History of Spar

What is SPAR?

SPAR is not a Chain Store nor a single corporate company nor is it a franchise, but an organisation of independent retailers and wholesalers working together in a Voluntary Trading partnership which was introduced by Adriaan Van Well in 1932 in the Netherlands.

This unique SPAR partnership allows SPAR to act locally at a community level, while offering customers a personal service supported by all the benefits of a global business.

SPAR was founded in The Netherlands in 1932 by Adriaan Van Well, as a voluntary chain of grocers under the name "DE SPAR". DE SPAR was an acronym in Dutch for:

Door

Eedrachtig

Samenwerken

Profiteren

Allen

Regelmatig

Later the “DE” fell away and “SPAR” together with the spruce tree symbol remained. Van Well used the symbol of the spruce tree - (SPAR in Dutch), to identify the organisation. This became the SPAR logo. The tree never sheds its leaves and stays evergreen – symbolising SPAR’S continuing excellence and sustainability.

So SPAR is about relationships and trust. Relationships between the Wholesaler and Retailer, between managers

and staff, and between our business and our suppliers and service providers. The management of these relationships

is the single most important core competence in SPAR as an organisation.

Above all else SPAR is an Organisation of Wholesalers and Retailers.

Our Philosophy

To put Independent retailers in a position to compete with the Corporate Chain Stores.

Central Office: Human Resources - Induction Program

The SPAR Business Model in South Africa

The South African business model is the traditional one, also called VOLUNTARY GROUP TRADING consisting of an independent wholesale company and independent retailers.

However, this is not an easy model to quickly understand. A reasonably close analogy to a VOLUNTARY TRADING GROUP is to liken it to a social or sports club.

A Club:

- Has members who...