SPAR UK Partners have started the New Year on a high note following sales increases in the weeks leading to the New Year. After achieving good Christmas trading performances, various partners are looking to continue boosting sales by providing the most convenient and best proposition.

SPAR UK
SPAR UK has reported a rise in like-for-like Christmas retail sales of 2.6 per cent over the four weeks to 29 December 2019.

The spike in sales has been attributed to SPAR UK’s focus on fresh and availability. This benefited them during the week ending 29 December when SPAR UK stores saw like-for-like sales rise by 7 per cent.

Louise Hoste, SPAR UK Managing Director, said: “Our performance over the festive period shows that we are responding well to shopper demands, with excellent marketing initiatives, and communication of the role our stores play in local communities. This has driven sales, and the results prove that convenience is still key for shoppers at Christmas.”

Louise Hoste adds that investments made by their wholesalers into supplying independent retailers with quality fresh and chilled foods are “paying off”.

“Convenience is our business, and by constantly tailoring our offer to local customer needs and developing categories like food-to-go, we will continue to maximise sales”, she added. “As we start 2020, our focus is on converting those Christmas emergency shoppers into more loyal everyday shoppers, while at the same time developing our store formats ensuring we provide the most convenient and best proposition in the UK.”

Strong performances
SPAR Scotland’s wholesaler and convenience store operator, CJ Lang, reported a good Christmas trading performance, achieving an increase in delivered sales to independent SPAR retailers of 8.9 per cent in the four weeks to 4 January. Like-for-like sales for company-owned stores rose by 4.4 per cent over the same period.

Year-on-year growth at CJ Lang has reportedly been driven by a strong licensed offer, food-to-go implementation, and soft drinks. CJ Lang supplies over 300 SPAR stores in Scotland.

South West SPAR distributor Appleby Westward has announced a 5.6 per cent increase in like-for-like wholesale sales over the two-week Christmas and New Year trading period.

SPAR Appleby reported that “strong performances” from independent SPAR stores contributed to the overall increase.

Source: SPAR UK

Read more SPAR UK news here.

About SPAR UK

The UK became a member of SPAR in 1956 when a group of independent wholesalers was granted the SPAR licence by SPAR International. There are five regional partners in the UK with strategically placed Distribution Centres in each region. A central office, located in London, provides national marketing and buying services for the group and supports the development of the brand.

SPAR has led the convenience market in the UK for many years but has faced increasing competition. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. Throughout the UK, a combination of independently-owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores can be found, spanning forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhoods.