In 2024, defibrillators installed outside all 141 SPAR Denmark stores have saved 15 lives. Cardiac runners were called to these AEDs 42 times, highlighting the importance of accessible defibrillators when a heart stops.

Each year, around 5,000 Danes experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which is about 14 people daily. The chain of survival in cardiac arrest, including rapid CPR and the use of AEDs, is crucial for saving lives. Currently, 11% of people in cardiac arrest receive an AED shock before the ambulance arrives.

Anne Kaltoft, CEO of the Danish Heart Foundation, praises SPAR Denmark’s efforts. “This is a great initiative by SPAR, which we are very pleased with and which shows that SPAR takes social responsibility. They are helping to spread the number of defibrillators in Denmark, which is of great importance for the chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.”

Since 2015, SPAR Denmark, in collaboration with KFI Erhvervsdrivende Fond (Merchants’ Finance Institute), has provided defibrillators at their stores. The Safety Group supports the maintenance of defibrillators at SPAR stores nationwide.

“At SPAR Denmark, we are proud to contribute to the safety of our local communities. Every time one of our defibrillators is used, it’s a reminder of how important it is that they are available around the clock. The collaboration with KFI Erhvervsdrivende Fond and the Safety Group makes it possible to save lives. We will keep working to ensure we have AEDs at all our stores,” said SPAR Denmark’s CEO Esben Keller.

Source: SPAR Denmark

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About SPAR Denmark

SPAR Denmark was founded in 1954 when Danish retail company, Dagrofa, was granted a licence to operate the brand in the market. In 2013, NorgesGruppen purchased 49% of the Dagrofa Group. SPAR Denmark has strengthened customer experience in stores, continued the modernisation and digitalisation of stores and initiated the testing of unmanned stores.