DESPAR Italy Partner Aspiag Service, is helping to raise awareness of gender-based violence through the launch of a new campaign. Leaflets featuring the message “Violence is not an act of love. You are not alone” were distributed to customers in 165 SPAR stores in the north of Italy from 24 May this year.

The initiative was developed based on data collected between 2020 and 2021 by the Police Headquarters in Belluno, a city in the region Veneto. The data confirms that gender-based violence did not stop in that period, and is not being openly discussed. The isolation of many people due to the lockdown and pandemic are cited as possible factors to victims not speaking out.

The campaign, which is being run jointly with the State Police, aims to raise awareness of how prevalent gender-based violence is. Prevention and better intervention through building a direct line with law enforcement agencies are other aims. An innovative tool, the new State Police App, YouPol, allows victims or witnesses of domestic violence to ask for direct help, also anonymously.

Leaflet messaging distributed

Giovanni Taliana, Aspiag Service’s Regional Director for the Veneto region, commented on the initiative: “We are proud to support the police in promoting this campaign to prevent and combat gender-based violence. With our widespread footprint in the region, our SPAR stores can spread this important message to help raise awareness, because violence is not – and can never be – an act of love.”

Campaigns against gender based violence are run in other SPAR markets, including South Africa and Austria, to mention just two.

Source: SPAR Italy

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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.