SPAR operator Henderson Group has revealed a €4.32 million EUROSPAR in Doagh as the first SPAR UK Fresh concept store to open in Northern Ireland. Featuring a sales space of 700m2, the new EUROSPAR was created in collaboration with SPAR International and SPAR UK. It employs 35 people and delivers a fresh food shopping experience customised for the Doagh community.

Mark McCammond, Retail Director at Henderson Group, explains, “This community supermarket has been designed and built with a data-driven approach to provide a mission-focused customer proposition tailored for local shoppers. It is the first outlet of its kind to open in Northern Ireland, following our new ‘Fresh’ stores initiative. [The store has been] adapted for that community’s particular demands and needs, encouraging increased visits for a great fresh food shopping trip close to home.”

Fresh shopping missions

The team has worked with marketing, tech, and analyst specialists to identify several criteria to determine a store’s primary shopping mission. The most important shopper mission for this type of EUROSPAR Supermarket is the fresh produce top-up shop with products conducive to making a meal. Therefore a greater proportion of space and variety of range to fresh produce and fresh meat will be dedicated in-store.

The EUROSPAR Supermarket Doagh will provide an array of local brands and an enhanced offering of own brands. It will also showcase the popular SPAR enjoy local range of meats, poultry, baked goods, and everyday fresh essentials.

Mark continued, “This proposition provides an elevated fresh food offering and meal solutions for tonight’s tea, catering to local demands. This is an innovative approach which Henderson Retail has applied to the new store. It has a vibrant fresh look with a choice of products that will create a standout shopping experience.”

As well as the fresh credentials, the store will feature the latest tech innovation for retail efficiency, including the GLORY cash management system. The system provides customers with full service yet touch-less cash payment solutions at the tills and the option of self-scan checkouts for faster and contactless checkout experiences.

EUROSPAR Doagh facilities

Store Manager Daniel Duncan says the facilities and services of EUROSPAR Supermarket Doagh will bring to the community are second to none. 

“We are bringing a supermarket experience to the local community, which includes a 32-space car park, customer toilet facilities, ATM, an onsite WineFlair off-license and a fuel offering from Texaco. Eddie Lister will manage our in-store Post Office. At the same time, the fresh food offering will be complemented by Henderson’s dailyDeli hot food counter and Barista Bar coffee, offering a great range of premium coffee”, he says.

“We are already engaging with the local community and sponsoring the Doagh Primary School football team. We have also donated bedding plants to the school. Local pupils Hayley Crowe and Carter Johnston won our colouring competition and helped us officially declare the store open. Our community engagement also supports the Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary, and we’ve provided sanitising stations to the Doagh Village Community Association. We also look forward to supporting EUROSPAR Supermarket’s charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children, with initiatives throughout the year.”

“We’re delighted to be open and bring even more great value offers, services and facilities to the village”, he concludes.

Source: SPAR UK

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About SPAR UK

The UK became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. There are now five regional partners in the UK. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group.

SPAR has led the highly competitive convenience market in the UK for many years. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. SPAR UK comprises independently owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores. These include forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhood stores.