SPAR Ukraine has been a licenced member of SPAR International since 2001. Operated by VolWest Group, a wholly independent, Ukrainian-owned business led by Viktor Korsak and his family, the brand is strongly embedded in the communities it serves, operating 65 SPAR supermarkets across Ukraine from Kharkiv in the east to Lviv in the west.

We stand in full solidarity with our Ukrainian friends and colleagues and our efforts are focused solely on the provision of essential support and aid to the innocent citizens of Ukraine in the face of this worsening humanitarian crisis, and the devastation and displacement experienced by the people of Ukraine.  

SPAR International has been engaging intensively with SPAR Ukraine since the beginning of the crisis. Presently, almost 95% of the SPAR stores are operational. Where there is an imminent or immediate threat to the health and safety of employees, stores have either closed fully or are operating in a reduced capacity in order to get essential goods to their local communities.   

To enable SPAR Ukraine to maintain its supply of essential produce for local communities, a unique SPAR support fund has been established by SPAR International, strongly supported by SPAR country organisations. This support fund commenced immediately sending financial aid to SPAR Ukraine and will assist that company financially to continue to procure products locally from existing sources of supply.   

With a strong SPAR presence in central and eastern Europe, SPAR International is also working with SPAR colleagues in neighbouring countries to establish a supply of essential goods for distribution to SPAR Ukraine’s distribution centre located 100km inland from the Polish border. To this end, SPAR International has established dedicated logistics points on the Polish-Ukrainian border where supplies from across Europe are being stockpiled prior to transportation into Ukraine.  

In addition, and in order to get much needed support directly to those most impacted, SPAR International has established a partnership with Malteser International. Malteser International are delivering vital support and aid on the ground in Ukraine, and, along with financial support from across the SPAR network, SPAR International is committed to combining its supply chain resources in the region to effectively support with the transportation of humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people.  

In order for these vital supplies to reach the citizens of Ukraine, however, urgent action is required to establish humanitarian corridors within Ukraine for the safe transportation of food and aid supplies. SPAR International will continue to contribute in whatever way we can to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine.  

To quote our SPAR Ukraine colleagues directly: “We do our best to ensure that the maximum number of Ukrainians continue to have access to essential goods… the spirit is strong like never before.” At SPAR International we share that spirit of determination, and will continue to do all we can to support SPAR Ukraine continue to serve their customers even in these most challenging of circumstances.  

We are truly inspired by the courage, determination and commitment of our colleagues in Ukraine to continue to care for their communities. We will continue to do what we can to support them in this goal.

For 90 years SPAR has been driven by a simple, yet powerful, philosophy: that independent retailers through uniting and working together shall prosper. This SPAR vision, of benefiting from unity and co-operation, uniting resources and supporting each other, is never more true than in times of crisis such as these.