SPAR Italy Partner, Aspiag Service, has completed a major renovation of its logistic hub in Udine, in the North-east of the country. The company has invested €1.6 million in renovating one of the three distribution centres (DCs), required to service the territories of Emilie-Romagna and the North-east.

The SPAR DC in Udine caters for the western most regions of Italy, as well as for exports to affiliated SPAR Partners. The centre, which was designed to handle 20-25 fresh product trucks in the receiving zone and 30-35 large delivery vehicles being loaded in the outbound bays, continued to operate throughout the renovation process, delivering any of the 3,600 SKUs available to SPAR Supermarkets. Cold chain logistics have been enhanced by introducing special shutters that ensure constant, reliable temperatures in the different sections of the DC, regardless of the weather conditions.

This renovation has improved the DC’s sustainability, efficiency and productivity, as well as the working conditions for the 26 Aspiag employees and 80 affiliated logistics provider’s employees who manage the warehouse operations.

Speaking at the opening, Harald Antley, CEO of Aspiag service said “We are investing in our local community’s future and highlighting our company’s ongoing development. We have been growing continuously for 20 years, both in terms of growing our distribution centres, our store numbers and our employees. We are really proud of unveiling this DC following its renovation which not only improves productivity but as is an increasingly essential factor in our construction and renovation projects, has improved focus on sustainability.”

D.C. photograph: © Foto Petrussi

Source: DESPAR Partner, Aspiag Service

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About SPAR Italy

SPAR International first granted a licence for the operation of the SPAR Brand to SPAR Italy in 1959. The first store opened in the latter part of 1960 and with it, SPAR became the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in Italy. SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, 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 majority of the company’s turnover is acquired through these larger format stores, the independently owned neighbourhood supermarkets remain a key part of the business.