In April, SPAR UK partners James Hall & Co. Ltd and Appleby Westward held tradeshow events, updating their sub-licensed retailers and store teams about key developments and also celebrating successes across SPAR in the UK.

SPAR Transform Retail Event

More than 500 delegates came together for SPAR UK partner James Hall & Co. Ltd’s SPAR Transform Retail Event, held at Harrogate Convention Centre on 18 April. The event consisted of an action-packed day consolidating business updates, a tradeshow, and social activity.

There were keynote speakers and a series of retailers who highlighted transformations from food-to-go to category expansion, to sales performance, and much more. For the first time, James Hall & Co. Ltd’s G&E Murgatroyd company-owned stores division joined SPAR independent retailers to share best practices.

During the afternoon, breakout sessions were hosted by supplier partners Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Carlsberg, and Walkers, while a brand showcase included a SPAR Wine Bar hosted by Philippa Carr MW and a coffee lounge. The spotlight was also on SPAR Own Brand products, with a new range of 24 SPAR International lines now available to SPAR retailers in the North of England.

SPAR South West Tradeshow

Appleby Westward, SPAR UK partner in the South West, hosted the SPAR South West Tradeshow in Sandy Park, Exeter on 25 April. The event included presentations from the Directors of the Appleby Westward leadership team, retailer panel discussions with key Wessex Guild Members, SPAR UK representatives, and suppliers.

The event covered several areas including the success of SPAR retailers, the importance of SPAR at the heart of the local community, as well as further developments of SPAR Own Brand products. Last year, SPAR invested nearly £100 million across the entire estate and will do the same this year, with several flagship projects in the pipeline.

Suppliers present discussed new products, great promotions, and much more with SPAR retailers and store managers. The evening Awards dinner rounded off proceedings and a fundraising raffle saw £4,060 raised for SPAR UK’s charity partner Marie Curie.

Source: SPAR UK

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.