The DESPAR Italia retail network continued to grow in November and December, with a number of new stores opening and investment being made in the modernisation of some existing stores.

DESPAR North

In the North, DESPAR Nord saw four new stores open their doors. A EUROSPAR Supermarket in Melegnano provides convenience for the local community and has a focus on locally sourced goods. Another EUROSPAR Supermarket was opened in Guastalla. The supermarket places a focus on fresh departments including fruit and vegetables, a butchery, and a fishmonger.

The DESPAR Supermarket in Forlimpopoli offers customers a larger shopping area alongside a product assortment which includes traditional local produce such as fruit, vegetables, and meat. Investment was made into a new INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Castelfranco Veneto. This hypermarket combines quality and convenience with a strong focus on local products. Instore innovations includes heat recovery systems, photovoltaic systems, charging stations for e-bikes and scooters, and an eco-compactor.

A major restyling took place of the DESPAR Supermarket in Mezzogoro. This local, family-owned supermarket is deeply rooted in the area, and the renovation now enables it to offer an improved shopping experience, as well as meet the needs of the local community.

DESPAR North-West

DESPAR Nord Ovest opened a new DESPAR Supermarket in Alpignano. This independently owned and operated supermarket is designed to offer convenience as well as the daily essentials for the local community. DESPAR own brand products, local specialities, and sustainability are the three pillars with which this new supermarket is built upon. These pillars also guided the restyling of the DESPAR Express store in Alice Castello, which now includes state-of-the-art equipment and LED lighting.

A new DESPAR Express store was opened in Prato Nevoso in the Ligurian Alps. Located beside the ski lifts, the store caters to both locals and tourists alike, offering a variety of grocery and non-grocery products, including DESPAR own brand products. This DESPAR Express collaborates closely with local suppliers, offering a quality assortment and shopping experience for customers.

DESPAR Central-South

Further south, DESPAR Centro Sud opened six new stores in the closing months of the calendar year.

An INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Orta Nova was designed with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation. It offers a wide range of services including gastronomy, bakery, butchery, delicatessen and fishmonger, all with product quality and freshness at the forefront. Five DESPAR Supermarkets opened their doors in Bernalda, Reggio Calabria, Rocchetta Sant’Antonio, Rome, and Terranova da Sibari. These stores include a tailored range of DESPAR own brand products and provide convenience and quality to local communities.

Two restyled EUROSPAR Supermarkets were reopened. The EUROSPAR Supermarket in Cosenza saw exclusively fitting automatic checkouts, thereby reducing waiting times and improving service. The refurbishment improved the overall store design with a focus on functionality and sustainability, including the use of advanced refrigeration and lighting technologies. The EUROSPAR Supermarket in Maratea underwent a new store design to modernise departments such as the butcher, delicatessen, fruit and vegetables, and wine departments.

DESPAR Sardegna

In Sardinia, the DESPAR Supermarkets in Posada and Cagliari reopened in December after extensive renovations to better meet the needs of local communities. Both supermarkets offer an improved shopping experience, which includes an enhanced grocery assortment, fresh food departments, as well as a large wine department.

DESPAR Sicily

In Sicily, DESPAR Sicilia currently focuses on restyling and improving stores across the network. November saw four stores reopen after extensive renovations: the EUROSPAR Supermarket in Palermo and the DESPAR Supermarkets in Fulgatore, Pozzallo, and Acireale. Each store has been fully rejuvenated to provide customers an improved product offer and shopping experience.

Source: DESPAR Italia

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About SPAR Italy

SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, was first granted the SPAR Brand’s license in 1959. The first store opened in 1960. With it, the SPAR brand became the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in the country. In addition, DESPAR Italia licenses regional partners in a consortium, all working together to grow the brand.