Spar International 
UK: Spar seals GBP150m deal with Bourne Leisure
11 June 2010
Spar International's UK arm has announced a five-year contract with Bourne Leisure Group, the UK owner of Haven Holiday Parks, Butlins and Warner Hotels.
NETHERLANDS: Spar to enter Vietnam
27 May 2010
Global symbol group Spar International is to enter Vietnam after signing a deal with local wholesaler Phui Thai Group.
NETHERLANDS: Spar expands Danish chain
26 April 2010
Spar International has opened 18 Eurospar stores in Denmark in the first stage of a two-step plan to bolster its presence in the country.
INDIA: Spar outlines expansion plans
8 March 2010
Spar International, the global symbol retailer, has confirmed the plans of its local venture in India to open 25 stores in the country by 2012.
GERMANY: Tengelmann sells Plus stores to Lidl
19 February 2010
German retailer Tengelmann has agreed to sell over 100 Plus stores across Bulgaria and Romania to Lidl.
SOUTH AFRICA: Spar circumspect over 2010
11 November 2009
Spar Group, Spar International's retail business in South Africa, has forecast "another challenging year" in 2010 despite posting strong underlying profit growth in its most recent fiscal year.
Top stories on just-food this week
30 October 2009
What goes into food and what is slapped on the outside dominated the headlines on just-food this week. Food manufacturers and retailers continued to fall over themselves to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable palm oil although, as our interview with the WWF revealed, there are those in the industry that have yet to take any action on the issue. One industry-wide action on food labelling in the US has hit the buffers with the country's leading food makers pulling out of the Smart Choices Program. Will US regulators now fill that void? These are the top ten stories on just-food this week.
The just-food interview - the WWF and palm oil
29 October 2009
How to source palm oil is vexing the minds of many in the food industry. Growing consumer awareness of the links between palm oil, deforestation, the threat to wildlife and products on supermarket shelves is encouraging manufacturers and retailers to look for sustainable sources. However, only a few have grasped the nettle and, as Adam Harrison, senior food and agriculture officer for the WWF tells Dean Best, the industry needs to do much, much more - and quickly.
EUROPE: Spar, Auchan, ABF slammed on palm oil
28 October 2009
Retailers Spar International, Auchan, Aldi and UK food giant Associated British Foods are today (28 October) among the companies told to "up their game" on their sourcing of palm oil.
UK: Spar signs Maxol petrol station deal
11 September 2009
Global symbol retailer Spar International is to expand its presence in Northern Ireland after signing a store deal with local petrol station group Maxol.
The just-food interview - Dr Gordon Campbell, Spar International
19 August 2009
The downturn may have prompted some to rein in expansion plans but one retailer with high hopes is Spar, the global symbol group. Dr Gordon Campbell, the MD of Spar International, has been vocal in his ambitions for the business in markets from Africa to Russia and China. Dean Best met the Spar boss at the company's Amsterdam HQ to discuss his vision for the business.
UK: Spar boss confident in UK convenience battle
27 July 2009
Spar, the convenience retailer, can withstand growing competition from the UK's major multiples through the company's "connection" with local communities, the head of its global operations has claimed.
Top stories on just-food this week
24 July 2009
It's results season. This week, Danone, among others kicked off the slew of half-year results due in the weeks ahead - and the French food giant saw signs of revival at its dairy division. However, those results were soured by the news that Russia's competition watchdog is investigating Danone over prices.
RUSSIA: Spar looking to add to store network
20 July 2009
Spar International, the Netherlands-based retailer, is on the look-out for more franchise partners to add to its network in Russia, the company's managing director has told just-food.
UK: Spar opens flagship Eurospar store
5 June 2009
UK convenience retailer Spar has opened its flagship Eurospar store in Broomhill, Sheffield, the company confirmed to just-food today (5 June).
CROATIA: Spar seeks loan for Croatian expansion
3 June 2009
The Austrian arm of global retailer Spar International is seeking a EUR25m (US$35m) loan in a bid to expand in Croatia.
Top stories on just-food this week
29 May 2009
The increasingly sour row over milk prices in Europe continued to grab your attention this week amid news the EU could provide some help to farmers. The latest numbers from Heinz, Northern Foods and Greencore also proved popular – especially as a bullish Greencore signalled its plans to expand further in the US. And the speculation surrounding Danone's reported interest in Parmalat also raised eyebrows. These are the top ten stories on just-food this week.
NETHERLANDS: Euro weighs on Spar sales
28 May 2009
The strength of the euro has weighed on annual revenues at Spar International, the Netherlands-based retailer has revealed.
UK: Spar extends athletics tie-up
13 May 2009
Spar has extended an athletics sponsorship in the UK as the retailer looks to cement its ties to the sport in the run-up to the London Olympics.
UK: Tesco upbeat on emerging markets
11 May 2009
Tesco has delivered an upbeat message on the enduring potential of the world's emerging retail markets, despite the impact of the global recession.
Top stories on just-food this week
8 May 2009
China has once again been on the retail sector's lips this week.
CHINA: Spar boss outlines China assault
7 May 2009
Spar International, the Netherlands-based retailer, plans to treble the number of its stores in China “in the next few years”, the company's managing director said today.
UK: Spar eyes Africa expansion
19 March 2009
Spar International, the Netherlands-based retailer, is looking to further expand in Africa, the company's managing director has revealed.
Quote, Unquote - UK retail leaders meet
18 March 2009
UK retail's top executives are meeting in London over the next two days to discuss how the sector is performing amid the most turbulent economic conditions for a generation. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Spar International – as well as a number of non-food firms – are outlining how their businesses are navigating the downturn, as well as how they see shopper behaviour during the recession.
ROMANIA: Spar hints at hypermarket closures
14 January 2009
Spar International, the Netherlands-based global retailer, has hinted that it may be winding down its hypermarket stores in Romania.
INDIA: Spar-Landmark JV increases investment in India
20 October 2008
Max hypermarkets, a JV between Spar International and the Dubai-based Landmark Group, has indicated that it will invest a further US$50m to expand in the Indian market.
GLOBAL: Spar sales inch up in 2007
3 June 2008
Global retailer Spar International saw annual sales inch up 0.7% to EUR27.2bn (US$42bn) during 2007.
COMMENT: Doom and gloom clouds retail skies
11 April 2008
The World Retail Congress in Barcelona has entered its final day today (11 April) and the cloudy skies over the Spanish city seem to reflect a downbeat atmosphere among the attendees.
Quote Unquote: World Retail Congress - Day Two
10 April 2008
The second day at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona saw a lot of focus on the world's emerging retail markets. The conference heard debates on the potential - and challenges - of operating in markets including the so-called "big four" - Brazil, Russia, India and China. Here is a round-up of the key quotes from today's (10 April) session.
World Retail Congress 2008 - live from Barcelona
9 April 2008
This morning (9 April) sees the start of one of the most anticipated dates on the retail calendar – the World Retail Congress 2008 - and just-food will be there bringing you coverage live from the event.
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