More SPAR stores to come to Ukraine

Dutch retailer SPAR International and business conglomerate VolWest Group have announced ambitious plans to open 50 SPAR stores in Ukraine over the next three years. The announcement came at the official opening of the first SPAR store in the town of Rivne in western Ukraine. The opening of the local convenience store created 20 new jobs.

SPAR was launched in Ukraine in 2001, when the first supermarket opened under licence. Since then, independent retailers have continued to bring the brand to local consumers in a number of cities, with a total of 15 SPAR supermarkets in operation at the end of 2016.

VolWest Group operates over 200 NASH KRAJ supermarkets across Ukraine and today is the third biggest supermarket chain in the country with stores in 19 regions. It plans to open an additional 15 SPAR stores by the end of 2017 and has embraced the dynamic range of SPAR formats, planning a combination of neighbourhood convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets to be tailored to the needs and requirements of customers in each location.

The store in Rivne embodies many of the SPAR values, wherein 90% of products in the new store are sourced from Ukrainian manufacturers and producers. The store also offers great value by stocking a wide variety of private label products from international and Ukrainian producers.

All the employees of the store were trained to use new retail technology and adhere to SPAR International’s high standards in customer service.

“SPAR International worked closely with VolWest to ensure the store development and design represented international best practice and that VolWest Group shared SPAR’s commitment to freshness, quality, choice and excellence in customer service which it shares with partners in 44 countries all over the world. We are very excited to be working with VolWest and are confident this partnership will deliver value for SPAR, VolWest and our customers,” says Tobias Wasmuht, managing director, SPAR International

Prior to the announcement, VolWest Group/SPAR Ukraine Corp. Ltd. worked closely with SPAR Hungary, visiting stores and gaining expertise and insights into SPAR International’s store formats, logistics and supply chain.

“SPAR and VolWest share many key values such as a commitment to local suppliers, supporting communities and offering diverse retail solutions. We are delighted to be embarking on this exciting expansion with SPAR International. These expansion plans are a key part of our broader strategic plans for future growth and development,” adds Serhiy Shavlukhevich, managing director of SPAR Ukraine Corp. Ltd.

The next store will be in the new SPAR Express format and will be opening in Ternopil in the coming months.