Five new SPAR stores opened in five regions of Ukraine during December 2021, each operated by independent retailers, expanding the brand's network. Common to all stores is a strong fresh offer, daily grocery products, and an emphasis on good customer service. Customers can also join SPAR Ukraine’s loyalty programme, enjoying special bonus offers as well as personalised offers based on their shopping history.

Petrol forecourt retailing

One of the new stores is based in Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine. This store is open 24/7, providing great convenience to the local community. A unique feature of this store is its location as part of a petrol forecourt site. SPAR Ukraine first entered this market segment in May 2021, when the Ovis network chose SPAR as their retail partner. The store layout for this flagship store was developed in close collaboration with SPAR International, tapping into international best practices in forecourt retailing.

The store’s floorplan takes into account customer flow, considering both the combination of nearby residents’ needs as well as those of fuel purchasing customers. Recognising that customers today are looking for ready-to-eat solutions, a self-service coffee offer complements the food-to-go section.

Located in the student district of Kharkiv, the product offer also includes snack items such as pastries, sandwiches, and chilled beverages. Thanks to the spacious layout, customers entering the store have clear views of the full offer.

Future expansion plans

Based on the Kharkiv store, plans are in place to roll out more forecourt sites during 2022, in partnership with Ovis. Additional expansion for the coming year by SPAR Ukraine includes wider implementation of the semi-automated pizza station and the pre-prepared baked products range.

SPAR Ukraine’s combination of company-owned and independently operated stores has seen the brand grow to 68 SPAR branded stores, of which 11 are company-owned. By operating three different store formats – SPAR Express convenience, SPAR Supermarket, and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets – according to location, SPAR Ukraine meets its customers’ needs at all times of the day.

Source: SPAR Ukraine

To read more about SPAR Ukraine

About SPAR Ukraine

SPAR was launched in Ukraine in 2001 and experienced a lot of change over the past few years. On 1 December 2016, SPAR International granted a new licence to Volwest LLC. This prominent retailer has a strong track record of partnering with independent retailers. SPAR Ukraine continues to build on a multi-format retailing strategy to expand the brand’s presence.