SPAR Italy operator Ergon has awarded €50,000 in scholarships to team members’ children, promoting learning through encouragement and financial support. The scholarships were awarded based on grades and school merit to children attending primary school up to post-graduate level.

Pupils and students have faced some exceptional challenges during the past academic year, with schools in Italy closing for several months due to COVID-19. In recognition of the students’ hard work during these times, Ergon has increased the number of scholarships and raised their total amount to €50,000.

Concetta Lomagno, Marketing Manager at Ergon, congratulated the students and their families for their adaptability and resilience in pursuing their education.

For Ergon, locally known as DESPAR Sicilia, education is the foundation in the lives of the future generations. By getting a strong basis to build on, the youth can flourish and be better prepared to face any challenges the future may bring.

Gianni Cavalieri, Chairman of SPAR Sicily, expressed a wish to all of his team’s children receiving an award: “You are laying the foundations of a house. Life will present you with a range of challenges and tasks. However, once you have laid a sound foundation, you can aim at constructing high buildings. Learn anything you can, from whoever you can: at a certain stage in your life, those lessons will turn out useful.”

The SPAR Partner’s scholarship initiative was this year held for the 13^th time. A total of 16 scholarships went to children who had successfully completed primary school, 15 to children completing first-grade secondary school, and eleven to children graduating from high school. Other scholarships went to students who obtained a bachelor or master’s degree this year.

Source: Ergon Group

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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.