The sixth season of SPAR Slovenia’s and the second season of SPAR Croatia’s Start it up! campaigns concluded at the end of December with the announcement of two winning products. In Slovenia, gluten-free sweet potato pasta Batasta, was crowned the winning HIT product of 2021. In Croatia, Maja Fertalić’s healthy Nutty Bars were crowned winners. Both local entrepreneurs have won an exclusive long-term supplier contract with SPAR in their respective countries.

The products of eight entrepreneurs from Slovenia and Croatia were made available in INTERSPAR Hypermarkets in their respective countries for the duration of the campaigns. Customers could support their favourite start-up by purchasing their products. At the end of the campaigns, the entries with the most sales were crowned the winners.

HIT Product 2021 in Slovenia

The winning product in Slovenia, the Batasta sweet potato pasta, was created by young entrepreneurs Martina Wanis and Jan Šlamberger. The sixth season officially kicked off on 13 September with eight entrepreneurs and their 21 innovative, sustainable products.

“At SPAR Slovenia, we strive for the best possible offer of local, innovative, and sustainable products. We want the products on our shelves to inspire our customers. I believe that we have managed to support our strategic guidelines with this year’s Start it up, Slovenia! product range”, said SPAR Slovenia General Manager David Kovačič.

Since its launch in Slovenia in 2016, the project has received 12 different domestic and international awards.

Winner of the Start it up, Croatia! campaign

In the second season of Start it up, Croatia!, eight entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to introduce their products to the Croatian market. Athlete and entrepreneur Maja Fertalić took home the coveted 2021 HIT product title with her healthy Nutty Bars.

Maja has won a one-year contract with SPAR Croatia. The Nutty Bars will be available in all INTERSPAR Hypermarkets and selected SPAR Supermarkets throughout Croatia.

She invented the Nutty Bars out of a need for a healthy snack after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in April 2020 and lost her job.

Applications for the new seasons of Start it up! in Slovenia and Croatia are already open.

Source: SPAR Slovenia, SPAR Croatia

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