The SPAR brand first entered the United Kingdom in 1956, and now celebrates 70 years of serving local communities across the region.

70 years of SPAR in the UK

SPAR entered the UK market through a rollout by five independent wholesalers back in 1956. One of the founding members, James Hall & Co. Ltd, still operates the SPAR brand in the North of England. Today, SPAR UK runs through four wholesalers covering certain parts of the region. In addition to James Hall & Co. Ltd, Henderson Group operates the SPAR brand in Northern Ireland, CJ Lang & Son Ltd is the SPAR UK wholesaler for Scotland, with A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd as the SPAR UK wholesaler covering Wales, the Midlands, and South of England.

Part of the local fabric

Across the United Kingdom, the SPAR brand has been a core part of the locality and is more than just a store. For shoppers in the region, the local shop has also become a service hub in its own right, used for everything from Post Office errands to withdrawing cash, functioning as an “informal community centre” as much as a place to buy groceries. Additionally, according to the Association of Convenience Stores, more than three-quarters of convenience stores (78%) are actively involved in their community, from charity collections to sponsoring local sports teams. SPAR stores throughout the United Kingdom have served, and continue to serve, their local communities in many ways.

Independent family retailers have driven the SPAR brand in the UK, with multi-generational families meeting the needs of the cities, towns, and villages where they operate. Independent retailer David Gregson recently celebrated 50 years of ownership of the family’s High Street store in Kirkby Stephen, having acquired the SPAR store in 1976.

On the 70-year milestone, Ian Taylor of SPAR UK said: “Seventy years ago, SPAR arrived in the UK as a simple idea that independent shopkeepers could achieve more by working together. Shopping has changed a lot since then, but that idea hasn’t changed at all. It’s why our stores remain such a trusted part of communities across the UK today.”

Source: SPAR UK

Read more about SPAR UK

About SPAR UK

The United Kingdom joined the SPAR retail network in 1956, when SPAR International granted a licence to operate the brand to a group of independent wholesalers. Regional organisations in the UK continually build the brand’s presence through a strong collaborative system. A central office in London provides the group with national marketing and buying services. SPAR UK comprises independently owned, licensed retailers and company-owned stores.