Additionally, SPAR takes responsibility for transporting apples from Valleseco to its fruit and vegetable division in Mercalaspalmas. The produce is then distributed to 196 SPAR outlets across the island’s 21 municipalities. The Reineta is a popular green speckled apple – a pippin variety – known for its irregular size and shape and sour-sweet succulent taste. It can be eaten fresh and is popular for use in apple pies.

The 2023 sales exceeded initial forecasts at 10,800kg, which is 2,800kg over the original projection. Compared to the previous year, the 2023 harvest saw a 12% increase in fruit sales.

SPAR Gran Canaria maintains its commitment to purchasing local, sustainable produce through direct collaboration with over 200 island farmers and stockbreeders.

Source: SPAR Gran Canaria

Read more about SPAR Spain

About SPAR Spain

SPAR Spain was founded in 1959 when a group of wholesalers who wished to join an international organisation came together. As a result, the brand became the first voluntary trading chain to be established in Spain, having been granted a license by SPAR International. Together, 13 regional SPAR wholesalers actively continue the expansion of the brand across the country.

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The recently renovated and extended EUROSPAR Supermarket Brixlegg boasts a 1,000m² sales area, creating an inviting shopping experience. The strategically located store places an emphasis on regional food and sustainability. There is a market-style fresh area plus a wide range of products available, including SPAR own brands. The friendly team of 40 members and three apprentices meet customers needs.  Local treats enhance the shopping experience, comprising locally sourced specialties well known to customers. The EUROSPAR Supermarket in Brixlegg has contemporary architecture, integrated energy-efficient equipment, and ample parking facilities plus four e-charging stations for convenient and sustainable mobility in the Tyrolean lowlands.

SPAR Neutorstrasse, Salzburg

Atdhetar Rama, 32, with 16 years of experience in the food retail sector, assumed management of the 500m² SPAR supermarket on Neutorstrasse in Salzburg-Riedenburg in December. Rama recently completed a multi-month trainee programme to become an independent SPAR entrepreneur. Starting as an apprentice at a SPAR store in Itzling, he progressed to store manager at a EUROSPAR Supermarket in Herrnau in 2015 before managing another large supermarket. Rama focuses on providing an extensive delicatessen and fresh meat department, along with a commitment to first-class customer service. This SPAR store meets the needs of Riedenburg residents, the old town, commuters, and students.

Patricia Sepetavc, Managing Director of SPAR Salzburg and Tyrol, was delighted with the opening of the modern and eco-friendly EUROSPAR Supermarket in Brixlegg. She welcomed Atdhetar Rama becoming an independent retailer, highlighting his leadership skills and positive approach with employees and customers.

Source: SPAR Austria

Read more about SPAR Austria

About SPAR Austria

The origins of SPAR in Austria date back to 1954, but the current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company. With licences granted by SPAR International, ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) has developed the brand in Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy.

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SPAR Gran Canaria has for 11 years been in partnership with local farmers in the Telde region. This partnership was recently renewed and will see SPAR continue to promote Telde oranges through its store network. SPAR Gran Canaria expects to sell approximately 258,000 kilos of Telde oranges, marketed under the ‘La Cosecha Canaria de SPAR’ icon. The oranges will be available at 21 SPAR stores in Telde from early December 2023 to the end of January 2024. Should the harvest exceed expectations, SPAR Gran Canaria has committed to extending sales to stores in other municipalities. This ensures that farmers can sell their entire crop of oranges.

Potato farmers supported

SPAR Gran Canaria also renewed the agreement to promote the production and marketing of quality local potatoes on the island of Gran Canaria. Approximately 75,000 kilos of seeds was distributed among the 10 potato farmers included in this 14th agreement. The pre-financing of the seeds which are necessary for the cultivation of quality potatoes is a unique aspect of this agreement.

SPAR Gran Canaria commits to delivering to farmers 75,000 kilos of potato seeds. The seeds will result in an approximate production of 1 million kilos of potatoes, which will likely be available next year between the months of April and September. Through this agreement, farmers have the guarantee that SPAR Gran Canaria will buy 100% of their crop at fair prices.

Local sourcing

For 37 years, SPAR Gran Canaria has played a crucial role in safeguarding the island’s agricultural heritage through its dedication to and support of local growers. Through these enduring commitments, SPAR also continues to provide its customers with a reliable source of fresh, high-quality, locally-produced goods.

Source: SPAR Spain.

Read more about SPAR Spain.

About SPAR Spain

SPAR Spain was founded in 1959 when a group of wholesalers who wished to join an international organisation came together. As a result, the brand became the first voluntary trading chain to be established in Spain, having been granted a license by SPAR International. Together, 13 regional SPAR wholesalers actively continue the expansion of the brand across the country.

The post SPAR Gran Canaria renews commitment to local farmers appeared first on SPAR International.

SPAR Hungary promoted producers through its ‘Regional Treasures’ and ‘Hungaricool’ programmes. Both initiatives enable suppliers to expand their partnership networks while acquiring essential professional skills.

The fourth season of the ‘Hungaricool’ competition resulted in nine winning brands and 37 products entering the market. The initiative’s goal is to strengthen the local economy by helping local small-scale suppliers and providing customers with new, quality products that are made locally. 179 businesses entered last season’s competition, offering a total of 301 products. The production and sales of the new products create jobs for hundreds of employees, including for downstream suppliers.

Another initiative of SPAR Hungary, the Regional Treasures programme, has led to over 400 products from 86 local suppliers being available in stores across the country.

Fostering entrepreneurship

SPAR Croatia launched its fourth season of the ‘Start Croatia’ project, which supports local entrepreneurs offering “Made in Croatia” products. This socially responsible project empowers new entrepreneurs by showcasing unique products, highlighting their commitment and challenges, while offering them nationwide distribution opportunities which enhance their brand-building efforts.

This is only one way SPAR Croatia supports local producers. Over 77% of the total food range in SPAR and INTERSPAR stores in Croatia comes from domestic suppliers. These are marketed in various ways, highlighting ‘yes it’s homemade’ where appropriate and ‘Gardens of Croatia’ for fresh produce. More recently, in collaboration with producers of SPAR Own Brand products, exports of goods to neighbouring markets through SPAR led to over €143 million in sales being generated.

Another country we want to highlight that strongly supports local producers is Slovenia, where the ‘StartItUp, Slovenia!’ campaign initiated by SPAR in 2016 has seen over 200 new products developed by 52 participating teams. This not only has supported employment by growing small-scale producers but also enabled creative solutions to enter the formal retail market.

Sources: SPAR Slovenia, SPAR Croatia, and SPAR Hungary.

Read more about sourcing within SPAR here.

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The Regional Treasure communication campaign was launched in 2021 with the aim of bringing Hungarian small producers and consumers closer together. SPAR Hungary fosters local sourcing by offering high-quality products sourced from local family enterprises. This results in shorter supply chains and generates fewer environmental pressures from transportation. As an additional benefit, the programme creates jobs in small regions, with more than 600 people currently employed through partnerships with local business. The initiative also helped many of the businesses to reach foreign markets through mentoring and collaborative work with SPAR Hungary.

Product range in stores

The Regional Treasures programme sees more than 400 products from 86 local suppliers available in stores across the country. The assortment is constantly renewed to offer a wide range of products in different categories. There are 56 products available in the 13 SPAR Supermarkets and 7 INTERSPAR Hypermarkets in and around Budapest. Feedback from the past two years showed that consumers like these unique, typically small-batch, food products. Items featuring the ‘red apple’ logo are easily recognised by customers.

SPAR Hungary’s support for local producers encourages local development, creating opportunities for businesses to showcase products to a wider audience.

Source: SPAR Hungary

Read more about SPAR Hungary

About SPAR Hungary

The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992, following the acquisition by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) of a majority stake in General Kereskedelmi Rt. SPAR Hungary is one of the country’s largest employers, with a network of company-owned and independently run stores operating nationwide.

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This year, a record 8 candidates were introduced in an INTERSPAR Hypermarket. This socially responsible project empowers new entrepreneurs through showcasing their unique products, highlighting their commitment and challenges, while offering them nationwide distribution opportunities which enhance their brand-building efforts.

This year’s finalists feature eight innovative Croatian products from different regions that include Daš Pops (frozen fruit dessert), Tabay (four sous vide meat products), Pepas (hand-drawn strudels), Azena (natural creams with a rich family tradition), Barun (ready-made bread mixtures), Pepefiš (Mediterranean-style fish products), OPG Lenac (unique BIO noodles from dried pumpkin), and All Sweet (caramelized hazelnuts).

Television series

Finalists will showcase their products and stories on the Nova TV aired series, creating greater awareness with consumers. “Start Croatia” Season 4 begins on October 8, comprising 11 episodes, with the final winning product to be announced in December.

Source: SPAR Croatia

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About SPAR Croatia

A licence agreement was granted to ASPIAG (Austrian SPAR International AG) by SPAR International in 2004. Brand development has primarily taken place through SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets, both through the take-over of existing chains and investment in new stores.  SPAR Croatia has a strong local sourcing programme and offers selected local entrepreneurs access to the formal market.

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Supporting domestic products

SPAR Hungary is committed to supporting local small businesses to sell products across their store network. One great initiative is the Hungaricool competition, organised for the fourth time in 2022, for which applicants can enter high-quality, newly-developed products manufactured in Hungary. The Regions of Treasures programme, launched in 2021, also improves market access for small-scale Hungarian producers. An additional benefit are the six SPAR distribution centres located across the country, reducing shipping distances for suppliers.

Reducing plastic and food waste

In the second half of 2022, SPAR Hungary phased out single-use plastic bags from its fruit and vegetable departments. Since August 2022, only biodegradable bags are available to customers, reducing the amount of plastic by 450 tonnes per year.

SPAR is also committed to reducing food waste. In partnership with the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, the retailer donates food items that have reached their expiration date. Between September and December 2022, 11 stores contributed over 32,000 kg of food to this charitable cause.

From November 2022, 21 test stores started working with the Hungarian Munch food-saving app, offering discounted prices on products nearing their expiration dates, thus helping prevent unnecessary food waste. The trial has proved successful, saving nearly 10,000 kg of food during its first two months (November and December).

2022 key achievements

• Energy use dropped by over 3%, aided by photovoltaic panel installation.
• Waste reduced by 2,200 tonnes (6.4%) compared to 2021.
• Expanded used cooking oil collection points.
• 450 tonnes less plastic annually in F&V departments and bakeries.
• Reduction of plastic use by 84 tonnes annually due to new logistics packaging.
• Addition of health-focused and ‘free from’ products.
• 90% of employees engaged in 2022 job satisfaction survey.
• Employee training hours increased by 20%.
• Donated €630,000 to charitable causes.
• “Joy to Give!” Christmas campaign aided 19,500 families.
• Pet food collection gathered 12,000 kg of dry pet food and 11,000 cans/pouches.

Read more on SPAR Hungary’s sustainability initiatives.

Read more about SPAR Hungary.

About SPAR Hungary

The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992, following the acquisition by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) of a majority stake in General Kereskedelmi Rt. SPAR Hungary is one of the country’s largest employers, with a network of company-owned and independently run stores operating nationwide.

The post SPAR Hungary’s inaugural Sustainability Report issued appeared first on SPAR International.

One innovation is the collaboration with the Budapest Metropolitan University to offer the SPAR Supplier Academy as part of its curriculum. Over a period of six months, university students had a unique opportunity to address real-life marketing issues faced by 16 small-scale suppliers.

SPAR Hungary’s Supplier Academy is committed to supporting Hungarian food producers and enterprises. As an extension of their programmes, suppliers from both the Hungaricool and Regional Treasures initiatives were able to obtain expert marketing advice from the students at Budapest Metropolitan University. Each applicant presented the marketing challenges and issues they were encountering in their respective companies.

Empowering entrepreneurs

The collaboration empowered participating enterprises to grow and provided students with invaluable practical experience, further enhancing their skills and competencies. The entrepreneurs were delighted to engage young talents with fresh perspectives in their decision-making processes. In turn, the students appreciated the opportunity to work on practical, real-life tasks, which complemented their theoretical learning.

In the face of unprecedented challenges such as the pandemic, energy crisis, and inflation, Hungarian enterprises, particularly small businesses in the food industry, have faced significant obstacles in recent years. Recognising the importance of supporting domestic families and small food businesses, SPAR Hungary launched the Hungaricool product competition in 2019. Additionally, since 2021, the Regional Treasures programme has been connecting shoppers at SPAR with products from domestic small-scale producers.

Enterprise survey

To understand the needs of businesses participating in these programmes amid the current economic climate, SPAR Hungary conducted a survey. The results revealed that 76% of respondents identified the importance of learning effective negotiating skills while staying competitive (64%) and developing price strategies (64%) were equally significant. Furthermore, 60% emphasized the role of brand communication during economic recessions, and 40% sought knowledge on expanding their customer base. Trade events were also valued for practical knowledge, networking opportunities, and exposure to current trends.

Marketing Bootcamp

To address these needs and challenges, SPAR Hungary offers suppliers access to a SPAR Marketing Bootcamp. The 2023 event attracted over 100 suppliers, providing them with diverse professional training sessions and insightful discussions on navigating the uncertain economic landscape.

Attila Tollas, SPAR Hungary’s Regional Procurement Team Manager and a speaker at the SPAR Marketing Bootcamp, stated, “During the Bootcamp, we focused on reflecting on the economic situation, with several presentations dedicated to this topic. Additionally, we delved into all four aspects of the traditional marketing mix, as we recognised the demand for comprehensive knowledge in this area.”

The two-day event creates a platform where suppliers can connect, share experiences, and find solutions to common problems. The positive feedback SPAR Hungary received indicates that the retail company is moving in the right direction.

Participants praised the SPAR Marketing Bootcamp which offers tailored marketing, strategy, and communication materials for the food industry, provided by SPAR and invited experts. The networking opportunities are considered particularly invaluable, building connections with fellow entrepreneurs.

Source: SPAR Hungary

Read more about SPAR Hungary.

About SPAR Hungary

The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992, following the acquisition by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) of a majority stake in General Kereskedelmi Rt. SPAR Hungary is one of the country’s largest employers, with a network of company-owned and independently-run stores operating nationwide.

The post SPAR Hungary Supplier Academy supports small domestic enterprises appeared first on SPAR International.

Committed to supporting the primary sector

Throughout its 37 years of history, SPAR Gran Canaria has promoted and protected local produce through the renewal of important agreements such as the La Aldea tomato agreement, which was renewed for the third consecutive year last March. In addition, they have in place an agreement to purchase potatoes which will be in its 14th edition this year. For fruits, there is the Telde orange agreement, which will be signed for the 11th consecutive year; and the Valleseco apple agreement, which was signed last year.

Likewise, SPAR Gran Canaria celebrates the close relationship it maintains with more than 200 farmers and stockbreeders, working hand in hand with them to promote the consumption of local produce. With the support of SPAR, local farmers cultivate their land with guaranteed sales of their crops. This support is a further exercise in sustainability, commitment and responsibility towards the Canary Islands.

Healthy eating workshops for children

SPAR Gran Canaria also contributed two gastronomic exhibitions and the organisation of the now traditional children’s workshops. Furthermore, it was the official food supplier for all these workshops. The activity brought the youngest visitors closer to healthy eating based on the consumption of seasonal fruit.  One of the workshops was held together with 20 families from the Mi Hijo y Yo Association, which supports families whose children have Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Autistic Spectrum Disorder.  On this occasion,  Aurora Ruíz, the winner of the eighth edition of Masterchef Junior, accompanied by Alejandro de la Nuez, executive chef at the Santa Mónica Suites, were in charge of the workshops.

Tastings and gastronomic exhibitions

The retail chain hosted several tastings of local products on Saturday and Sunday. SPAR Gran Canaria also sponsored two cooking shows led by chef Lolo Román and featured the preparation of delicacies with produce and ingredients from the islands.

Source: SPAR Spain

Read more about SPAR in Spain

About SPAR Spain

SPAR Spain was founded in 1959 when a group of wholesalers who wished to join an international organisation came together. As a result, the brand became the first voluntary trading chain to be established in Spain.

The head office is in Barcelona. It provides buying, marketing, communications, and brand support to the 13 regional partners. Together, the SPAR operators actively continue the expansion of the brand across the country.

The post SPAR Gran Canaria promotes local produce at Me Gusta Fair appeared first on SPAR International.

Data revealed that Slovenians also prefer traditional Slavonic products of the DOBRO brand marketed by Žito d.o.o, while Italians opt for Croatian cod and Zigante truffles. Among the smaller producers, Gatarić Group, a leader in the production and distribution of office and school materials, as well as Vimi lip balm and New Bakery, the largest European baklava factory from Donji Stupnik, stood out.

“We are glad that in addition to large domestic manufacturers such as Podravka and Atlantic, more and more medium-sized and even small companies are achieving significant growth through the SPAR sales network”, said Helmut Fenzl, President of SPAR Croatia’s Management Board.

Strong support for local manufacturers

SPAR Croatia supports local producers in a variety of ways, including providing access to the formal market through its annual incentive programme called ‘Start it Up Croatia’. The third edition was held last year, and at that time Helmut Fenzl commented: “I am extremely proud that even in these challenging times for retailers and manufacturers, we continue with this project. ‘Start it Up Croatia’ attracts an increasing number of small, domestic, manufacturers who create high-quality and innovative products.”

Over 77% of the total food range in  SPAR and INTERSPAR stores in Croatia comes from domestic suppliers. SPAR Croatia’s campaign Yes, it’s homemade! brings together manufacturers from all over Croatia and helps them market their products throughout the country and in the foreign markets in which the organisation operates.

SPAR Croatia also has existing cooperations with a large number of domestic suppliers, promoting domestic products. The products, such as beans, apples, garlic, cauliflower, and broccoli, are sold under SPAR Croatia’s popular Own Brand ‘Gardens of Croatia’. These domestic products are available in all SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets nationwide.

Source: SPAR Croatia

Read more news from SPAR Croatia.

About SPAR Croatia

SPAR Croatia started in 2005 with the first INTERSPAR Hypermarket in the Dalmatian coast city of Zadar. The company has continued to grow, with the development of stores and several company acquisitions. SPAR Croatia ended 2021 with 125 stores and grew their retail sales by 8.1% to €792.6 million.

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