SPAR posts global sales growth of 4.35%
SPAR International has increased its full year retail sales by 4.35% to €37.1 billion.
By the end of 2019, the food retailer had 13,320 SPAR branded stores in 48 markets in four continents, which was an increase of 208 on the previous year.
During the period, SPAR expanded into the new markets of Kosovo and Armenia as part of plans to strengthen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, SPAR India expanded into several regional and provincial cities, particularly in the south of the country.
Meanwhile, the retailer’s Middle East region was boosted by a strong performance by SPAR Saudi Arabia, where 57% year-on-year growth was driven by increased footfall in existing stores and the launch of smaller format SPAR and SPAR Express stores.
Tobias Wasmuht, chief executive of SPAR International, said: “In the face of intensified international competition, the SPAR brand has again delivered exceptional results. A common trend across many of our markets in 2019 was the outperformance of the SPAR brand versus key local and global competitors.
“The strength of our international network and growth in our distribution and supply chain operations have delivered significant competitive advantages for our stores and retailers, allowing agility and a speed of response to changing consumer and market trends.”
