EXCLUSIVEBRANDSOURCING RETAILER/WHOLESALER ...

Percentage of Sales in Exclusive Brands: 12% (E)
Principal Business: This voluntary group of independent retailers operates “the world’s largest
retail food store chain,” consisting of 12,196 SPAR stores, in 33 countries across 5 continents.
Nine countries each have SPAR store sales in excess of € 1 billion and account for 76.8% of total
sales: Austria € 4.9 billion from 1,438 stores, Italy € 3.8 billion from 1,636 stores, South Africa €
3.8 billion (up 14%) with 803 stores, the United Kingdom € 3.2 billion with 2,577 stores, Hungary
€ 1.5 billion with 398 stores, Norway € 1.3 billion with 297 stores, Ireland € 1.2 billion with 456
stores, Denmark € 1.1 billion (+23%) with 531 stores, and Spain € 1.1 billion with 869 stores.
Each country operates independently via a choice of four store formats: SPAR local or
neighborhood stores (each from 200 to 1,000 square meters, emphasizing fresh foods),
EUROSPAR large supermarkets (1,000 to 3,000 square meters and up to 10% nonfood stock),
INTERSPAR hypermarkets (3,000+ square-meters for out-of-town shopping centers, featuring up
to 50% nonfood items), and SPAR Express convenience stores (100 to 200 square meters).
SPAR’s role at headquarters is to develop and coordinate the organization, including new country
development, retail development, marketing, operations support, conferences, publications, and
buying and trading services in both private label and A-brand products. SPAR operates BIGS
(Buying International Group Spar), a leading European buying group that negotiates with major
private label manufacturers as well as selected suppliers of international brands. SPAR
additionally operates IFAG, a collective buying warehouse and services--transport equipment,
computer support, shop-fitting equipment. SPAR’s IGT is a comprehensive trading service
focused on different products, mostly under the Spar brand.
EB Identities: SPAR (national marketing effort), International SPAR Brands (standard, premium,
organic, fair trade), S-Budget, Censa Fairtrade coffee
EB skus: 2,500+
Profile: In 2009, new store growth was especially strong with INTERSPAR hypermarkets (now
totaling 247 outlets) and EUROSPAR supermarkets. In 2008, the S-Budget brand was introduced
in Austria and has since spread to Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Croatia. It has
been called a “magic bullet” during the global financial crisis. S-Budget sales grew by 111% in
2009, totaling some 200 products. UPDATE: For 2011, Spar reported total sales up by 4.6% to €
31.1 billion, attributed in part to its success with multi-format stores. Spar, overseeing 13,600+
stores in 33 countries, moved into the Middle East, entering the United Arab Emirates and is
expected to open stores in Qatar, its 37th Spar country, in 2012. During the year, retail sales shot
upward by 70% to € 701 million in China and up by 22% to € 935 million in Russia. Spar
celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2012.
Procurement Contacts: Joop Elderhorst, International Buyer/Trading Manager
J SAINSBURY PLC
33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT UNITED KINGDOM