Spar International, a Netherlands-based independent food retail chain, has outlined its plans to expand its overseas presence in Russia, China and the Middle East in near future.
The chain, which promotes a multi-format retail strategy of hypermarket, supermarket, neighbourhood store and convenience stores, currently has retail operations in 34 countries.
The retailer is looking to open its first SPAR supermarkets in Qatar and Lebanon later this year.
Commenting on the move SPAR International chief executive officer Dr Gordon Campbell said international expansion has been a strategic plan of SPAR International since its establishment in 1953.
"We seek to work with local partners who have the vision and capability of providing modern food retailing in their local market and who subscribe to the SPAR retailing principles," Campbell added.
Spar International has reported a 2.8% growth in worldwide sales to €32bn in 2012, against the same period a year ago.
Geographically, SPAR China and SPAR Russia both surpassed the €1bn sales barrier.
In Austria, sales stood at €5.560bn, the highest among all. The retailer upgraded and extended 100 stores and now operates 67 SPAR Express stores in the country.
South Africa is the second largest SPAR country by turnover with sales in 2012 of €4.563bn in fiscal 2012.
SPAR Spain retail sales amounted €1.248bn, up by 8.3%, with 170 new stores in Murcia and Catalonia.
