onal has today reported global retail sales of €32.2 billion for the year ending 31 December, 2013 – an increase on 2012 of 4.1% on a constant currency basis. The growth is the result of a significant strategic focus for the brand on new and emerging markets, with Spar operations in China, Russia and the Middle East delivering further rapid expansion of their store networks.
The results were announced at the 59th International SPAR Congress taking place this week in Rome, Italy which is being attended by over 200 company partners from 35 countries around the world.
Addressing delegates, International managing director, Dr. Gordon Campbell said, “Retail sales for 2013 show the ongoing attraction of the Spar brand for independent retail operators across the globe. In what remains a challenging business environment for many of our partners, their dedication to the Spar brand values of freshness, choice, value and service, along with continuous retail innovation, continues to serve their customers and their businesses very well.”
Dr Campbell continued: “Last year was a year of sustained global expansion for Spar following the launch of our Growing Our Future Together strategy which placed a strong focus on growing the par brand in new markets, while supporting the ongoing development of long-term Partners in the brand’s established European markets. Our unique multi-format approach, underpinned by our growing private label product range, has given our brand the flexibility required to meet the ever changing needs of today’s increasingly discerning global consumer.”
Today SPAR has retail operations on four continents and in 35 countries, with a further four countries - Georgia, Qatar, Lebanon and Angola - due to join the network in the coming months.
Performance highlights for 2013 included:
- SPAR China + 19% to €1.4 billion.
- SPAR Russia + 18% to €1.343 billion. (In local currency terms, Russia recorded a 26% increase in sales to 57 billion roubles.)
- SPAR Austria +4.3% to €5.8 billion, continuing to maintain its long-term growth pattern.
- SPAR Hungary +7.8% to €1.529 billion (+7.8% in local currency terms)
- SPAR Spain +4.6% to €1.305 billion, adding 54 new stores during the period
- SPAR South Africa +9.1% in local currency terms.
Looking to the future Dr. Campbell commented, “The signs for 2014 look positive. We will continue to seek out local partners who have the vision and capability to provide modern food retailing while adhering to the SPAR retailing principles. We have a strong new business pipeline in both existing and new markets and I am confident that we will be welcoming our 40th SPAR country on board during 2015”.
Spar International’s multi-format strategy sees its Partners operate over 12,000 Hypermarket, Supermarket, Neighbourhood and Convenience stores serving the needs of 13 million customers daily.
