A year of constant evolution has seen Spar Scotland continue to improve its offer and further cement its position as the country’s leading symbol group. Let’s take a look back at some of the many highlights…
September 2023
Spar Scotland tradeshow drives its transformation journey
Thursday 28 September saw the year’s biggest retail event in Scotland take place. Over 870 delegates attended Spar Scotland’s annual tradeshow and conference in Aviemore, which was supported by over 200 FMCG suppliers exhibiting on the day.
October 2023
CJ Lang & Son appoints new Company Owned Store Director
CJ Lang & Son announced that Frank McCarron will join as Company Owned Store Director in January 2024.
McCarron has helped build a number of major businesses and brings with him a wealth of retail operations experience, having worked in the food retail sector for over 35 years.
His most recent position was Senior Regional Business Manager with Scotmid. He previously held the position of Area Manager with Botterill’s convenience stores and prior to that worked in several retail operations roles.
Spar Freuchie relaunches with donations made to local community groups
Freuchie is situated in the heart of a farming area in Fife, 30 miles north of Edinburgh, and the Spar store in the village hosted a fun launch day on Wednesday 11 October for local shoppers to enjoy.
The 2,203sq ft company-owned store invited locals to attend a launch party to celebrate the store refit.
CJ Lang & Son announce acquisition of ScotFresh Stores
CJ Lang & Son announced the acquisition of Glasgow-based convenience chain ScotFresh Group.
ScotFresh was an award-winning independent retail operation based in Glasgow and the Scottish central belt. The acquisition saw the nine ScotFresh-branded stores and 130 colleagues move over to be supported by CJ Lang & Son.
November 2023
Spar shines in Erskine
Residents in the town of Erskine in Scotland benefited from a refurbished Spar store, which was officially relaunched by Gavin Newlands MP on Friday 24 November 2023.
The 2,891sq ft Spar store was fully refitted and boasts an improved range of fresh foods and food to go, plus energy efficient refrigeration, new shelving, flooring, ceiling, lighting, and graphics.
Spar Scotland donates £165,000 to Scottish charities
C J Lang & Son announced it had given away £165,000 to hundreds of local charities and good causes around Scotland during 2023.
Almost 300 Scottish organisations, groups and charities benefited from a charitable donation, including Langlee Carnival, Kirrie Thistle CFC Girls U14s football team, Dundee Pride and many more.
Spar Scotland celebrates record year with Healthy Living Programme
Spar Scotland celebrated a record-breaking year with SGF’s Healthy Living Programme (HLP), delivering 19 events. These saw HLP speak to and engage with more than 2,000 primary school pupils in Spar stores around the country during 2023.
December 2023
Christmas comes early to Spar Crosshouse
Spar Scotland’s award-winning Spar Market store situated in the small village of Crosshouse in East Ayrshire, hosted a Christmas party for residents on Friday 1 December, featuring a surprise visit from Santa.
Daniall Nadeem joins the Spar family
Leading independent retailer Daniall Nadeem, who owns a convenience store on Motherwell Road in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, switched to Spar after five years with Nisa.
The 2,500sq ft Spar store is situated on the grounds of a former pub and offers several services including Lottery, hot food, Snappy Shopper home delivery and a free-to-use ATM.
Spar Scotland becomes official supporter of the World Athletics Indoor Championships
Spar Scotland was announced as an Official Event Supporter of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, which took place in Glasgow from 1 – 3 March 2024.
The championships saw more than 700 competitors from around 130 countries take part, competing in 26 events.
David Sands elected Vice-Chair of Spar Scottish Guild
Leading independent retailer David Sands was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Scottish Guild and has since represented Scottish retailers on the National Guild Board of Spar.
David replaced independent Spar retailer Saleem Sadiq who had served as the Scottish Guild Board Director since 2016.
January 2024
Lorry livery celebrates World Athletics Indoor Championships
Spar Scotland celebrated its role as an official event supporter of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships by rebranding two of its delivery vehicles with bespoke livery.
Spar Scotland and Rollover Hotdogs donate £5,000 to Marie Curie
Following a hugely successful promotion with Rollover Hotdogs in 80 Spar Scotland company-owned stores during December 2023, £5,000 was donated to Spar’s national charity partner, Marie Curie, on 10 January.
Shoppers flock to Pinkie Farm’s new Barista Bar
Pinkie Farm Spar in Musselburgh, East Lothian, revealed 100% growth in coffee sales after becoming the first independent Spar store in Scotland to install the premium coffee-to-go brand, Barista Bar.
The concept, which was developed by Henderson Foodservice, part of the Henderson Group, expanded into Scotland with an exclusive £2.5m distribution deal with CJ Lang & Son.
February 2024
Barista Bar coffee arrives in Spar Halbeath
Spar Scotland announced the grand opening of two Barista Bar coffee units at company-owned store, Spar Halbeath, in Dunfermline on 27 February 2024.
Spar Garthamlock celebrates launch of World Athletics Indoor Championships
To celebrate the start of the launch festivities of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Spar Garthamlock held a party on 20 February.
Scottish athlete, Eilidh Doyle, joined in the activities on the day and was surprised with a birthday cake from the store team, delivered by one of Spar Scotland’s newly designed liveried lorries to promote the world sporting event.
Spar Kincorth welcomes the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup
Following the announcement last year of the extension of Spar Scotland’s four-year partnership with the Scottish Football Association (Scottish FA), the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup visited Spar Kincorth, Aberdeen, on 1 February.
The cup’s presence was accompanied by Area Manager Garry Brailsford playing the bagpipes.
March 2024
Winners of 2024 Spar Future Stars Cup celebrate
Spar Scotland’s festival of football for Scottish school girls, called Spar Future Stars, took place at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on 27 March.
The overall winning schools, St Ninians High School and Ross High School, were presented with the Spar Future Stars Cup for their respective age groups.
Saleem Sadiq celebrates Renfrew store’s 30 years with Spar
Award-winning independent retailer Saleem Sadiq celebrated his Renfrew shop’s 30th anniversary with Spar by holding an in-store party on 22 March.
Having moved to the UK from Pakistan in the 1960s speaking almost no English, Saleem went on to graduate from the University of Glasgow before joining the family retail business.
Saleem said: “It has been a journey over the decades, and it will hopefully not end with me – the next generation is already knocking on the door! Waseem, one of my sons, has already joined the family business and he hopes to carry the Spar name on within our family convenience business well into the next 40 years!”
Colin McLean, CEO of Spar Scotland added: “Congratulations to Saleem, the Sadiq family and all the staff and customers of Spar Renfrew. Local retailing is at the heart of everything they do, and we wish Saleem continued success with his business – both in this generation and the next.”
CJ Lang welcomes new Finance Director
Chris Boyle took on the role of Finance Director at CJ Lang on 20 March.
He joined the company from United Wholesale Scotland where he held the position of Finance Director. Prior to this Boyle held a variety of Finance positions within retailers M&Co and Botterills Convenience Stores. He brought with him a wealth of experience in convenience retail and has a deep understanding of the sector.
April 2024
CJ Lang & Son acquires three stores
CJ Lang & Son announced the acquisition of three prominent convenience stores, which previously traded as Eddy’s Food Station stores. Located in Larbert, Greenock and Leuchars, the stores have been fixtures in their respective communities for years.
Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang & Son , said: “We are happy to welcome these three convenience stores into the Spar Scotland family, following the sad news of its previous owner recently entering into administration.
“We recognise the challenges facing many convenience store operators face at the moment, but we are pleased we have been able to work quickly to secure the future of these stores and the store staff involved.”
May 2024
Pinkie Farm celebrates 10th birthday
Pinkie Farm Convenience Store, which is part of the David Sands Group, proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary on 31 May.
Over the past decade, the Musselburgh-based convenience store, has been serving its local community by providing exceptional customer service, high quality products, excellent store standards and a welcoming atmosphere.
Run by Dan Brown and partner, Nicole, the store changed supplier to Spar Scotland in 2022.
Brian Straiton, Independent Sales Director at Spar Scotland, said: “Our partnership with Pinkie Farm is very important to us and to show our appreciation for the positive impact the team continue to make in Musselburgh, we provided the store and the local community with a fun birthday party.
“Congratulations Spar Pinkie Farm – we are excited to work with you over the next decade and beyond.”
June 2024
Spar Scotland gets the party started at Garthamlock
Spar Garthamlock kicked off the school holidays in style with a fantastic Summer Party, featuring giveaways, discos and dancing. The store at 2 Redcastle Square celebrated the start of summer with a lively event on Friday 28 June.
Spar Scotland brews up a community celebration with Barista Bar
Spar Scotland marked an exciting milestone by transforming Spar Halbeath into a coffee lover’s paradise on 21 June.
In celebration of the successful rollout of Barista Bar in 20 company-owned stores, wholesaler CJ Lang & Son and Barista Bar treated customers to an array of festivities, including an hour of complimentary hot drinks across stores.
Spar Scotland kicks off the Euros with Colin Hendry
Former professional Scottish footballer Colin ‘Braveheart’ Hendry helped launch Spar Scotland’s Win With Every Goal customer campaign at Spar Keith on Friday 7 June 2024.
The Scotland legend attended the store event along with colleagues from Spar Scotland to celebrate the campaign which was created to run alongside the Euros.
CJ Lang & Son strengthens executive team
The wholesaler boosted its executive team with the appointment of new Trading Director Della Myers. She joined CJ Lang on 3 June from Costcutter Supermarkets where she held the role of Trading Director for Convenience in Bestway Retail. Myers succeeded existing Trading Director Richard Collins, who is retiring.
July 2024
Spar Scotland wins Technology accolade at The Grocer Gold Awards
Spar Scotland scooped the Technology Initiative of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards 2024, held at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London on 2 July.
The group won the award for its rollout of an in-store digital innovation solution that includes discreet camera technology to help manage in-store ranges and availability.
August 2024
Spar Scotland’s Euro 2024 activity sees shoppers win big
Spar Scotland wholesaler CJ Lang & Son teamed up with Spar wholesaler for the North of England, James Hall & Co., for a hugely successful Win With Every Goal digital campaign, which saw 1.1 million instant rewards issued during the biggest football tournament of the year.
More than 750 Spar stores – and 80,000 customers – took part in the promotion and Kilmarnock Spar shopper Kenny Foster was awarded a grand prize of £10,000.
