Across our global SPAR network, we have many fantastic stores that add value to the communities in which they operate. Here we highlight two flagship SPAR stores from different parts of the world: INTERSPAR Pesterzsébet in Hungary and SUPERSPAR Secunda in South Africa. Both are excellent examples of ‘best in class’ SPAR stores that are setting the standard internationally for SPAR.  

INTERSPAR Pesterzsébet

SPAR Hungary, owned and operated by ASPIAG (Austrian SPAR International AG), is the largest SPAR market in Central and Eastern Europe with over €1.67 billion turnover. The business has been doing very well and SPAR Hungary has invested heavily in the renovation and development of a growing number of stores.

The largest investment in 2017, with a budget of almost 2 billion HUF, went into the renovation of the highly acclaimed INTERSPAR Pesterzsébet in Budapest. Originally opened in 1998, the hypermarket has been renewed inside and out, and offers customers a wide range of new products and services.

INTERSPAR Pesterzsébet has a retail selling space of 3,500m² with more than 20,000 products. Customers are greeted by a fully glazed facade and enter the store through a large red portal. Natural materials were used for the new interior, which was designed in collaboration with international experts. The result is an inviting and innovative shopping environment that satisfies the needs of everyone entering the store.

There is a market-like fruit and vegetable section at the entrance to the store, an instore bakery department, a health and wellness area and a SPAR-to-Go restaurant, where top quality dishes are on offer. Next to the SPAR-to-Go restaurant, which has a free wifi zone, an inviting, open terrace awaits customers with seating for 26 people.

The modernisation of INTERSPAR Pesterzsébet included introducing sustainable solutions to reduce the store’s energy consumption. In addition to high performance, environmentally friendly refrigeration systems, cost-efficient LED lighting was installed throughout the store. During the renovation phase, heat insulation of 7,588m² was added, a heating and cooling pipeline of 4,150m was introduced, 2,200 lights, and a water supply pipeline of 2,506m. A completely new image was established for the store and to top it off, gas consumption was brought down by 20% and electricity consumption by 30%.

SPAR Hungary puts a lot of emphasis on training its staff and another highlight of the new INTERSPAR was the establishment of an instore classroom where colleagues can participate in theoretical and practical training sessions.

SUPERSPAR Secunda

Secunda is a town located 135km east of Johannesburg in South Africa. It is characterised by SASOL, a large chemical and energy refinery, and SUPERSPAR Secunda.

SUPERSPAR Secunda opened its doors in May 2016. It is a modern supermarket which offers its consumers a one-stop shopping opportunity and top-class customer service – this in addition to an eye-catching building design and convenient location.

The fully glazed shopfront gives customers a full perspective of the 2,564m² selling area, highlighting the fresh departments and exceptional product variety.

On entering the store, customers are greeted by a modern coffee shop and various fresh meal solutions. The store is unique in that it entices customers with numerous cross merchandising displays within the fresh food sections, which have an international feel and where interaction with staff and food preparation is encouraged. The offerings include meals freshly prepared to order, as well as an extensive grab and go selection. The Meal solutions include Pizza, Sushi, Shawarma and Stir Fry as well as a full range of gourmet home meal replacement lines for customers to choose from. The motto of the store is: “Providing restaurant quality food in a modern supermarket setting.”

The balance of the fresh departments includes fresh produce, a full bakery and a butchery department with a gourmet meat and continental delicatessen. Each food destination offers the best range and quality for the market in which it trades.

The great merchandising standards create real eye catchers as customers move through the store, all based on the implemented Category Management Programme provided by SPAR. In line with the one-stop shop idea, SUPERSPAR Secunda is complimented by a 308m² TOPS@SPAR liquor store, which has proven to be very popular with customers.

SUPERSPAR Secunda is a world-class, modern destination store that is setting new standards in Supermarket Retailing in South Africa.

SPAR South Africa is extremely proud to have the owners of this state-of-the-art store, Chris Christodoulou and Thano Manitsas, as part of its SPAR Family.

This story was first published in issue 4 2017 of our quarterly magazine, Contact International.

To read more stories from this edition, follow this link.