SPAR’s core values incorporate family, community, and the ability to inspire people to do and be more. Here, we share just three examples of community support in South Africa given by independent SPAR retailers in response to challenging circumstances of the national lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support for orphaned children in KwaZulu Natal
Ingane Yami, in the Shongweni Valley in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), is a permanent village for orphaned and vulnerable children. The village consists of individual homes with a carefully selected foster mother and six children in each.

The nearest SUPERSPAR Supermarket fulfils the weekly grocery orders for the village, designed to ensure the residents can maintain a healthy diet, which meets recommended nutritional requirements. 

SPAR has been a significant sponsor of Ingane Yami since June 2018. Speaking after visiting the Village in June 2018, Max Oliva, Managing Director of SPAR KZN, said he “was impressed with the sustainability of the model and the fact that this creates a real opportunity to change the course of young, disadvantaged South African lives forever.”

“We thank SPAR KZN and SUPERSPAR Richdens for their ongoing commitment, ensuring that some of South Africa’s most vulnerable children have all of their basic needs met, particularly during these challenging times”, said Scott Hamilton, Ingane Yami Director.

Independent SPAR retailer’s donation creates hope
Within a week of hearing that families in his local community needed support, independent retailer Roy Sheodin donated ZAR20,000 (more than €1,000) which was used to provide each family with healthy SPAR porridge meal.

With local legislation as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak prohibiting gatherings of more than 100 people, the donation of 1,500 bags of SPAR porridge meal needed to be handled with care. The team at the Pinetown based SUPERSPAR Supermarket ensured the gift was handed out in a carefully controlled environment.

“I wanted to do something special for the community and reach out to them. As Knowles SUPERSPAR, we wanted to get involved, donate, and help these families for about a month. With Easter around the corner, I now appeal to other businesses in the area to step up, get involved, and help the people involved”, said Roy Sheodin.

SPAR’s big heart gets thumbs up from Orphan Fund
In celebration of Valentine’s Day and to support charities across the country, SPAR South Africa ran a campaign with very local roots, called ‘Big Heart’. As part of the campaign, each SPAR Supermarket chose a local charity which customers could support with donations of food items. 

The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund was chosen by one SPAR retailer in the town of Ballito in KwaZulu Natal, and shoppers were generous in their support. Recently, coordinator Jane Armstrong conveyed her thanks to the shoppers of Ballito as well as the team at SPAR for their support to the fund.

Another SPAR store selected Summerhill House as their local charity. The donation will greatly assist in running homework assistance programmes and holiday feeding initiatives to provide a safe and fun environment and provide up to 180 hot meals a day.

Source: SPAR South Africa

About SPAR South Africa

SPAR South Africa was established in 1963 and operates four retail formats: SPAR, SPAR Express (operated in conjunction with Shell as a petrol forecourt store), KWIKSPAR (which focuses on convenience in city centres and high footfall locations) and SUPERSPAR (similar to EUROSPAR in offer).

South Africa was the first country outside of Europe to join the SPAR organisation. The SPAR Group Ltd South Africa grants sub-licences to independent retailers to operate stores under one of the four formats, with almost all of the current store portfolio being independently owned.