SPAR Hungary has announced impressive growth figures for 2016, growing partnerships with independent retailers and further expansion in the first half of 2017.

2016 marked SPAR’s 25th anniversary in Hungary. During the year, SPAR Hungary announced the opening of 46 new stores across the country, including 22 SPAR Express forecourt outlets. The number of independent retailers rose by an impressive 25%, bringing the total to more than 80.

Mark Maczelka, Head of Communications for SPAR Hungary, said that 2016 was “especially significant for the expansion of the network” and noted that investment in stores, staff training and refurbishment of the meat processing plant at Bicske delivered a 4.6% growth in sales for Hungary to €1.65 billion.

SPAR Hungary has continued this upward trajectory in 2017, focusing in particular on the hybrid of petrol stations and SPAR stores and sub-licencing arrangements with independent Hungarian retailers. During the first five months of 2017, this network of 129 shops welcomed 13 new additions, providing jobs to almost 1,500 employees and generating a turnover of more than 30 billion HUF per annum.

Bringing quality convenience to the consumer is an integral pillar of SPAR’s continued expansion in Hungary. Six of the new stores are integrated within petrol forecourts and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A further seven spread across Budapest, Cegléd and Csólyospálos, bring the SPAR brand to shoppers enthusiastic to access SPAR Own Brand, promotional offers and service focus.

Sub-licencing to independent retailers continues to be an attractive business model, providing a range of key advantages to Hungarian retailers: a diverse choice of goods, six deliveries of products each week, marketing, advertising and promotional support as well as use of SPAR’s IT system and the SuperShop loyalty initiative.