Award winning independent SPAR retailer Saleem Sadiq celebrates 30 years with SPAR at his store in Renfrew, Scotland. This milestone marks not only a personal achievement for Saleem, but also a testament to the strong legacy of his family’s commitment to SPAR.

Journey of entrepreneurial success

Saleem’s journey in retail traces back to his roots in the Gujrat district in Punjab, Pakistan, where his grandparents owned a local store back in the 1930s. Saleem arrived in Glasgow with his family in the 1960’s. Nine years later he began his degree in Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow. During that period, his father was also occupied with pursuing his dream of owning a business, starting with a newsagent’s shop on the south side of Glasgow, and then joining SPAR in 1984.

After Saleem graduated from university in the 1980s, he decided to take a gap year working in the family business, and he never looked back. In March 1994, Saleem took over a store south of the River Clyde in Renfrew and joined SPAR Scotland. After renovations, the new SPAR store opened and doubled the sales of the previous store in its first week. The store has continuously grown and SPAR Renfrew has become one of the most awarded independently owned stores in Scotland.

Celebration of the now and the future

The SPAR Supermarket in Renfrew and its team have earned many Scottish retailing awards over the years. Saleem has also played a huge role in the industry, including serving on the Scottish SPAR Guild and the National Guild Board and as an executive committee member of the SGF. Saleem’s store actively supports local causes. Now, Saleem leads the family business which runs several SPAR stores in and around Glasgow with his brothers.

As Saleem looks towards the future, he sees a continuation of his family’s legacy, with his son Waseem already poised to carry forward the SPAR name into the next generation.

Source: CJ Lang and Son Ltd.

Read more about SPAR UK

About SPAR UK

The United Kingdom became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. There are five regional organisations in the UK, continually building the brand’s presence. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group. SPAR UK comprises independently owned, licensed, retailers and company-owned stores.

Read more about SPAR UK

About SPAR UK

The United Kingdom became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. There are five regional organisations in the UK, continually building the brand’s presence. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group. SPAR UK comprises independently owned, licensed, retailers and company-owned stores.