SPAR sales soar – latest figures show the symbol group’s success – Ireland up 10%
Spar International, reported sales of €39.8 billion for the year ending 31 December 2020, representing a 7.4% increase in revenue at constant currency values.
Despite the challenges of operating through the Covid-19 pandemic, the majority of Spar countries reported strong growth. In 16 Western European markets, sales grew 12% to €25.48 billion (64% of Spar’s total turnover). Spar Austria had impressive revenue growth of 16% to record total sales of €8.3 billion, up €1.2 billion on 2019.
Spar Netherlands increased retail in 2020 by 23.5%. The turnover of Spar Italy and Spar Spain grew by 8.4% and 7.2%, respectively. The consistent theme of independent retailers excelling through the provision of neighbourhood retailing was seen through strong results in markets including Spar UK (12%), Spar Norway (12.5%), and Spar Ireland (+10%).
Continued expansion by the 11 Spar countries operating across Central and Eastern Europe was also observed, where like-for-like sales increased by 8.9% on 2019, with Spar Hungary reporting a sales growth of 9%. In Russia, the Spar brand continues to grow in strength and popularity with like-for-like sales of 6.8% driven by continued multi-format expansion. Spar Poland sales grew by 12% and has plans for significant expansion in 2021. Spar Slovenia and Spar Hungary’s results also highlighted both the critical role that multi-format retailers played throughout the last year with online sales growing by 150% and 250% respectively. Independently owned and operated stores now account for over 35% of Spar stores in Hungary.
Across Africa and the Middle East, the Spar brand deepened its presence in 15 countries and continued its growth trajectory with sales of €6.2 billion – a 2.8% increase on 2019. Spar South Africa reported sales of €5.22 billion. Other notable performers, in what have been sometimes tough trading conditions, were Spar Cameroon (+15%), Spar Mozambique (+14%), and Spar Zimbabwe (+9.55%). In the Middle East, Spar’s performance was characterised by exceptional sales growth for Spar Oman (+25%) and Spar Qatar (82.5%).The UAE remains Spar’s largest market in the region and grew by 2.1% in the year.
As the region that first had to contend with the true impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, SPAR in Asia Pacific produced a solid performance of 1.5% growth over the year and €1.88 billion in retail turnover. Spar China recorded retail sales of €1.55 billion and like-for-like annual sales growth of 7.9% in local currency. In Australia, Spar produced revenue growth of 16.5%, with proximity and neighbourhood retailing proving a popular and winning format as communities shopped increasingly local. Spar Pakistan and Spar Sri Lanka continued their growth momentum by 38% and 63%, respectively.