The new INTERSPAR Hypermarket has a large assortment of 15,000 products, focused on local specialities and fresh items, such as fruit and vegetables, fish, seafood, meat, and a wide choice of baked goods.
Commenting on the new opening, Maiora’s President and CEO, Pippo Cannillo, said: “Our aim is to increase the brand’s presence in this region and bring it to local consumers. At the same time, we want to attract more independent retailers to join the SPAR family and operate SPAR retail stores in Southern Italy.”
Located in the very centre of Nardò, a town near Lecce in Southern Italy, the new INTERSPAR adds to Maiora’s growing store portfolio in Italy. A staff of 24 people help run the hypermarket – all of whom received training ahead of the opening in order to update and upgrade their skills to the SPAR service standards and way of working.
The ongoing investment in people development by Maiora, the SPAR Partner for Central and Southern Italy, is clear as they run the DESPAR Learning Academy, a large training operation offering 65 different training courses aimed at ensuring that staff at all levels have the best skills and knowledge required for their roles, as well as the customer-centric approach associated with SPAR Italy’s stores.
Source: DESPAR Centre – South
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About SPAR Italy
SPAR International first granted a licence for the operation of the SPAR Brand to SPAR Italy in 1959. The first store opened in the latter part of 1960 and with it, SPAR became the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in Italy. SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, licenses regional partners, all of whom work together to grow the brand across the country.
The DESPAR Partners operate stores under three formats: DESPAR Neighbourhood Supermarkets, EUROSPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets. Many of the larger format stores are company-owned, reflecting the scale of investment required. While the majority of the company’s turnover is acquired through these larger format stores, the independently owned neighbourhood supermarkets remain a key part of the business.
