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Blakemore Retail News


A.F. Blakemore launches the new Plant & Win App

April 27, 2023

Leading SPAR wholesaler and convenience store retailer, A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd, has launched a new app called Plant & Win, where SPAR shoppers in Wales, central England and the Southeast can play to plant trees and win a host of exciting prizes.

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Disability Sport Wales and SPAR extended partnership

March 27, 2023

Disability Sport Wales are delighted to announce that SPAR, the leading convenience store brand, will continue as the national Community Partner for the next three years.

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A.F. Blakemore launches ‘Short Supportive Stories’ book to recognise their ‘Women In Blakemore’

March 13, 2023

A F Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest independently owned businesses, has the announced the winners of their first Women in Blakemore Awards, via a story book. The book launch amalgamates the stories of the winners and their nominees.

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SPAR launches its second UK wide £100,000 Community Cashback Scheme

February 06, 2023

Following the enormous success of last year’s £100,000 Community Cashback Scheme, leading convenience symbol group SPAR is launching a second £100,000 Community Cashback Scheme this February, giving away grants to local voluntary or community organisations and charities.

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SPAR Shopper Wins Ultimate Christmas in Competition Giveaway

February 06, 2023

A convenience store shopper from Scunthorpe has won the ultimate Christmas after entering a SPAR competition.

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SPAR Shopper Wins Fuel for a Year in Competition Giveaway

February 06, 2023

A convenience store shopper from Welshampton has won free fuel for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.

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SPAR Shopper Wins Energy for a Year in Competition Giveaway

February 06, 2023

A convenience store shopper from Worcester has won free energy for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.

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SPAR Customer Wins Shopping for a Year in Competition Giveaway

February 06, 2023

A convenience store customer from Peterborough has won free shopping at SPAR for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.

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AF Blakemore appoints Carol Welch as new CEO

February 02, 2023

AF Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest privately owned family businesses, is pleased to announce that Carol Welch will join as Chief Executive in April, succeeding Jerry Marwood who is leaving to focus more time on his non-executive directorships and consultancy roles.

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Tremendous Success for A.F. Blakemore’s SPAR Christmas Campaign

February 02, 2023

A.F. Blakemore & Son launched a SPAR Christmas campaign in December giving away up to £100,000 worth of prizes.

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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

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Blakemore Retail Support Team Shortlisted for Head Office Heroes Award

December 23, 2022

Blakemore Retail’s Operations Support team makes the shortlist for a Head Office Heroes award at the Retail Week Awards

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Llanharry SPAR and Post Office Relaunches After Fire

September 29, 2022

Blakemore Retail’s Llanharry SPAR and Post Office reopens after extensive fire and water damage forced it to close in April

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Blakemore Retail Unveils New Concept Store at SPAR Aberystwyth

February 18, 2022

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

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SPAR Launches New Brand Positioning

January 12, 2022

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Blakemore Retail to Host Big Bank Holiday Fundraiser for NSPCC

August 20, 2021

Blakemore Retail colleagues are set to go on a fundraising drive for the NSPCC this August bank holiday with their annual PANTS Weekend

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Shawbirch Store Relaunched after Major Refit

December 09, 2020

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

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Blakemore Retail Buy One, Get One for a Penny Campaign Now Live

September 17, 2020

​Blakemore Retail’s ‘Buy One, Get One for a Penny’ campaign is now live across its SPAR estate

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Blakemore Retail PANTS Day Raises £31,453

September 11, 2020

Blakemore Retail PANTS Weekend raises an incredible £31,453

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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

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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

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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

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Blakemore Retail Trials Self-service Checkouts

July 23, 2020

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

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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

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SPAR Removes 300 Tonnes of Plastic from Own-label Packaging in One Year

June 11, 2020

SPAR removes nearly 300 tonnes of virgin plastic from 53 own-label products

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SPAR Extends Shopping Support to National Charities

June 11, 2020

More than 700 SPAR stores in England and Wales sign up to support volunteers for three additional national charities in order to support more vulnerable people

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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A.F. Blakemore Partners with Disability Sport Wales

February 03, 2020

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

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Blakemore Retail Trials Food Waste Fighting App

January 24, 2020

Blakemore Retail has become the latest convenience store retailer to trial the food waste fighting app Too Good to Go

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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

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SPAR Bentley Relaunches at New Forecourt Site

September 06, 2019

Blakemore Retail relocates its Bentley SPAR store to a larger forecourt site in Walsall

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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

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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

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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

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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

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