The SPAR Express format is designed
to meet consumers' needs for daily, stock up, impulse and emergency
purchases.
The high convenience format is
particularly successful in transient and high footfall locations
such as forecourts, airports, railway station and city centres. SPAR UK and SPAR Ireland have a long
established core competence in the convenience sector. Today some
11 countries operate 650 SPAR Express stores.
SPAR UK with 2,500 stores at an
average store size of 143m2 continues to receive
national and international recognition particularly in the
petroleum and forecourt retailing sector. Operating 500 plus
forecourt stores, these international award winning stores have
provided a great basis for the transfer of knowledge and experience
to SPAR country organisations.
Success in convenience retailing
also underpinned the success of SPAR Ireland where the SPAR Express
format was piloted as a dedicated format for the petrol forecourt
market. Today there are 66 SPAR Express stores operating in Ireland
in petrol forecourt locations owned by independent retail
operators.
SPAR Germany has focused on the
convenience sector with the SPAR Express format and today operates
some 340 stores primarily in partnership with one forecourt
operator. SPAR Austria has also rolled out the SPAR
Express format with a forecourt operator and currently operates 28
stores under this retail brand.
While the SPAR Express concept
differs from country to country in terms of store size, product
range, and pricing policy there are a number of common
features.
More recently the format has
extended across Europe, notably in Germany, Austria and Belgium. SPAR International has also
successfully introduced the concept into new countries.
Worldwide, SPAR Express convenience
stores are also prospering with growth in store numbers being
achieved with the format in Australia, Russia and Ukraine.
In the last year we have seen the
emergence of the SPAR Express format in Africa and Asia
with the first stores opening in Zimbabwe and China.
With a growing urbanised consumer
class in these developing markets the future potential for
convenience and SPAR Express is excellent.
The SPAR Express format continues
to expand in more and more countries worldwide. The SPAR Express
format was introduced to Switzerland in 2011 with the opening of
the first store which was integrated into an Avia branded forecourt
location. SPAR Switzerland also plans to expand with the format in
high footfall location in city centres.
Read more about the four SPAR retail formats.
Success Stories: Rapid roll-out of SPAR
Express in Austria
SPAR
Austria launched SPAR Express in 2009, originally in 6 stores
throughout the country in co-operation with the Doppler Group, one
of Austria's largest petroleum operators. The initial test stores
have seen dramatic sales increases and have surpassed their
expectations. By the end of 2011, 28 stores were operational and
expansion is on target to increase numbers to over 70 sites by
2013. In research published by a leading business weekly in
Austria, SPAR Express ranks highest in the country for image and
value leadership.
The modern store
design combined with an assortment of 1500 products, including
offering a range of freshly baked breads, regional fruit and
vegetables has been well received by customers.
Open 7 days a week the
stores provide customers the convenience to shop when they require
at supermarket prices. The extensive range of SPAR own brand
products provides outstanding value and SPAR Express is the price
leader in the Austrian Forecourt sector.