Two ground-breaking retailers - SPAR Thailand (SPAR Ratchapruek), and SPAR Gran Canaria (SPAR Natural concept) - have been nominated for the NACS Insight International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award. The two stores are among ten finalists that have been nominated based on the innovation and creativity demonstrated by these flagship stores.

SPAR Ratchapruek in Thailand harnesses the best practice from SPAR’s convenience retailing worldwide and the learnings from other markets with expertise in forecourt retailing. Developed by a strong local Partner, the Bangchak Group, together with SPAR International, SPAR Ratchapruek is a world class, modern, convenience store, changing the landscape of forecourt retailing in the market.

The SPAR Natural concept store is a pioneering new concept launched in Gran Canaria, based on the growing consumer demand for healthy choices. Working together with SPAR Gran Canaria and SPAR Spain, SPAR International developed this concept in response to the growing demand for health and wellness products. With a range of over 4,500 health and wellness products sourced internationally as well as locally, the store clearly differentiates itself from its competitors.

Speaking about the nominations, Managing Director of SPAR International Tobias Wasmuht said: “It is fantastic to be garnering this kind of international recognition for SPAR’s retail innovation in Thailand and Gran Canaria. Both stores are exciting examples of SPAR offering pioneering retail experiences and acting as disruptors in their marketplaces. I would like to commend all the SPAR colleagues that contributed to these nominations and wish the very best of luck to the SPAR finalists.”

The NACS Insight Convenience Retail Awards recognise outstanding achievements in the international retail community and provide one of the best benchmarks of global convenience retailing excellence. Over the years, entrants from many countries and diverse types of convenience formats and company sizes have participated.

The nominations were decided by the Grand Jury, which included leading experts from business, retail and design. The NACS Insight Awards are now in their ninth year. The winner will be announced on the 14th of June at the St. Pancras Renaissance hotel in London as part of the annual Convenience Summit.