If you're thinking seriously about becoming part of the future of SPAR, it's worth investing a minute or two to find out more about the history of our world-wide success.
What's in a name?
SPAR is part of the acronym of the Dutch sentence, 'Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig'.
It translates into:
'We all benefit from joint cooperation'.
It's an inspirational notion that has become the name and meaning behind the award-winning, global concept that continues to deliver savings to millions of customers each and every day.
A true test of time
In 1932, the man behind the idea, Adriaan Van Well, founded SPAR in Holland.
Today it is the world's largest supermarket chain, linking independent wholesalers and retailers in a collaboration designed to use collective purchasing power to offer the best deal to consumers. It's still a great idea today. Imagine how original and innovative it must have seemed over 85 years ago?
In every way, SPAR is an idea that has truly stood the test of time.
A symbol of success
From the beginning, SPAR has been synonymous with Adriaan Van Well's fir tree. With a few prunings and a lean toward a simpler, modern look and feel, it is still the company's instantly recognisable logo, famous now across the world as a symbol of quality and value.
An idea that knows no boundaries
Today SPAR employs over 350,000 people, turns over more than €34.5bn in retail sales and continues to develop its brand and winning concept in new global markets.
In 1985 SPAR expanded into Australia, Eastern Europe and Argentina. Its strong growth is testimony to the fact that the idea continues to be relevant to the sophisticated consumers of the modern era.
SPAR moved beyond Holland in 1947, when Belgium adopted the concept. A host of other European countries followed rapidly in the 1950s'. Mr Van Well became the first president of International SPAR in 1953. The fast growth of the company continued over the next 20 years, with stores opening outside Europe for the first time in South Africa and Japan.
