A year after introducing the brand into this highly competitive market, SPAR Thailand is well underway with their expansion programme. Today, they operate 26 SPAR stores with 18 opened between October 2016 and mid-2017, the remaining eight were opened in the second half of this year.

24 of the stores currently trading are SPAR petrol forecourt locations, five of which are situated in residential areas whilst the majority can be found at highway locations. There are two standalone stores – SPAR M-Tower opened in a 3-storey retail plaza on February 25 and SPAR Ratpattana began operating in a residential area on June 23 – showing the versatility of SPAR Thailand in responding to the specific needs of their different consumer groups.

The focus of all the stores is on convenience – offering customers not only a warm welcome but also a diverse range of freshly made products to either take away or to consume immediately in the Inthanin Garden sitting area which is also open 24 hours a day.

SPAR Thailand has chosen to be known in the market as ‘SPAR – the Fresh and Easy Food Market,’ building on the retail offer which is available from the licence holder, Bangchak. The move into supermarket retailing is a significant step forward in developing eco-driven service stations and a significant opportunity to welcome SPAR in a market with great potential. Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International, who was present at the official ceremony last year, welcomed what the retail co-operation and partnership between SPAR International and Bangchak brings to the two companies.

Although opening stores gradually over the course of the year, SPAR Thailand have already processed 4,5 million consumer transactions.  Customers have reacted very positively to the Bangchak member card which enables holders to enjoy special prices and to collect points.

One of the ways in which awareness has been created of the SPAR Brand has been that of own brand ranges included in the retail offer. Customers can purchase not only a good range of locally, regionally and internationally sourced SPAR branded products but also find well-known national brands. Among the SPAR own brand products, the SPAR 350ml natural water has been a best seller since launching.

For 2018, SPAR Thailand plans to open approximately 30 more stores, 15 during the first half of the year and 15 in the second half of the year.

About SPAR Thailand

In early 2016, SPAR International granted a licence to Bangchak Retail Company Limited (BCR) to develop and grow the SPAR Brand in Thailand. The partnership with BCR will initially focus on the rollout of a solid network of key flagship convenience and neighbourhood stores. The plan is to open 50-80 stores each year for the next five years, creating up to 2,500 jobs and generating an estimated retail sales turnover of €245 million by 2020.