About Us
Founded in the Netherlands in 1932, SPAR is the world’s largest voluntary food retail chain, bringing together independently owned and operated retailers and wholesalers under one internationally recognised brand to provide a high quality, value for money shopping experience for the communities we serve.
The SPAR brand started with one Dutch store in 1932 and now comprises a worldwide network of more than 13,500 stores in 50 countries on four continents. The development of the SPAR brand has been underpinned by a set of values that have guided the organisation since its establishment over 90 years ago. At the heart of these core values is the commitment of licensed SPAR independent entrepreneurs to collaborate in all areas of wholesale and retail to ensure we serve our local communities with passion while being authentic in all we do.
This global scale is built on a simple but enduring principle: independent retailers and wholesalers can achieve more by working together than by working alone. Our mission at SPAR International is bound by the strategy of Better Together, helping to strengthen the competitiveness, productivity, and profitability of SPAR retailer and wholesalers worldwide by sharing international retail knowledge, best practice, and resources from across the network.
Global yet local
The driving force of the success of the SPAR brand and network of independent retailers and wholesalers is the close co-operation at a local level in meeting the needs of their customers. Our retailers are passionate in what they do and are committed to meeting the needs of their local communities.
SPAR country organisations and retailers adapt store formats, product ranges, and services to suit their local communities, while benefiting from the knowledge, resources and brand strength of the wider SPAR network. From neighbourhood supermarkets and convenience stores to larger EUROSPAR and INTERSPAR formats, stores trading under the SPAR brand are united by a commitment to freshness, choice, quality, value, and service. Whatever the country and retail format, stores trading under the SPAR brand offer consumers a wide range and selection of quality fresh foods and friendly, personal service.
SPAR country organisations continue to innovate in their markets, bringing the brand to an increasingly growing number of customers around the world. This local innovation on a global scale truly makes SPAR a brand which is global, yet local.
Our philosophy
The story of the SPAR brand in the early years is the story of founder, Adriaan van Well, an innovative Dutch wholesaler with a clear vision for the future of the brand. He was inspired by a simple yet powerful philosophy based on the concept of voluntary retailing: Independent wholesalers and retailers can achieve more by working together than working alone. This vision of benefiting from working in co-operation, uniting resources and scale, remains the philosophy of licensees operating the SPAR brand today.
Uniting independent retailers
SPAR International is proud to be a member of Independent Retail Europe, representing the interests of independent retailers across many sectors on the continent where the SPAR brand was founded and launched. Through its membership of the association and continued support for independent operators of the SPAR brand, SPAR International continues to promote the interests of independent retailers in an ever-changing trading environment across all markets.