October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and SPAR country organisations across the globe are actively supporting this important initiative. With the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer estimated at one in 12 women ¹, SPAR country organisations are committed to raising awareness and promoting early detection. This article highlights some of the impactful initiatives from SPAR operators in different countries.

Ireland

SPAR and EUROSPAR Ireland, together with the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI), recently brought together 20 of Ireland’s most impactful online influencers to amplify the #BreastBeforeDates campaign to kick off October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The special ‘Check-In’ activation featured an inspiring conversation between host, Georgie Crawford, podcaster and breast cancer survivor, and Patrick Casey, Director of Operations at NBCRI. This activation builds on SPAR & EUROSPAR Ireland’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness about the importance of regular check-ups and self-examination. By combining influencer reach with instore awareness tools like eye-catching labels, posters, and digital animations, the campaign continues to drive education and action across Ireland.

The impactful ‘Breast Before Dates’ campaign was awarded the Gold Medal Award for Best Use of Content/Native Award at the 22nd annual Digital Media Awards. The Award win underscores SPAR and EUROSPAR’s commitment to creating meaningful, engaging content that resonates with audiences while driving awareness for life-saving causes.

Slovenia

For the second consecutive year, SPAR Slovenia has joined with the Europa Donna Slovenija Association to encourage women to undergo regular breast self-examinations.

As part of the ‘Life is the Biggest Bonus’ campaign, all receipts from SPAR stores in October are printed on pink paper, featuring instructions on how to perform self-examinations and a QR code linking to further information. Through the SPAR Plus mobile app, customers are also encouraged to perform monthly checks with the help of animated guides. Instore, customers can support the campaign by donating a portion of their purchase value to Europa Donna when buying selected women’s care products. SPAR Slovenia’s campaign aims to reach women nationwide, turning awareness into action.

South Africa

SPAR Western Cape donated R250,000 (approximately €12,383) to Project Flamingo at their recent annual Cancer Charity Event for women. Project Flamingo is committed to ensuring that all South Africans have access to holistic, timely and compassionate cancer care.

“October is traditionally Breast Health Awareness Month. The SPAR Cancer event has at its core paying tribute to those we have lost along the way. We remember and honour them. We also honour those who have fought and won their cancer battles, those who are still fighting the fight, as well as those who walk the journey with them every day,” said Martin Webber, Managing Director SPAR Western Cape and Namibia.

Italy

For the fourth consecutive year, Maiora, operating the DESPAR brand in central-southern Italy, has renewed its collaboration with Komen Italia, a non-profit association active since 2000 in the fight against breast cancer, through the ‘La Caravana della Prevenzione’ (The Caravan of Prevention) project.

The project aims to achieve two main objectives: on the one hand, to offer free breast, urological and endocrinological screenings conducted by medical personnel aboard Komen Italia’s mobile units, stationed directly in the parking lots of DESPAR stores; on the other, to raise awareness among customers across central and southern Italy through a comprehensive information campaign.

This year’s Caravan of Prevention began on 8 October in Corato and will make five stops through November, including locations in Modugno, Giovinazzo, Marigliano, and Rende.

DESPAR Sicilia organised free breast cancer prevention visits on two days in October at its INTERSPAR store in Ragusa, in collaboration with LILT Ragusa, a local non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting cancer. The 50 available appointments were fully booked within just a few hours. To extend access, DESPAR Sicilia purchased over 100 LILT membership cards, allowing customers and employees to receive free screenings throughout the year.

Additionally, through its partnership with the ASP hospital in Ragusa, DESPAR Sicilia enables women to book prevention visits at community health clinics across the region.

¹Source: World Health Organization, Global Breast Cancer Statistics.

Sources: SPAR Slovenia, BWG Group, SPAR South Africa, DESPAR Sicilia, Maiora Srl