SPAR South Africa is a strong supporter of engaging with local communities, with SPAR South Africa’s regional distribution centres providing support in the locality.

Local school engagement

In 2023, SPAR Eastern Cape provided sports kits to five teams at KwaMagxaki High School, located near its distribution centre. The school also received 150 new desks which will benefit pupils in five classes. Outdoor gym equipment was donated that will benefit all of the pupils as well.

The school is located in an area which has been severely affected by unemployment and donations to enhance the school experience of the students are very welcome. SPAR Eastern Cape advertising manager Roseann Shadrach said that SPAR is in the business of creating “forever smiles”. “We knew that we had a responsibility to help scholars attend school regularly and that the task ahead was not a handout but more a hand up,” she said. “We engaged with the principal to ascertain the daily needs and challenges that faced the school, teachers and learners, for us to put together a plan of action for the year.”

Having learning-conducive classroom equipment went a long way in creating positive attitudes among the students, said the school principal. Matric learner Lwanga Lubuza was grateful for the desks that would make writing the all-important final exams more comfortable and help his peers improve their focus. The 18-year-old, who hoped to teach one day having been inspired by those who taught him, was also pleased that those in lower grades would benefit from the desks and gym equipment. The latter, which includes leg-raise machines, air-walkers and exercise bikes, came into operation earlier this year and has proved a hit.

“Seeing the absolute elation on their faces is an experience that cannot be described in words,” Roseann Shadrach said. The retailer, she explained, was committed to encouraging leadership through relationships with its communities.

Decade of community engagement

In an age where corporate social responsibility is a significant driver for businesses, SPAR South Africa stands out as a strong supporter of the communities it serves. For over a decade, SPAR has partnered with SA Cares For Life, raising much-needed funds and donating essential groceries. Their collective efforts recently came to the forefront when a devastating fire swept through Cemetery View, Pretoria East, leaving 800 families homeless. In these challenging times, the regional SPAR office, in partnership with SA Cares For Life, stepped in to respond to the immediate needs of the affected residents.

After the fire, the retailer not only assisted with the distribution of household goods and foods to those in need but they also called on the nearby communities to support them.

Source: SPAR South Africa.

Read more about SPAR South Africa.

About SPAR South Africa

SPAR South Africa was established in 1963. It operates four retail formats: SPAR neighbourhood, SPAR Express (operated in conjunction with Shell as a petrol forecourt store), KWIKSPAR (which focuses on convenience in city centres and high footfall locations), and SUPERSPAR Supermarkets (similar to EUROSPAR in offer). 

 SPAR South Africa grants sub-licences to independent retailers to operate stores under one of the four formats, with almost all the current store portfolio being independently owned.