SPAR Italy, locally known as DESPAR Italia, has announced that Filippo Fabbri will take on the role of General Manager starting 1 January 2021. The official announcement was made by Lucio Fochesato, DESPAR Italia’s outgoing General Manager, during a press event this week. Lucio Fochesato is retiring after a long and successful career at SPAR.

Building on his strong expertise and experience in FMCG and retail, Filippo Fabbri will be leading the strategic activities of the DESPAR Italia Consortium of regional SPAR retailers.

Filippo Fabbri has held various positions at companies including Metro Cash & Carry, Gruppo Argenta, and Granarolo S.p.A. Most recently, he held the position of Fresh and Ultra-Fresh Product Manager for Auchan Retail Italia since 2017. In this role, he was responsible for defining the retail strategy for fresh and ultra-fresh store departments.

“I wish to thank the President and Partners of the DESPAR Italia consortium for the trust and responsibility they are giving me. I am looking forward to this new challenge”, Filippo Fabri said during the press event.

“SPAR is a strong retail brand, close to its consumers and local communities, with well-defined values and identity. My intention is to continue developing SPAR’s role as a trusted retail brand, by further enhancing SPAR Own Brand lines and strengthening the brand’s reputation”, he added.

Passion and professionalism
At the press event, Lucio Fochesato said, “I’m concluding a successful experience with many objectives reached. I wish to thank the President, Partners, and the whole team at DESPAR Italia for supporting my work. These objectives were reached by joining everyone’s passion and professionalism, by working together every day as a team in great harmony.”

“In my role as a General Manager, I have always focused on the quality of our products, on health, on adding value to our local communities, as well as on environmental and social sustainability. These focal points are based on the philosophy that we are all each other’s customers.”

“I wish Filippo Fabbri success in his new role. I’m certain that with his professional skills, in line with DESPAR Italia’s values, he will keep building the SPAR Brand in Italy”, Lucio Fochesato concluded.

Source: SPAR Italy

Read more news from SPAR Italy.

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.