This week, just a month after meeting at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s annual ‘World of Private Label’ International Trade Show in Amsterdam, SPAR Own Brand buying teams from around the world gathered together again, this time in Belfast to discuss ways of buying better together. Meetings were also held with invited suppliers to discover new and innovative products to add to the existing ranges of SPAR Own Brand products.

A topic of particular interest at this week’s event was the selection of products to be included in the SPAR Natural range, available to SPAR Partners around the world. With an increased focus on responsible retailing, possibilities are being sought for an increased range of healthy products across many categories as well as more sustainable packaging solutions.

Recognition for SPAR Own Brand at Idea Supermarket

At last month’s PLMA event in Amsterdam, where 2,600 leading producers exhibited their products across a broad range of categories, SPAR was well represented at the Idea Supermarket with products on show from a number of countries. Amongst the PLMA’s International Salute to Excellence Awards were several SPAR Own Brand winners.

In the Italian white wine category, DESPAR Italia’s ‘Gewürztraminer Südtirol/Alto Adige DOC Oberlaiten 2016’ was recognised as the best quality product, while its ‘Spumante Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry Filàr Tramiòl’ won best quality product in the Prosecco category.

SPAR Netherlands was also delighted to be among the winners this year, with its SPAR Own Brand Ketchup winning in the Condiments category and its SPAR Own Brand Quinoa and Almond Salad coming out on top in the Convenience category.

This year’s attendance at the PLMA by a large number of SPAR buyers from around the world highlighted the increased interest in the development of own brand ranges, in particular with regards to offering products which meet consumer demand for healthy solutions. SPAR retailers around the world want access to the ever-growing range of products available through SPAR’s global sourcing network and it is SPAR International’s aim to generate increased value for our retailers and partners through better buying.

By unifying volumes and synergies in own brands, we generate economies of scale and value for retailers and consumers, ensuring ongoing product development and reformulation to continuously improve the  worldwide ranges of SPAR Own Brand products.