DESPAR Italia partner Maiora recorded strong growth in 2020 of €880 million, despite the challenges of the pandemic. The company, known as DESPAR Centre South, reported a 14% increase on 2019 while EBITDA increased 21%, and net profit grew by 28%. At the same time, the company announced their business development and 5-year investment plan.

5-year investment plan

In the 2021-2015 plan, with a value over €70 million, DESPAR Centre South will further expand the retail network, opening 16 new stores and modernising existing stores.  The company owned INTERSPAR Hypermarkets will take the learnings of the new format launched in 2020, designed in collaboration with the University of Parma and SPAR International.

Pippo Cannillo, President and CEO of DESPAR Centro-Sud, said “Through the restructuring and modernisation plan for the existing stores and the new openings, we continue to pursue our mission to become a leader of the retail trade in the Centre South, also in terms of innovation and development.”

Retail network expansion

For 2021, DESPAR Maiora is focusing on network restructuring, involving 18 stores, with a focus on Calabria. In May, the company reopened a DESPAR Supermarket in the province of Cosenza (Cetraro) and INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Belvedere Marittimo and San Marco Argentano.

Source: SPAR Italy

Read about the national results for 2020 issued by SPAR Italy.

About SPAR Italy

SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, was first granted the SPAR Brand’s licence in 1959. The first store opened in 1960. With it, SPAR became the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in the country. In addition, SPAR Italy 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 company achieves most of its turnover through these larger format stores, the independently owned neighbourhood supermarkets remain vital.