It was SPAR Australia’s supplier night of nights on the Sunshine Coast recently, where SPAR’s success was on full display as they celebrated being ‘better together’.
The retailer drew a large crowd to the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort, Lily’s on the Lagoon to join SPAR Australia managing director Lou Jardin, who gave a run down of positive growth within the business over the last 12 months and the challenges SPAR had overcome to emerge stronger than ever.
As attendees dined, Mr Jardin ran through the retailer’s international theme ‘better together’ and recent developments, including the launch of Australia’s first SUPERSPAR in SUPERSPAR Molendinar on the Gold Coast.
And his passion for collaboration and how he believed this would help the business in achieving SPAR’s future goals.
“This is my 10th SPAR Supplier Awards night and I would like to thank all our Supplier Partners who have played an essential role in building a differentiated model that is crucial for the success of SPAR Independent Retailers and we are Better Together,” Mr Jardin said.
“I’m very proud of my team whose innovative approach has enabled the Supplier Partners to deliver on their objectives whilst delivering real value to the SPAR network – big thank you to them.”
“I’m very positive about the future and this allows us continued investment into the network and continue our mission to be a low cost provider to the Independent Stores.”
Guest of honour, chairman of CJ Lang (SPAR Scotland), Jim Hepburn also shared his insights from his 40 years experience in retail across strategy, business vision and purpose.
Among the winners on the night was Jacobs Douwe Egberts, who took out the Grocery Supplier of the Year and Supplier of the Year awards.
While Fruitlink were awarded Direct Supplier of the Year, Regal Cream took out Perishables Supplier of the Year and Nestlé Purina won Non-Food Supplier of the Year.
Other awards included Promotional Support Supplier of the Year, won by Vesco Foods; SPAR Customer Own Brand Supplier of the Year, won for the second year running by The Greek Yoghurt Company; and Supplier Account Manager of the Year, awarded to Darryl Gordon of Mondelez.
SPAR Australia is one of the fastest growing retail groups in the country, with close to 300 independent retail supermarkets supplied with grocery products, marketing and retail support from SPAR under the SPAR and 5STAR banners across QLD, NSW, ACT, NT and Pacific Island areas.