characterized by the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic and its severe consequences, but it was also a year that saw accelerated growth as a result of the dedication and focus of our highly committed SPAR colleagues across all parts of our global SPAR network,” said Spar International chief executive Tobias Wasmuht.

    “Crisis situations do invariably bring out the best in people and we at Spar can be proud of the astoundingly selfless and brave response of the Spar worldwide organization.”

    According to Wasmuht, the resilience shown by the Spar format has given the group confidence for the future, with developments accelerated across its retail and supply chain throughout the year despite the disruptions.

    “A key positive factor of the last year has been the benefits of close international cooperation wrought by new, remote ways of working,” Wasmuht.

    “The advantages of this intensity of cooperation are beneficial to all in Spar as we increasingly reap the benefits of our international presence and scale, whilst adding purposeful value to the local communities we serve.”

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  • Spar China expands footprint during Covid-19 virus outbreak

    Spar China expands footprint during Covid-19 virus outbreak

    Dutch multinational retail-grocery franchise system Spar has launched six new locations in China in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.

    The firm benefitted from the scale and duration of China’s lockdown being briefer than initially feared – with an early easing of restrictions during April – as it opened six new supermarkets in Beijing, Guangdong, and Shandong.

    The new stores offer local and essential goods with online and home delivery options.

    Observations in Retail Insight Network suggested the new stores may serve to relieve pressure from the retailer’s delivery platforms in redistributing demand more equally, as well as support vulnerable communities that may not have access to online platforms with its focus on daily essentials and groceries

    About 73 percent of Chinese consumers are still significantly concerned about a reemergence of the coronavirus within the territory, which may impact consumer engagement with Spar’s new venues. The firm has implemented a range of health and safety measures within all stores to assuage customer concerns.

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  • Five new Spar China stores open

    Five new Spar China stores open

    Grocery-retailer Spar China has launched five new supermarkets.

    The Dutch-headquartered international franchise business has opened two stores in Shandong and three in Guangdong, both Chinese provinces, and bring the chain’s total footprint in the territory closer to 400 stores.

    The stores are constructed in similar but not identical formats. The Huailai County, Shandong 8000sqm outlet sells local and international produce, whereas the 10,000sqm store in the provincial capital of Jinan offers a high-end shopping experience and includes beauty products, homecare, and baby products.

    Opening in Guangdong is a 4500sqm supermarket in Foshan City and two Spar Lifestyle stores in Dongguan with a floor space of less than 200sqm.

  • Spar International to expand into China

    Spar International to expand into China

    Grocery retail franchise Spar International will open more than 150,000sqm of retail sales space in China this year.

    The firm’s store-development plans include compact hypermarkets and a “new generation” of supermarkets in Northern and Southern China.

    Spar International, which operates more than 13,000 stores in 48 countries worldwide, is coming off a strong financial year with global sales of €35.8 billion (US$40 billion). The group launched 335 new locations last year, and entered four new countries.

    “Our strong network of Spar partners and supply chains across four continents gives the brand a competitive advantage in an increasingly global marketplace,” said Spar CEO Tobias Wasmuht, “while our multi-format strategy allows us to respond to changing customer needs.

    “Our continuous compound annual growth of 5.2 per cent over the last three years creates a strong platform to build from for the future and indicates that our ‘Better Together’ strategy, launched in 2016, continues to deliver for the organisation, our partners and our customers.”

    The Spar brand is present in seven Asia Pacific territories, with €1.96 billion ($2.2 billion) in sales achieved from 573 stores last year. Spar China’s footprint accounted for 830,043sqm and sales of €1.5 billion ($1.67 billion) during the financial year, with particularly strong growth in the Shandong and Guangdong provinces. The firm’s Thailand operations expanded to 45 stores and recorded a sales growth of 96.2 per cent.

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  • SPAR India to partner Himachal Pradesh in promoting fresh sourcing and manufacturing

    SPAR India to partner Himachal Pradesh in promoting fresh sourcing and manufacturing

    As part of ‘The Global Investors Meet’ in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh on June 10-11, 2019, which will have the CII as key national partner, a road show was organized in Bangalore recently that saw senior leaders from various industries participate in the event. SPAR was one such participant at the show as a representative of the retail industry.

    At the event, SPAR India’s MD & CEO Rajeev Krishnan and Solai Shakthivel, Senior Vice President – Buying and Merchandising Foods, had the opportunity for a one-on-one interaction with the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur and Industry minister Bikram Singh.

    Himachal Pradesh, known as the ‘Fruit bowl of India’, is famous for its manufacturing and SME development. With its ideal weather conditions, there are different varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in Himachal Pradesh. The state is famed for its abundance of crisp, juicy apples as well as for its pears, peaches, plums, grapes, apricots, mangoes, strawberries and citrus fruits.

    SPAR India offers a variety of fresh produce to its customers, which are mainly sourced from Himachal Pradesh. These include apples, green peas, oranges, honey, organic produce, among other products.

    According to Krishnan, “SPAR India is committed to continue building strong farm to fork relationships. We will be working jointly with the State on sourcing and developing our private label products – soaps, handicrafts, etc which, in turn, will support the growth of SMEs.”

    In its endeavour to continue making a difference in the lives of farmers, customers and communities, SPAR wants to be a strong partner to Himachal Pradesh in promoting fresh sourcing, manufacturing and tourism in the coming years.

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  • Spar Continues Global Expansion with Entry in Sri Lanka

    Spar Continues Global Expansion with Entry in Sri Lanka

    SPAR International, the world’s largest food retail voluntary chain, is delighted to announce the brand’s entry into the Sri Lankan retail market. SPAR Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a partnership between SPAR South Africa and Ceylon Biscuits Limited has announced ambitious plans to open 50 new SPAR stores in Sri Lanka by 2023 primarily by developing independent SPAR retailers.

    With the opening of SPAR in Sri Lanka, SPAR International celebrates the launch of the brand in 6 countries across Asia and the 48th country worldwide. The newly established SPAR Sri Lanka benefits from the globally renowned SPAR Brand, providing shoppers with an international shopping experience adapted to local needs.

    The partnership was launched at an official opening of the first SPAR Supermarket in Colombo on the last week. The 1,000m2 SPAR Supermarket offers customers a great shopping experience with its emphasis on fresh foods, including a wide range of fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and an instore bakery. The development of the first SPAR neighborhood supermarket has been built on tried and tested international SPAR best practice setting the benchmark for future growth of the SPAR Brand in Sri Lanka. 

    The high-quality SPAR stores currently being developed will offer great value and a wide range of choice, with an emphasis on freshness and service. SPAR Sri Lanka will also be offering shoppers an extensive range of exclusive SPAR Own Brand products sourced both internationally and locally. 

    SPAR Sri Lanka has been able to utilize the global expertise of SPAR International and SPAR South Africa to support the extensive training of the new store colleagues over the past two months. 

    Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International, said: “We are delighted to partner with Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. and to bring the SPAR Brand to this dynamic market. The distinct global but local SPAR approach will create excellent growth opportunities for Sri Lankan SPAR independent retailers. The opening of the first SPAR supermarket marks the beginning of a new, world class retail experience for consumers in Sri Lanka.” 

    Wayne Hodson, CEO of SPAR Sri Lanka, said “This is a very exciting period in the ever-changing food retail environment. Our mission is to develop and grow local, independent retailers, supporting them through the implementation of efficient supply chain management, stock procurement, promotional and marketing support, IT and retail leadership”.

     

  • SPAR to establish largest cooperative food retail chain in Greece

    SPAR to establish largest cooperative food retail chain in Greece

    SPAR Hellas has announced its entry into the Greek market with the ambition to create and operate the largest food retail chain of independent retailers in the country. It will be part of SPAR International, the world’s largest food retail chain with over 12,500 stores in 44 countries and overall sales of up to €33.1 billion. SPAR Hellas plans to develop more than 350 SPAR stores nationwide over the next four years. The stores will offer up to 1,400 SPAR Own Brand products, with many sourced from Greek producers and suppliers.

    A strategic cooperation between SPAR Hellas and the ASTERAS association will develop SPAR’s retail presence in Greece. Within the next 3 years, ASTERAS will convert most of its existing 200-store network to the SPAR Brand. To build its capabilities and resources further, ASTERAS has entered into a joint co-operation with the MESIS association, which leads to a group with more than 500 stores across Greece and a reported €700 million in sales.

    The first 10 SPAR stores are due to launch in Greece by July and SPAR Hellas aims to operate a total of 80 stores by the end of 2018. The SPAR network in Greece will grow both by the conversion of ASTERAS and MESIS stores and by SPAR Hellas operating new, company-owned stores.

    In addition to its global, dynamic brand, SPAR International offers licensed partners comprehensive support including store development, private label ranges, staff education and skills development, high-end supply chain distribution and the design and implementation of locally focused marketing campaigns. Access to international best practice and the local expertise of the team at SPAR Hellas will ensure a full set of services and benefits for all licensed partners, helping them grow their business in a competitive retail environment.

    Speaking about the strategic new initiative, Mr. Fivos Karakitsos, CEO of SPAR Hellas said: “SPAR is establishing in Greece in order to develop the most modern cooperative network of independent retail stores in the country. The combination of Greek retailers’ excellent local knowledge with SPAR’s international best practice and global brand will result in innovative store layouts for the customer, excellent fresh products, a wide range of private label products and value for money. High-levels of customer service will be delivered through continuous staff training programs. SPAR Partners will build on their traditional roots, creating a strong family focused business which is unique in the Greek market. SPAR Hellas in turn, consists of a well-regarded team from the areas of sales, marketing, operation and supply, something that guarantees the highest level of support for the retail network. Our vision is that SPAR will become one of the strongest Greek retail players in the market and we are excited to play our part in strengthening the Greek economy.”

    Mr. Tobias Wasmuht, SPAR International’s CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome SPAR Hellas to our network of partners all over the world. SPAR was founded on the principle of ‘Better Together’. Uniting the shared resources and expertise of ASTERAS and MESIS under the internationally recognized SPAR Brand will benefit all three parties. The Greek retail market is competitive, but SPAR will act as a dynamic force, bringing quality, fresh produce, value and an excellent retail experience for our customers. I am confident that SPAR will create growth opportunities for independent retailers and Greek producers and suppliers and bolster the growth of the Greek economy.”

    Mr. Georgios Vogiatzakis, Development Consultant at SPAR Hellas said: “Supplying local, Greek products in SPAR’s network is a key part of our business strategy. We recognize our responsibility to encourage Greek production and we will continuously strengthen both local production and thereby the economy. The private label products will gradually be produced in our country and we will offer quality producers the opportunity to access the SPAR network. We will open SPAR stores throughout Greece and will harness the power and expertise of the SPAR Brand to grow the business.”

    Mr. George Papantonis the president of group ASTERAS said “The cooperation with SPAR sets a totally new trajectory for ASTERAS but also for the market. With the increased cooperation through partnerships like the one with MESIS, we can achieve the union of the convenience business for Greece under the brand of SPAR. Our target is that by the year 2021 ASTERAS will report more than 1.20 billion euro in sales and a market share that will be well over than 12% in total.”

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  • SPAR International Expands Further Into The Middle East

    SPAR International Expands Further Into The Middle East

    SPAR International has announced the brand’s entry into the Saudi Arabian retail market. Partnering with the well-established Saudi conglomerate, the Al Sadhan Group, SPAR has ambitious plans to open 40 stores in Saudi Arabia by 2020.

    Yesterday, three SPAR stores were opened in Riyadh, the nation’s capital and primary economic hub. Plans are in place to open a further five stores throughout 2018, bringing the total number of stores in the country to eight by the end of the year.

    The first SPAR stores in the Saudi Arabian market will be aimed at the mid- to premium sector of the retail market. However, as the brand develops in the country, SPAR plans to launch stores in all economic sectors, providing all customers with competitive pricing for the best global and local products.

    The Al Sadhan Group is a family owned business established in 1952. Its services include real estate, facilities management, food retail and brand development. Al Sadhan Stores operates the company’s retail arm employing 1,500 colleagues and has a long history in the market, being the first supermarket to obtain a business licence in Riyadh in 1952. SPAR International began their partnership with Al Sadhan in 2016, soft launching the first SPAR store in the second half of 2017.

    SPAR International has provided extensive support to Al Sadhan in the lead-up to the store openings including study tours to other SPAR markets and fostering awareness of the SPAR Way of Working. Support was also given in logistics development, supply chain creation and store design.

    The stores will benefit from the access to globally and locally sourced SPAR Own Brand products, expertise in category management and the support from SPAR International’s design and development teams to ensure modern and dynamic store design.

    SPAR International will also support SPAR Saudi Arabia to utilise the strengths of the joint buying model to ensure competitiveness.

    The partnership with Al Sadhan in Saudi Arabia builds on SPAR International’s existing partnerships in the wider region, notably in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.

    A grand opening ceremony took place in Riyadh, with ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the three high-quality SPAR Supermarkets. Thereafter, Tobias Wasmuht, SPAR International’s Managing Director, was joined by officials from the Netherlands embassy and senior management from Al Sadhan Group to celebrate the brand’s official debut in Saudi Arabia.

    Speaking at a press conference announcing SPAR’s entry into the market, Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said:

    “With a growing young population, rising GDP and increased consumer purchasing power, the retail market in Saudi Arabia has been growing steadily. We are delighted to enter this exciting and dynamic market with such an established and well-respected Partner as Al Sadhan Group.

    In addition, the new partnership provides SPAR with yet another important base in the Middle East, a region that is becoming more and more important to SPAR International’s strategic business development.”

    Mr. Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al Sadhan, Chairman of Al Sadhan Group commented:

    “We are very proud of this partnership with SPAR International. Having the right mix between SPAR International’s knowledge and best practice along with our experience in the local market will provide our customers with an excellent retail experience. The SPAR brand products will be a key factor in our success, and we are getting great support from SPAR International’s team to source items from SPAR partners around the world.

    Also, this partnership is in-line with the Saudi Arabian vision 2030 and the support we have from the Saudi government for the development of the Saudi market.”

  • SPAR and DHL launch first of 300 convenience stores in Thailand

    SPAR and DHL launch first of 300 convenience stores in Thailand

    SPAR International, the world’s largest food retail voluntary chain, will partner with DHL Supply Chain and the Bangchak Retail Company (BCR) to establish up to 300 new convenience stores in Thailand by the end of 2020.

    The deal will see DHL Supply Chain support SPAR’s expansion plans with end-to-end transport, distribution and warehousing services across Thailand, with BCR providing the front-end store infrastructure for the Dutch retailer. SPAR’s supply chain will currently use the DHL Bangna Logistics Campus for ambient warehousing and distribution; and its Klong Prapa warehouse for handling frozen goods.

    “To support SPAR Thailand in delivering SPAR’s global reputation for freshness, choice, quality, and service, we knew we needed a logistics partner with proven experience in maintaining world-class food retail supply chains,” said Tom Rose, Head of Operations at SPAR International. “DHL’s track record in sustaining fast-growing food retailers, both in Thailand and other markets worldwide, gave us the confidence to use their infrastructure as the foundation of our local supply chain.”

    “Since working with DHL, they have impressed SPAR with the smoothness and visibility of its third-party logistics services, leaving us in no doubt that this partnership will help SPAR reach its sizable ambitions for growth in the Kingdom.”

    The infrastructure at DHL Supply Chain will support SPAR’s quality standards with a range of features including CCTV systems, automatic fire protection, and temperature controlled warehousing. Both warehouses will also be managed by WMOS, a warehouse management platform, to maintain levels of inventory accuracy and productivity in line with SPAR’s global best practices.

    “Retail operations require highly specialized experience to achieve the levels of inventory quality, shipment accuracy, and timeliness needed to meet swift changes in consumer demand,” said Kevin Burrell, CEO, Thailand Cluster, DHL Supply Chain. “With Thailand’s retail sector expected to continue growing steadily alongside disposable income levels, we’re keen to take our award-winning services to the next level as we help SPAR bring its world-class quality direct to Thai consumers.”

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  • Spar International Appoints New Head of Buying

    Spar International Appoints New Head of Buying

    SPAR International, the world’s largest voluntary retail chain, has today announced the appointment of Wouter Lefevere as Head of International Buying.

    Based in the organization’s international head office in Amsterdam, Mr. Lefevere will take on key buying responsibilities including supplier relationships and negotiations, working in close co-operation with SPAR partners worldwide to build on the brand’s growing international scale and presence.

    SPAR, which has 12,545 stores in 44 countries, recently reported sales of €33.1 billion for 2016.

    Mr. Lefevere joins SPAR with a wealth of international buying experience, having held a number of senior buying and commercial development roles for LIDL in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

    Welcoming Mr Lefevere, Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said, “Buying better together internationally is a key pillar of the scope of services provided to our partners, and the appointment of Wouter signals our intention to further enhance this scope. Today we collaborate with our supplier partners on behalf of our SPAR partners in 44 countries across four continents. As a result we have a uniquely strong global network which, not only allows us to source better by leveraging our international scale, but also to provide extensive market access opportunities for our international suppliers.”

    Lefevere will be responsible for delivering on SPAR’s recently launched Buying Better Together strategy, leading a team which will focus on collaboratively working with partners and suppliers in the areas of own brand development, warehouse & logistics, supplier partnerships and analysis & marketing.

    Wasmuht continued: “As a partnership of independent retailers and wholesalers, SPAR International doesn’t adopt a traditional transactional supplier-buyer relationship with our SPAR partners but takes a collaborative approach. We offer resources and buying services to our partners to help them grow their business. Wouter and his team will work to grow joint buying volumes of SPAR partners and the penetration of SPAR International Own Brands, as well as facilitate the pooling of buying volumes of FMCG brands.”

    SPAR International works with Partners to develop supply chain, retail operations, staff training, retail design and brand development strategies, while its multi-format strategy sees its Partners operate hypermarket, supermarket, neighbourhood, convenience and online stores, now serving the needs of 13 million customers daily.

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  • Spar China Continues Strong Growth in 2017

    Spar China Continues Strong Growth in 2017

    PAR International (“SPAR”) and Yunnan Anning Jinfang Commercial Group (“Jinfang”) have announced a new partnership agreement authorising Jinfang to grow the SPAR Brand in Southeast China across Yunnan Province, Liu Pan Shui City, Bijie City, Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and Anshun City in Guizhou Province.

    Jinfang will invest in converting 32 stores to the SPAR brand in the coming months, bringing together the best of SPAR’s global retail expertise and Jinfang’s deep understanding of the local customer. The 2,550 employees currently working in the chain’s hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores will benefit from access to the retail training academy of SPAR China.

    The announcement marks an exceptional 12 months for SPAR in China. In 2016, sales grew by 6.7% to 14.5 Billion RMB, with SPAR China continuing its expansion in a maturing food retail sector. Store numbers increased by 14% to 395 and SPAR China added 43,918m² of selling area.

    In December, Jiajiayue Group, which was SPAR’s first Chinese retail partner, launched an initial public offering (IPO) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The fund raised from the IPO will be used to strengthen and develop the business further investing in technology and the supply chain infrastructure.

    Today, 14% of the total selling area of SPAR worldwide is in China and SPAR China has partners building the brand’s presence in Shandong, Guangdong, Shanxi & Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Sichuan, Henan, Zhangjiakou and now Yunnan.

    SPAR International’s growth in China has been driven by investment in a multi-channel supply chain, the development of hypermarkets, the launch of world-class convenience stores in Tier 2 and 3 urban centres and a strategic emphasis on fresh food through initiatives like the development of a new, state of the art bakery production facility. Ongoing developments in retailing via online channels including the popular WeChat and Weibo platforms in addition to web sales.

    SPAR is working closely with Jinfang on the first SPAR Supermarket design and an expert international logistics team from SPAR International and SPAR China are supporting Jinfang in the development of a modern warehouse.

    Speaking on the official announcement of the new partnership Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said:

    “Since entering into China in 2004, SPAR has worked closely with partners to accelerate the growth of their food retail business through our standardisation methods, latest store design, modern supply chain expertise and improved shopping experience. The strong growth figures demonstrate that the ‘Better Together’ strategy is delivering for our Partners. The partnership with Jinfang represents a further, exciting development in the growth of SPAR in China.”

    Mr Wang Peihuan, Chairman of SPAR China said:

    “Our new partnership with Jinfang is consistent with SPAR China’s strategic focus on accelerating expansion and growing presence. Together we unite the best of SPAR’s global retail expertise and Jinfang’s extensive and longstanding understanding of the local customer to grow SPAR presence in Southeast of China.”

    Mr. Li Jia, the Chairman of the board of Yunnan Jinfang Group said:

    “Jinfang has followed SPAR’s progress since SPAR entered into China in 2004, and has seen the great success achieved by SPAR China and its Partners. SPAR and Jinfang share key values in many areas. In order to serve customers in the Southeast of China better, we plan to bring high operation standards, efficient logistics and a modern supply chain to build diverse retail solutions.”

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  • Spar China franchisor launches IPO

    Spar China franchisor launches IPO

    Jijiayue Group, the parent of Spar China franchisor Spar Shandong, has launched an IPO.

    Spar Shandong became Spar International’s first retail partner in China in 2004, and opened its first store in 2005 in the city of Weihai, north east China. Since then, Spar China has opened 360 stores with nearly 1 million sqm of selling space in eight provinces, employing over 30,000 people. It also operates eight distribution centres delivering across 50 cities.

    Jiajiayue issued 90 million shares, listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Late last month, interest from investors saw the online portion of the IPO oversubscribed 4407 times and the share price rose 43 per cent on its first day of trading.

    The funds raised will be used to finance new store openings and upgrades of existing stores, developing distribution centres and logistics infrastructure and enhancing the existing technology and IT infrastructure.

    spar-china-ipo-image-2
    From left to right: Mr Ding Mingbo – Vice General Manager of SPAR Shandong Jiajiayue Group, Ms Fu Yuanhui – Executive Vice General Manager, Mr. Wang Peihuan – Chairman SPAR Shandong, Mr. Tobias Wasmuht – Managing Director SPAR International, Yoep Man – Managing Director SPAR China and Mr Zhang Aiguo – Vice General Manager.

     

    Tobias Wasmuht, MD of Spar International described the IPO as a significant milestone, not just for Spar Shandong, but for the wider Spar China family as well.

    “All at Spar are delighted to have contributed to the success of Jiajiayue. Over the last 12 years the company has continued to lead the way, working closely with the growing list of Spar Partners in China to grow and enhance the brand. Investor interest in today’s IPO is testament to the strength and vision of the company and its management team.”

    In addition to its partnership with Spar, Jiajiayue Group is involved in food processing, thye wholesaling of agricultural products and foreign trade business. In total it operates over 400 stores with a selling space of 900,000 sqm in 34 cities within Shandong province such as Weihai, Yantai, Jinan, Weifang, Qingdao, Linyi, Laiwu and Zaozhuang.

    The store formats cover hypermarket, supermarket, department store, neighbourhood store and discount store. The company has been recognised with a number of awards, including top 100 China FMCG Chain, Customer Satisfied Company in Shandong Province and Top Employer of China Retailing.

     

  • Significant investor interest as SPAR Shandong introduces initial public offering

    Significant investor interest as SPAR Shandong introduces initial public offering

    SPAR Shandong operators, Jiajiayue Group, who became SPAR International’s first retail partner in China in 2004, have launched an initial public offering (IPO) which saw the company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. 

    Jiajiayue issued 90 million shares priced at 13,64 yuan per share to raise 1,23 billion yuan ($178,12 million). In late November, interest from investors saw the online portion of the IPO oversubscribed 4,407 times. The listing on the main A-Share exchange in China saw trading activity begin immediately after the opening on Tuesday ending 43% up on the first day of trading.

    The market funding will be used to strengthen the business further by financing new store openings and existing store upgrades, developing distribution centres and logistics infrastructure and enhancing the existing technology and IT infrastructure. 

    Jiajiayue was the first SPAR partner in China and opened its first store in 2005 in the city of Weihai, north east China. Since then, SPAR China has opened 360 stores with nearly 1,000,000 sqm of selling space in eight provinces, employing over 30,000 people. It also operates eight distribution centres delivering across 50 cities.

    Speaking at the launch, Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said: “Today is a significant milestone, not just for SPAR Shandong, but also for the wider SPAR China family. All at SPAR are delighted to have contributed to the success of Jiajiayue, our founding partner of SPAR in China. Over the last 12 years the company has continued to lead the way, working closely with the growing list of SPAR Partners in China to grow and enhance the brand. Investor interest in today’s IPO is testament to the strength and vision of the company and its management team. This partnership embodies the values of SPAR and we look forward to growing together the scale of our retail network in Shandong and China as a whole.”   

    In addition to its partnership with SPAR, Jiajiayue Group Co. Ltd is involved in food processing, wholesale of agricultural products and foreign trade business. In total it operates over 400 stores with a selling space of 900,000 sqm in 34 cities within Shandong province such as Weihai, Yantai, Jinan, Weifang, Qingdao, Linyi, Laiwu and Zaozhuang.

    The store formats cover hypermarket, supermarket, department store, neighbourhood store and discount store. The company has been recognised with a number of awards, including top 100 China FMCG Chain, Customer Satisfied Company in Shandong Province and Top Employer of China Retailing.

    SPAR is the world’s largest voluntary retail chain with retail sales of €33 billion in 2015. With a presence now in 44 markets around the world, SPAR continues to be the partner of choice for independent retail partners keen to embrace retail best practice and fast-track their development in the face of international competition. SPAR International’s multi-format strategy sees its Partners operate over 12,100 hypermarket, supermarket, neighbourhood and convenience stores serving the needs of 13 million customers daily.

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  • Spar to open 300 stores in Thailand

    Spar to open 300 stores in Thailand

    Spar International and Bangchak Retail Company (BCR) have announced a new partnership to open 300 Spar stores in Thailand by 2020.

    The US$78.9m investment was announced on 28 November, with BCR to open seven new stores in 2016, and 50-80 new stores each year from 2017.

    “The launch of Spar in Thailand in partnership with BCR represents a significant and important step forward in Spar’s ongoing expansion into Asian markets,” Tobias Wasmuht, managing director of Spar International said at the official announcement of the new partnership. “It brings together our internationally tried and tested retail expertise particularly in convenience and supermarket formats with the extensive knowledge of the Thai market. The partnership is a true example of the Spar ethos in which through working together all shall benefit.”

    BCR managing director Viboon Wongsakul said the Thai company was exciting about the new offering for customers in Thailand.

    “We plan to bring local retailing to the next level and will dedicate the resources necessary to have a significant presence in the market in the shortest possible time-frame,” he said.

    The partnership will see both Spar and BCR focus on sourcing produce locally, with Spar International working on developing its own brand of products.

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  • Spar Thailand launching 300 stores

    Spar Thailand launching 300 stores

    An agreement has just been signed that will lead to more than 300 Spar Thailand food retail stores opening over the next four years.

    It is part of a €102 million (US$108 million) investment by Netherlands-based Spar International, which has partnered with Bangchak Retail Company (BCR).

    spar-thai
    Spar International has more than 12,100 stores worldwide and had global retail sales of €33 billion last year. It works in partnership with independent retailers to share global scale and expertise.

    BCR plans to open seven stores this year, comprising key flagship convenience stores and neighbourhood developments. From next year the company plans to open 50 to 80 stores annually, creating up to 2500 jobs.

    Under the partnership, Spar is sharing industry expertise including best practice across supply chain, staff training, retail design and brand development strategy.

    “The launch of Spar in Thailand in partnership with BCR represents a significant and important step forward in our ongoing expansion into Asian markets,” says Spar International MD Tobias Wasmuht. “Today, we have a significant multi-format presence including hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience and online in China, India and Indonesia.”

    BCR MD Viboon Wongsakul says Spar and BCR share many key values “such as a dedication to growth, a commitment to local suppliers, supporting communities and offering diverse retail solutions”.

    As a shared core value, BCR and Spar focus on supporting the communities in which they have a presence. During the development of the flagship stores, special focus is being given to the ability to source produce and product locally.

    Spar International has been working with BCR on the development and launch of a national range of own-brand products.

    Formed this year, BCR is affiliated with energy company The Bangchak Petroleum Public Company. As well as the Spar portfolio, BCR will expand its Inthanin Coffee and Lemon Kitchen brands.

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