Supplier Zone Banner

Supplier Zone News


January value at only £1.25 available from SPAR

January 04, 2024

SPAR is helping shoppers through the month of January by offering great value deals on a range of store cupboard staples from just £1.25.

Read More


Donations Worth £65,000 Awarded to Good Causes at Christmas

December 23, 2022

The Blakemore Foundation awards donations worth circa £65,000 to more than 1,300 activities and events in communities this Christmas

Read More


SPAR Alsager Relaunches with New Food to Go

December 22, 2022

Blakemore Retail's Alsager SPAR store relaunches with a delicious new food-to-go offer

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Christmas Campaign to Give Away up to £100,000 Worth of Prizes

December 08, 2022

A.F. Blakemore launches a SPAR Christmas campaign giving away up to £100,000 worth of prizes

Read More


Machynlleth SPAR and Post Office Relaunches with New Greggs

December 07, 2022

Machynlleth SPAR and Post Office reopens with a new Greggs bakery after undergoing a refurbishment

Read More


Quay Road SPAR and Post Office Celebrates Relaunch

December 07, 2022

Blakemore Retail's Quay Road SPAR and Post Office reopens after undergoing a refit

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Wins at FWD Gold Medal Awards

November 28, 2022

A.F. Blakemore is celebrating after winning the Data and Insight award at the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) Gold Medal Awards

Read More


Meat Trader Bal Mehmi Wins National Award

November 22, 2022

Meat Trader Bal Mehmi from Blakemore Fresh Foods is crowned a winner at the national Women in Meat Industry Awards

Read More


Independent Retailer Muru Visana Opens New SPAR Market Store in Clavering

November 08, 2022

The picturesque village of Clavering in Essex is home to a brand-new SPAR Market owned by enterprising independent retailer Muru Visana and family

Read More


SPAR Harnessing the Power of the Past, to Be the Force for the Future

October 27, 2022

Four hundred people attend SPAR UK’s national conference in Gran Canaria

Read More


Local MP Launches New Post Office at SPAR Chipping Sodbury

October 25, 2022

Blakemore Retail’s Chipping Sodbury store celebrates the opening of a brand-new post office with a visit from a local MP

Read More


New SPAR Market Store for Dersingham Sees Substantial Increase in Sales and Margin

October 21, 2022

An independent family-owned SPAR store in Dersingham rebrands as a SPAR Market store

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Helps 108 Colleagues Gain New LGV Driving Licence

September 30, 2022

A.F. Blakemore’s driver training programmes enables 108 colleagues to gain a new LGV driving licence in the past 12 months

Read More


SPAR Supports One Tree Planted Campaign

September 29, 2022

SPAR UK is supporting the international brand’s 90th anniversary celebrations by giving back to communities and planting 12,500 trees all over England with leading organisation One Tree Planted

Read More


Lisa James Crowned Sales Colleague of the Year

September 27, 2022

SPAR Beddau Supervisor Lisa James wins Sales Colleague of the Year at The Convenience Awards

Read More


Five Colleagues Cycle London to Paris for GroceryAid

September 13, 2022

Five A.F. Blakemore colleagues complete an epic bike ride from London to Paris in aid of charity GroceryAid

Read More


Bal Mehmi Nominated for Women in Meat Award

August 22, 2022

Meat Trader Bal Mehmi from Blakemore Fresh Foods is nominated for a Meat Businesswoman Award at the national Women in Meat Industry Awards

Read More


SPAR UK Awards £100,000 to Good Causes Via Community Cashback Scheme

July 12, 2022

SPAR UK awards £100,000 to good causes across the UK via its Community Cashback scheme

Read More


SPAR Launches New Partnership with Deliveroo

June 22, 2022

SPAR UK signes a new partnership deal with Deliveroo covering all 2,160 SPAR stores in England, Scotland and Wales

Read More


Blakemore Retail Spring Ball Raises £40,000 for NSPCC

June 22, 2022

Blakemore Retail raises more than £40,000 for the NSPCC at its fourth charity ball

Read More


SPAR Retail Show 2022: New World, New Opportunities

June 17, 2022

‘New World, New Opportunities’ was the key theme lighting up the room at Blakemore Trade Partners’ SPAR Retail Show this year

Read More


SPAR Own Label Expands for Summer BBQs

May 09, 2022

SPAR launches a variety of own label products to maximise this summer’s great opportunity

Read More


Blakemore Retail Opens New Purpose-Built SPAR in Spalding

May 04, 2022

Blakemore Retail launches a brand-new SPAR convenience store in the town of Spalding, Lincolnshire

Read More


SPAR Aberavon Relaunches with New and Improved Food to Go

April 22, 2022

SPAR Aberavon relaunches with a new and improved hot food counter serving delicious food to go

Read More


Blakemore Retail Wins at NSPCC Corporate Impact Awards

April 21, 2022

Blakemore Retail is recognised at the NSPCC Corporate Impact Awards with the CEO’s Choice Award for Fundraising

Read More


A.F. Blakemore to Launch SPAR Augmented Reality Game App

April 05, 2022

A.F. Blakemore is set to launch an interactive augmented reality (AR) game app that offers customers the chance to win prizes at SPAR stores

Read More


Blakemore Colleagues Pack Bags of Essentials for People in Need

March 25, 2022

Blakemore Foodservice and Wholesale Distribution colleagues volunteer 31 hours of work time to packing bags of essentials for people in need

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Educates Schoolchildren on Rules of the Road

March 24, 2022

A.F. Blakemore relaunches its road safety awareness campaign to more than 450 students at two West Midlands schools

Read More


Blakemore Volunteers Support Wolverhampton Food Parcel Scheme

March 04, 2022

Seven Blakemore colleagues volunteer their work time to supporting a school half-term food parcel scheme in Wolverhampton

Read More


A.F. Blakemore to Trial Electric HGV

March 02, 2022

A.F. Blakemore will be trialling an electric truck at its Willenhall distribution centre for a week in March

Read More


Blakemore Retail Unveils New Concept Store at SPAR Aberystwyth

February 18, 2022

Blakemore Retail launches a brand-new concept store at SPAR Aberystwyth

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Appoints New Group Commercial Director

February 16, 2022

A.F. Blakemore appoints David Cooke to the newly created role of Group Commercial Director

Read More


Vegan Store Launches Weekly Delivery Boxes for Veganuary

January 13, 2022

Vegan Store launches a new weekly delivery box for Veganuary

Read More


SPAR Launches New Brand Positioning

January 12, 2022

SPAR unveils new UK-wide brand positioning that celebrates the unique characteristics of SPAR convenience stores

Read More


SPAR Becomes First Grocer in UK to Launch 100% Vegan Own-label Wine Range

January 06, 2022

​SPAR makes its full range of own-label wines suitable for vegans

Read More


SPAR Offers Shoppers Chance to Win Shop for Free Throughout January

January 05, 2022

SPAR is launching a brand-new consumer campaign in participating stores around England, Scotland and Wales throughout January 2022

Read More


Festive Friday Raises Thousands for Charity

December 17, 2021

Last week’s Festive Friday is estimated to have raised more than £20,000 for charity

Read More


Blakemore Colleagues Scoop Three FWD Gold Medals

November 26, 2021

Kelly Burrows, Ian Cawley and Alan Mayor are crowned winners at this year’s FWD Awards

Read More


Blakemore Colleagues Attend Disability Sport Wales Paralympic Celebratory Dinner

November 25, 2021

A.F. Blakemore Group Marketing Director Sarah Ellis and Responsible Business Director Caoire Blakemore attend Disability Sport Wales’s Paralympic Celebratory Dinner

Read More


SPAR UK Celebrates Raising £2m for Marie Curie

November 24, 2021

SPAR UK fundraising for Marie Curie surpasses £2 million

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Achieves Goal of 100% Renewable Electricity

November 19, 2021

A.F. Blakemore moves its operations to 100% renewable electricity

Read More


A.F. Blakemore & Son Well Positioned for Growth

November 17, 2021

Chairman Peter Blakemore announces a year of good progress for 2020/21 in his statement on A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd’s annual financial results

Read More


Blakemore Retail and NSPCC Win at Corporate Engagement Awards

November 15, 2021

Blakemore Retail’s charity partnership with the NSPCC wins bronze at the Corporate Engagement Awards 2021

Read More


Blakemore Retail Goes Purple for Purple Tuesday

November 05, 2021

Blakemore Retail colleagues dress up and decorate their stores in purple for disability awareness event Purple Tuesday

Read More


Three AFB Colleagues Shortlisted for FWD Gold Medal Awards

October 22, 2021

Supply Chain Manager Kelly Burrows, Wholesale Distribution National Account Manager Ian Cawley and Telesales Manager Alan Mayor have all been shortlisted for this year’s FWD Awards

Read More


SPAR Retail Show 2021: Better Together

October 22, 2021

Blakemore Trade Partners lays on its annual show for suppliers, colleagues and retailers from across SPAR UK’s Meridian & Welsh Guild

Read More


Blakemore Retail Opens New Store in Broughton Astley

October 15, 2021

Blakemore Retail opens a new SPAR store in the village of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire

Read More


Ajay Odedra Switches to SPAR

October 01, 2021

Independent retailer Ajay Odedra has chosen to move his Simply Fresh supplied store in Boreham, Essex to SPAR

Read More


SPAR Parkfoot Scoops Top Prize at Convenience Awards

September 15, 2021

SPAR Parkfoot is named Convenience Retailer of the Year at The Convenience Awards 2021

Read More


SPAR MD Louise Hoste Announced as New Chair of ACS

September 01, 2021

The Association of Convenience Stores announces the appointment of SPAR Managing Director Louise Hoste as its new chair from November

Read More


Shortlists for Grocer Gold, Convenience and Retail Industry Awards Announced

July 23, 2021

A.F. Blakemore and its stores make the shortlist for the Grocer Gold, Convenience and Retail Industry awards

Read More


GroceryAid Coast to Coast Cycle Gets Underway

July 23, 2021

Ten cyclists from A.F. Blakemore and independent SPAR stores take on an epic bike ride across Wales in aid of charity GroceryAid

Read More


SPAR Stores Across Wales to Celebrate Welsh Food Fortnight

July 23, 2021

SPAR stores across Wales will be taking part in a Welsh Food Fortnight campaign next month

Read More


Blakemore Retail Reaches £4 Million Fundraising Milestone for NSPCC

July 23, 2021

Blakemore Retail reaches a £4 million fundraising milestone for the NSPCC through its 16-year partnership with the charity

Read More


Operations Manager Chloe Ball Wins Warehousing Award

July 09, 2021

Chilled Operations Manager Chloe Ball becomes the first Blakemore colleague to win an award at the Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards

Read More


Blakemore Cyclists to Embark on Coast to Coast Challenge

July 09, 2021

Ten cyclists from A.F. Blakemore and independent SPAR stores are set to take on an epic bike ride across Wales in aid of charity GroceryAid

Read More


Blakemore Retail Teams Up with NSPCC for Home or Out Alone Campaign

July 09, 2021

Blakemore Retail teams up with the NSPCC to help parents decide if their children are ready to stay home or go out alone

Read More


Blakemore Retail Launches First SPAR Market Store

June 24, 2021

Blakemore Retail relaunches its store in Bala under the SPAR Market fascia following a complete refurbishment

Read More


Blakemore Retail Birthday Parties Raise More Than £35,000 for NSPCC

June 11, 2021

Blakemore Retail raises £35,212 for the NSPCC by hosting 16th birthday parties across its SPAR estate to celebrate the start of its 16th year of partnership with the charity

Read More


SPAR UK Conference 2021: The Future of Convenience is with SPAR

May 27, 2021

The SPAR symbol group is determined to maintain its lead in the convenience market by investing £125 million in the business over the next 12 months

Read More


Blakemore Foundation Awards £313,257 to Good Causes in 2020/21

May 24, 2021

The Blakemore Foundation awarded goods and monetary donations worth £313,257 to good causes during A.F. Blakemore’s 2020/21 financial year

Read More


Blakemore Wholesale Distribution Launches New Web App

March 19, 2021

Blakemore Wholesale Distribution launches a new web app for customers to improve their online shopping experience

Read More


A.F. Blakemore to Launch Charity Campaign in Memory of Raj Aggarwal

March 16, 2021

A.F. Blakemore is set to launch a charity campaign in April in memory of much-loved SPAR retailer Raj Aggarwal

Read More


Colleagues Celebrate GroceryAid Awareness Day

March 05, 2021

Colleagues across A.F. Blakemore help the company raise awareness of GroceryAid as it marks GroceryAid Awareness Day

Read More


Blakemore Retail Extends Partnership with Too Good To Go to 275 Stores

February 24, 2021

Blakemore Retail signs up all 275 of its SPAR convenience stores to the Too Good To Go app

Read More


Blakemore Foundation Covid-19 Support Reaches Value of £176,000

February 17, 2021

Charitable donations awarded to Covid-related causes via the Blakemore Foundation have now reached a value of £176,000

Read More


A.F. Blakemore & Son Invests for Growth with New Opportunities

February 08, 2021

Chairman Peter Blakemore reports a year of good progress for 2019/20 in his annual statement on A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd’s financial results

Read More


Double Success at Retail Industry Awards

January 27, 2021

SPAR Parkfoot and Eat 17 SPAR Walthamstow are crowned winners at the 2020 Retail Industry Awards

Read More


Hockenhull Garages Crowned Forecourt Trader of the Year

January 21, 2021

Independently owned SPAR forecourt site The Stage has been named Forecourt Trader of the Year

Read More


Store Manager Linda Carrington Receives New Year Honour

December 31, 2020

SPAR Store Manager Linda Carrington receives a British Empire Medal in The Queen’s New Year Honours

Read More


Shawbirch Store Relaunched after Major Refit

December 09, 2020

Blakemore Retail relaunches its Shawbirch store in Telford after carrying out a major refit

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Launches New Commission Operator Store Model

October 01, 2020

A.F. Blakemore launches a brand-new commission operator SPAR store model

Read More


SPAR Y Maes Takes Home Top Prize at Convenience Awards

September 30, 2020

A.F. Blakemore is celebrating after a fantastic evening at the Convenience Awards

Read More


SPAR Retailers Shortlisted for Convenience and Retail Industry Awards

September 17, 2020

SPAR retailers across the Meridian & Welsh Guild have received notable recognition on this year's Convenience Awards and Retail Industry Awards shortlists

Read More


Blakemore Retail PANTS Day Raises £31,453

September 11, 2020

Blakemore Retail PANTS Weekend raises an incredible £31,453

Read More


Blakemore Retail Recognises Top Fundraising Stores

September 08, 2020

Blakemore Retail recognises its top fundraising stores after raising more than £252,000 for the NSPCC during its last fundraising year

Read More


Blakemore Retail Launches New Flagship Store in North Wales

August 24, 2020

Blakemore Retail launches a brand-new flagship SPAR store in Bodelwyddan, North Wales

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Acquires Online Vegan Store​

August 13, 2020

A.F. Blakemore has purchased online wholesaler and retailer Vegan Store

Read More


Non-uniform Weekend Raises £25,000 for NSPCC

July 29, 2020

Blakemore Retail SPAR stores across England and Wales raise £25,000 for the NSPCC with a ‘Dress Up or Dress Down’ fundraising weekend

Read More


Philpotts Signs Up to Too Good to Go Food Waste App

July 24, 2020

Philpotts joins Blakemore Retail in signing up to the Too Good to Go food waste fighting app

Read More


Blakemore Retail Trials Self-service Checkouts

July 23, 2020

Blakemore Retail is trialling three card-only self-service checkouts at its Bannerbrook store

Read More


Blakemore Retail Invests in Delivery Vans to Meet Snappy Shopper Demand

June 25, 2020

Blakemore Retail invests in new delivery vans to keep up with demand for Snappy Shopper home deliveries

Read More


Blakemore Retail Launches Home Delivery Website

April 30, 2020

Blakemore Retail launches an online ordering website to make it easier for customers to browse products from SPAR stores offering home deliveries

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Colleagues Donate Over £25,000 During Coronavirus Crisis

April 21, 2020

Colleagues from across A.F. Blakemore donate more than £25,000 to local communities during the coronavirus crisis

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Partners with Royal Voluntary Service

April 15, 2020

A.F. Blakemore partners with the Royal Voluntary Service to help vulnerable people and NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis

Read More


SPAR Partners with Royal Voluntary Service

April 08, 2020

SPAR stores in England are to be the first convenience retailer to partner with Royal Voluntary Service on its NHS Volunteer Responders programme

Read More


Blakemore Retail Launches Standalone Greggs and Subway

March 04, 2020

Blakemore Retail launches its first standalone Greggs and Subway store as part of its strategy to expand retail spaces across the business

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Partners with Disability Sport Wales

February 03, 2020

A.F. Blakemore becomes the national community partner of Disability Sport Wales

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Trials Food Waste Fighting App

January 24, 2020

A.F. Blakemore is the latest convenience store retailer to trial the food waste fighting app Too Good to Go

Read More


Blakemore Trade Partners Pledges £100,000 Investment to Ruskington Retailer

January 09, 2020

Blakemore Trade Partners pledges a £100,000 investment to SPAR retailer Paul Baxter to enable him to carry out a transformational store development

Read More


SPAR International Presents A.F. Blakemore with Special Recognition Award

December 04, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has been presented with a Special Recognition award by SPAR International for the contribution it has made to the community through its Branching Out education programme

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Signs Up to Refill Campaign

December 04, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has become the first convenience retailer to join the Refill campaign to help reduce plastic waste

Read More


Bristol Philpotts Store Relaunches with New Branding

October 03, 2019

A.F. Blakemore’s Bristol Philpotts store at Temple Quay has relaunched with a fresh look and new branding

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Relaunches First Company-owned SPAR as Flagship Store

September 09, 2019

A.F. Blakemore relocates its inaugural company-owned SPAR store to a forecourt site in Willenhall

Read More


Blakemore Foodservice Joins Country Range Group

June 14, 2019

Blakemore Foodservice joins the Country Range Group network of independent wholesalers

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Flagship Store Programme Wins Grocer Gold

June 12, 2019

A.F. Blakemore’s Flagship Store Programme has been crowned Business Initiative of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards

Read More


Blakemore Retail Achieves Investors in People Gold Accreditation

June 06, 2019

Blakemore Retail’s commitment to developing colleagues is recognised with the highly prestigious Investors in People Gold accolade

Read More


A.F. Blakemore Acquires Philpotts Store Chain

February 27, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has acquired the Philpotts chain of prepared-food stores, adding an additional 22 stores to the company’s retail estate

Read More


Blakemore Retail Colleagues’ Daring Deeds Raise Over £200k for NSPCC

January 28, 2019

Colleagues from Blakemore Retail SPAR stores went above and beyond during the latter half of 2018 to raise more than £200k for the children’s charity

Read More


Blakemore Retail Praised for Disability Awareness Training

December 04, 2018

Blakemore Retail is recognised with an award for its innovative disability e-learning training by the charity Purple

Read More


The Blakemore Way

Blakemore Way

Blakemore Heritage

Blakemore Heritage