In Northern Ireland, SPAR family retailers reached significant milestones, with Gavan and Helen Wall reopening the EUROSPAR Springfield Road supermarket after a £1M refurbishment, and the Finch family celebrating 15 years under the SPAR brand at their Finch’s SPAR Millburn store.

£1M refurbishment of the EUROSPAR Springfield Road supermarket

Gavan and Helen Wall added the EUROSPAR Springfield Road supermarket to their store portfolio as part of their business, the Wall Group. They now own and operate six SPAR stores and two EUROSPAR supermarkets across North and West Belfast.

The reopening of the EUROSPAR Springfield Road supermarket included a £1M investment into the store and the local community. This included the introduction of 20 new jobs, now with 65 team members working instore.

As the supermarket spans 543m², the offer includes an extensive food-to-go range in addition to everyday essentials, locally sourced produce, and an increase in departments such as dairy and fresh. Future investment in the supermarket will include upgrades to the parking areas, fuel pumps, and store access.

The Wall Group has made a significant impact in the local community, fundraising for EUROSPAR Northern Ireland’s official charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children, and plans to continue raising funds for the organisation, which works with families to empower young people affected by cancer.

Celebrating 15 years with the SPAR brand

In Cookstown, County Tyrone, the Finchs’ SPAR Millburn store reached a 15-year milestone with SPAR. Owned and operated by the Finch family, the store opened first in 2006 before switching to the SPAR brand in 2011. Jonathan and Michelle Finch also own three other SPAR stores in Cookstown, Whitehead and Newry.

The store has seen significant refurbishments totalling £400,000 to bring top-quality services and products to their local shoppers, providing local employment opportunities over the years. In 2023, the store was transformed with a new deli counter serving hot breakfast and lunch to go, new refrigeration, flooring, lighting, self-checkouts, and new fuel pumps, and expanded its Millburn team by 10.

The store has always been at the heart of the local community, supporting local schools and sports teams, as well as fundraising for a number of local charities. Over the years, the team has raised over £10,000 through events and initiatives including bake sales, raffles and tea mornings, with the whole team getting involved.

Source: Henderson Group

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About SPAR UK

The United Kingdom joined the SPAR retail network in 1956, when SPAR International granted a licence to operate the brand to a group of independent wholesalers. Regional organisations in the UK continually build the brand’s presence through a strong collaborative system. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group. SPAR UK comprises independently owned, licensed retailers and company-owned stores.