AMSTERDAM, 2015-9-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — SPAR International, the world’s largest voluntary retail chain, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Retailer of the Year Award at the World Retail Congress (WRC) taking place in Rome. The award recognises companies the grand jury believe to be best in class in a number of key areas including financial performance and sales growth, adapting to a changing environment, and setting new standards for the industry to follow.
The nomination comes on the back of strong growth for the SPAR brand over the last decade including significant expansion in Asia, the Middle East and Russia. In May, the organisation reported worldwide sales of €31.9 billion for 2014, driven by entry into 10 new territories.
Speaking following the nomination, Gordon Campbell, Managing Director of SPAR International said: “The Retailer of the Year nomination is recognition of the strategic approach we have taken to the international expansion of the business, as well as the ongoing popularity of the SPAR Brand across the globe. While the brand continues to go from strength-to-strength in our traditional European marketplaces, the last 10 years has seen SPAR also become the partner of choice for leading independent retail operators in new and emerging markets. Our focus on the SPAR Brand values of freshness, choice, value and service, combined with best in class retail innovation, has resonated strongly with modern consumers from Ireland to Indonesia.
“The nomination represents a significant vote of confidence in our multi-format strategy which has allowed our retail partners to adapt the brand to suit their needs, as well as the needs of their customers – from SPAR convenience stores in diverse high traffic locations through to full service SPAR Hypermarkets. It also represents recognition for our partners who drive the success of the brand at both regional and country levels.”
Despite the worldwide recession which has impacted the retail industry over the last years, SPAR has experienced double-digit growth in global retail turnover during that period. In 2014 alone, SPAR entered 10 new territories, opening stores in Asia (Indonesia and India), Africa (Angola and Malawi), Eastern Europe (Georgia), as well as adding new partners in Russia and China. In the first half of 2015, SPAR has entered Azerbaijan and continued its rapid expansion in India and Indonesia.
The overall winner of the WRC Retailer of the Year Award will be announced at a gala dinner in Rome on September 10th.
SOURCE: SPAR International