Our commitment to the communities we serve extends beyond providing a high-quality, value-for-money shopping experience. Around the globe, SPAR supports a range of charity and societal initiatives. Today, on the International Day of Charity, we highlight some of the support given by SPAR internationally.

SPAR South Africa continues cooperating in the national fight against GV

SPAR South Africa continues highlighting the national issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and has partnered with the governmental National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). This unique collaboration between the private sector and the government sees the donation of basic groceries and care items to the value of R300,000 (€18,430) per month to NPA’s 60 Thutuzela Care Centres (TCCs), located close to public hospitals throughout the country.

SPAR UK supports local organisations through Community Cashback scheme

SPAR UK runs a nationwide Community Cashback scheme, which this year awarded 30 grants totalling £100,000 (over €118,000) to local voluntary or community organisations. Amounts awarded range between £1,000 and £10,000. Consumers from all over the UK applied for a grant for an organisation they felt deserved funding by sharing their exceptional contribution to their community and what the grant would be put towards.

SPAR Slovenia donates school supplies to local charity

SPAR Slovenia, in cooperation with the Association of Friends of Youth Ljubljana Moste-Polje, once again helped primary school students from socially disadvantaged families by providing school bags filled with supplies before the start of the new school year. The retailer has donated school supplies to this worthy cause for several years.

SPAR Oman donates food and charity packs to people in need

Every year during Ramadan, SPAR Oman joins forces with Dar Al Atta’a, an inclusive charity association that caters to those in need in the Sultanate, and sets up collection booths in SPAR stores to enable shoppers to contribute to this worthy cause. In addition to food products, customers can donate pre-packed charity packs. All donated items are handed over to Dar Al Atta’a.

SPAR Italy partners donate unsold food to people in need

 In 2021, SPAR Italy partner Aspiag Service donated 1,400 tonnes of unsold food to local charities as part of its long-standing commitment to reduce food waste and help people in need. This important support has been achieved by pairing at least one charity of choice with each DESPAR, EUROSPAR and INTERSPAR store in the regions of Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige. A total of 590 company-owned stores donated unsold food to over 200 charities, which helped prepare more than 3 million meals. The food waste reduction had a total value of €7.3 million.

Maiora and Gruppo 3A, operating the SPAR brand in authorised regions of Italy, have each donated €100,000 worth of unsold food to charities, and have partnered with social impact company Too Good To Go as part of their strategy to reduce food waste.

Read more charity and community integration in SPAR here.

Sources: SPAR South Africa, SPAR Slovenia, SPAR Italy, SPAR Oman, SPAR UK