SPAR International to expand presence in India
Food retailer SPAR International has unveiled plans to grow its presence in India with the opening of 25 SPAR hypermarket stores.
Netherlands-based SPAR said the openings will increase its current workforce of 2,500 across the country to 3,300 by the end of 2017.
The announcement was made during a visit by the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, together with a high-level Dutch trade delegation, to a SPAR hypermarket in New Delhi.
SPAR International re-entered the Indian market last August following the signing of a partnership agreement with Max Hypermarkets. The partnership has already re-launched 16 SPAR hypermarkets and plans to open an additional four stores in 2015.
The company recently reported 2014 global retail sales of €31.9 billion from 12,300 stores in 40 countries.
Gordon Campbell, SPAR International managing director, said: “Our growth and success in India provides an ideal case study for the suitability of the SPAR model in emerging markets. Where other global brands have struggled to gain traction, SPAR’s brand values and offering, global expertise and partnership model, have brought immediate benefits for retailer, supplier and, ultimately, the consumer.”