The New Face of SPAR!

LONDON, October 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

SPAR is trialling a fresh new era in store design, with the launch of an innovative and modern flagship store that paves the way in convenience excellence.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121022/568292 )

SPAR Penwortham in Lancashire, owned by entrepreneurial family business Lawrence Hunt & Co Ltd, heralds the new face of SPAR and marks a huge step for the symbol group.

The store has a brand new fascia design, featuring a white background with SPAR in 3D and the store's location and owner's details on the front. The new look for the iconic SPAR brand creates a big impact and a lasting impression.

It also has a new internal colour scheme, for a fresh look and feel, as well as new ambient modules for fruit, vegetables and bread to create an authentic market feel.

In addition to the host of fantastic products and ranges on offer, the store will also feature new cutting-edge technologies and concepts providing the absolute pinnacle in convenience, such as free WiFi and mobile phone-charging units.

Debbie Robinson, SPAR UK Managing Director, said: "We are really excited about Penwortham, which truly is a store for the future and marks a hugely innovative move for SPAR.

"The dynamic store design represents the next generation in convenience retail, with a fresh, clean and modern look that appeals to all shoppers. This new store model is the best design used in the convenience industry today, encompassing significant changes to the store's layout and ranges.

"Convenience retail is changing rapidly and at SPAR, we want to be at the front of the pack in leading this change and to help our retailers be even better and more successful than they already are.

"The store was designed based on a great deal of consumer research, and we have really listened to customers to make Penwortham a destination local store," she said. "The store is laying the foundation for a design model that can be replicated around the country.

"This is a great step for us and is a taste of what more is to come in the future," she said.

SPAR Penwortham owner Kevin Hunt said: "SPAR was looking at new formats to create the next store of the future, and I jumped at the chance for Penwortham to be the launch of the new model. I am so excited by the incredible results of the investment, and could not be more proud of the store.

"Our Penwortham SPAR store makes it clear that we are committed to serving our community. Our aim was to create a personal identity and for the store to look modern and inviting to shoppers.

"We wanted to take a whole new approach to ranging, merchandising and developing a modern convenience store, and we have absolutely achieved this and more," he said.

James Hall & Co Ltd, the local distributor to SPAR Penwortham has supported the new store launch from the start. "We have worked really closely with James Hall's to come up with the right product range and offer. They have been fantastic during the whole project and we feel very lucky to have had the full support of our local SPAR wholesaler," added Hunt.

The new SPAR model was designed by brand development agency Appetite.