Maiora has initiated an investment plan worth €7 million that will benefit its network of 388 stores in 2019. Having recorded a 2% growth in 2018, the SPAR Partner plans to capitalise on this growth trend by improving and expanding its store portfolio.

The investment includes an online store, DESPAR at home, recently launched and currently being piloted in Corato, as well as the renovation of six company-owned SPAR stores to be in line with the latest store design concept.

“Our target for 2019 is to achieve €850 million in retail sales, or a 8-9% growth,” said Pippo Cannillo, President and CEO of SPAR Partner, Maiora. “Our 3.5% growth in the first quarter shows we’re well positioned to achieve this goal.”

The SPAR Partner recently opened a new INTERSPAR Hypermarket near Lecce in the region of Salento and converted one of its existing EUROSPAR Supermarkets to the latest INTERSPAR store design. The converted INTERSPAR offers a world-class shopping experience in Venosa, a town in the Southern region of Basilicata. In this region, the SPAR Brand has a 30-strong store presence and ranks as a market leader. These two new INTERSPAR Hypermarkets have large product assortments and excellent customer service.

Source: DESPAR Centre – South

Read more news from SPAR Italy.

About SPAR Italy

SPAR Italy was first granted the licence to operate the SPAR Brand 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 the country. 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.