Officially opened on Saturday, 22 October, the Clavering store is new to SPAR UK. Supported by SPAR UK wholesaler Blakemore Trade Partners, the total investment into the refurbishment and transformation of SPAR Market Clavering was £250,000.
In recent weeks, the store has undergone a huge transformation, including brand new eco chillers and a pack system. The chilled capacity has been increased by 50%. It has a new food-to-go section, an instore prepared sandwiches, and a bakery section with an added hot food offer catering to a wider audience and the right range for different points in the day.
Customers can choose their own loose chocolates from a server over at the till section, treat themselves to a COOK frozen ready meal or cook from scratch with Blakemore Trade Partners’ own exclusive ‘County Bridge’ butchery range.
The major change has been to upgrade the store to the SPAR Market format. Today it offers an increased fresh offering, working closely with local suppliers and offering more diverse ranges and a comprehensive food-to-go offering. Loose fruit and veg are also a fantastic addition to reduce plastic consumption.
The SPAR Market store format is ideal for stores with shop floor space of more than 2,000sqft and targets shoppers with higher basket spends. SPAR Market stores offer more fresh foods and a greater range of products, including premium BWS and frozen ranges and focus on supporting local ranges. Stores can also offer cafés, butchers, delicatessens, and premium food-to-go counters.
The store stands out from the local competition now with a great fresh offering and a full range of services including a Main Post Office and a large car park that attracts shoppers from several villages.
Muru Visana said: “I was very impressed with the SPAR Market proposition, and I immediately knew it would push our store to new heights. It was great that Blakemore Trade Partners could not only plan the store but execute it with Blakemore Design and Shopfitting.
“I knew from speaking to other SPAR retailers and visiting SPAR stores that Blakemore Trade Partners would be invested in my store’s transformation and the future of my business. I am impressed with how much support I have had throughout the process and would recommend SPAR and Blakemore Trade Partners to those retailers looking to take their store to the next level.”
Source: SPAR UK
The UK became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. As a result, there are now five regional partners in the UK. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group.
SPAR has led the highly competitive convenience market in the UK for many years. Always innovative, the five regional partners continue to grow the brand. SPAR UK comprises independently owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores. These include forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhood stores.
