SPAR Scotland raises the bar

The SPAR Scotland annual tradeshow and conference, the premium event for the convenience retail industry in Scotland has concluded its highly successful 2024 annual gathering. The event, held in Aviemore on September 26th, 2024, saw more than 800 attendees including over 200 suppliers, highlight the ingenuity and adaptability of the Scottish convenience retail sector over the past year.

Led by SPAR Scotland Chief Executive Officer Colin McLean, the event brought together store colleagues, industry leaders, suppliers, and colleagues from SPAR across the UK and internationally. This year’s conference offered delegates insight into successes of the last 12 months including retail technological innovations, best practices, store acquisitions and investments and the delivery emerging trends in SPAR stores.

A highlight of the event was the SPAR Scotland Awards, where numerous SPAR stores, retailers and individuals were recognised for being exceptional throughout the year.

CEO Colin McLean said: “We have delivered robust growth over the last 12 months and delivered another year of record sales and profits, but looking ahead the outlook presents challenges that we must be prepared for.

“Rising operational costs, inflationary pressures, changing consumer habits, and supply chain unpredictability are critical factors that will shape the year ahead.

“Yet despite these pressures, we have shown incredible resilience and innovation, and as a symbol group we are committed to working even harder to remain agile and proactive in addressing these issues.”

The recent transformation of SPAR Scotland has put the business in great shape to face any challenge that lies ahead. Supported by its strong leadership team, the company is about to embark on the second phase of its project “take SPAR Scotland back to where it belongs,” as McLean said.

“We have done an excellent job, but we cannot rest on our laurels. As our journey continues, we will stick to our plan and keep doing what we do - serving the Scottish market with the best of SPAR.”

In addition to the acquisition of nine Scotfresh stores and three Eddy’s Food Station stores, the business is now focused on consolidation and improving existing sites.

McLean explained: “We have an ambitious programme in place that includes adding digital ESELs to all stores, a busy schedule of major store refits, the rolling out of our Barista Bar coffee offer and the new addition of the latest version of our food-to-go offer into more stores. This follows its successful trial in our SPAR Garthamlock store. “

In the background, the business has also made a big investment into a fleet of vehicles, equipment, and systems and processes. Relex Solutions is delivering integrated store and distribution centre forecasting and replenishment as well as providing improved allocations, promotional estimating, order accuracy and forecast sharing.

SPAR Scotland also continues to invest in a programme of marketing, advertising, and digital campaigns. So far this year activities have included big TV budget advertising on STV, a huge digital campaign Win with Every Goal with fellow SPAR distributer James Hall & Co, and an ongoing high-profile partnership with the Scottish FA.

“These initiatives have awarded us with a number of highly acclaimed industry awards, which we are proud of, but as we move into 2025, we do so with cautious optimism. SPAR has proven repeatedly that we can overcome challenges: through collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning, to ensure continued success and growth. We aim to reinforce that spirit and look forward to what the future holds,” concluded McLean.

Supporting local charities and groups is incredibly important to SPAR Scotland, with their stores operating in the heart of communities across the country. ‘You’re not just our customers, you’re our neighbours’, is a motto within the Dundee based company, and over the last 12 months a staggering £165,957 has been donated to a substantial number of local charities, schools, groups, and organisations around the country. And Aviemore was no exception where Aviemore & Glenmore Community Trust and Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team charities each received a donation of £2,000. The tradeshow also sees SPAR’s national charity partner Marie Curie and industry charity GroceryAid receive a donation of £3,000 each.

Paula Middleton, Head of Marketing for CJ Lang & Son Ltd, added; “Giving back to charities and groups across Scotland is what we do and Aviemore is no exception.We have made Aviemore our tradeshow home and we wanted to be able to support two local organisations with this donation.”

The SPAR Scotland annual trade show and conference will be back again in Aviemore on 25th September 2025 and will continue to provide a valuable resource and networking opportunity to forward thinking independent SPAR retailers, store managers and suppliers operating in the Scottish convenience market.

Anyone interested in attending the 2025 SPAR Scotland Tradeshow should contact the SPAR Scotland Marketing team on 01382 512000.