Blakemore Retail Banner

Blakemore Retail News


SPAR £100k Community Cashback returns

April 09, 2024

The SPAR Community Cashback is back for the third year in a row.

Read More


A F Blakemore Appoints Nicola McIntosh as New Chief People Officer

April 03, 2024

AF Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest privately owned family businesses, today announced the appointment of Nicola McIntosh as its new Chief People Officer, effective May 20th, 2024.

Read More


Top Industry Convenience Leaders Gather at Sun City, South Africa for SPAR UK 2024 Conference

April 02, 2024

The vibrant setting of Sun City in South Africa played host to the SPAR UK 2024 Conference, where 480 independent SPAR retailers and families, national account customers, company owned store colleagues, suppliers, RDC and central office leaders attended the highly anticipated business event between 12-16 March 2024.

Read More


Ready, Set, Go With SPAR School Sports Day Grants

February 05, 2024

Following the huge success of last year’s school sports day grants campaign, leading symbol group SPAR UK is offering another £50,000 to support schools in their local communities across the UK.

Read More


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


Blakemore Retail unveils SPAR store in Warren Wood, Gainsborough – A hub of convenience and sustainability

December 12, 2023

Blakemore Retail is delighted to announce the grand opening of its latest SPAR store in Warren Wood, Gainsborough.

Read More


A.F. Blakemore appoints Lawrence Shirazian as Managing Director of Foodservice Business Unit

December 01, 2023

A.F. Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest privately owned family businesses, is pleased to announce that Lawrence Shirazian will join as Managing Director of their newly formed Foodservice Business Unit on 4th December 2023.

Read More


Blakemore Retail acquires Hockmeyer Motors Limited

November 23, 2023

The UK’s largest SPAR Retail Distribution Company A.F. Blakemore and Son Limited has expanded its operation in Sleaford, Lincolnshire after agreeing a deal to purchase Hockmeyer Motors Limited.

Read More


Spinner Winner proves a huge success with SPAR shoppers

November 14, 2023

SPAR presents MrBeast Feastables campaign winners with grand prizes - Spinner Winner, an online consumer competition campaign launched during the summer to support the convenience partnership between MrBeast Feastables chocolates and SPAR, has proven to be a huge success with SPAR shoppers.

Read More


SPAR UK ANNOUNCES THREE NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS

November 14, 2023

Leading symbol group SPAR UK Ltd has announced three new Director appointments at Central Office in Harrow.

Read More


SPAR UK celebrates raising £3m for Marie Curie

October 24, 2023

Leading convenience store group SPAR is celebrating a huge fundraising milestone by raising £3 million for its national charity partner Marie Curie.

Read More


SPAR is making a BIG Deal of Christmas

October 04, 2023

This October sees leading symbol group SPAR UK launch its largest national brand campaign to date.

Read More


A.F. Blakemore and Inenco Shortlisted for Prestigious Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year Award

September 26, 2023

A.F. Blakemore in collaboration with energy and sustainability specialists Inenco has been officially shortlisted for the esteemed Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year by The Energy Awards.

Read More


Star Studded Performance From SPAR At 2023 Retail Industry Awards

September 25, 2023

The 2023 Retail Industry Awards night took place on 19 September at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London, hosted by the excellent Paul Sinha.

Read More


SPAR partners with FareShare to launch their first Giving One Million Meals campaign

September 21, 2023

SPAR is partnering with FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste, to provide the equivalent of one million meals through local charities in cities, towns and villages across the UK, as part of the Giving One Million Meals | SPAR project.

Read More


A.F. Blakemore & Son Reports Robust Financial Performance, Championed by SPAR Retail Estate

September 18, 2023

A.F. Blakemore & Son, one of the UK's foremost family-owned businesses, has reported strong financial results for its food retail, foodservice and wholesale business for the financial year ending on 30 April 2023.

Read More


A.F. Blakemore announce new structure to leverage retail strength

September 12, 2023

A.F. Blakemore has announced changes to the leadership team to consolidate retail knowledge across its SPAR portfolio.

Read More


SPAR launches exciting Spinner Winner campaign in collaboration with YouTuber MrBeast and exclusive Feastables chocolate bars

July 26, 2023

Leading symbol group SPAR has launched its highly anticipated summer campaign, Spinner Winner, in collaboration with the renowned internet personality and philanthropist, MrBeast.

Read More


SPAR announces winners of the 2023 UK £100k Community Cashback scheme

July 25, 2023

Leading convenience symbol group SPAR has announced the winners of its second £100,000 Community Cashback scheme launched in January this year.

Read More


SPAR Phoenix Park opens in Nottingham

July 21, 2023

Locals and commuters alike can delight in the brand new £1.5 million SPAR store that’s just opened in the Phoenix Park area of Nottingham. That’s because alongside an extensive range of convenience products, shoppers will find a Greggs and a Subway franchise.

Read More


SPAR grows its own label ambient dessert range

July 20, 2023

Leading symbol group SPAR is introducing its own brand tins of rice pudding and custard.

Read More


SPAR goes yellow to support Marie Curie 75th celebrations

July 20, 2023

Marie Curie, the SPAR national charity partner, is celebrating its 75th birthday and in acknowledgment, SPAR alongside seven leading FMCG grocery brands have pledged to donate £35,000 in total to a new campaign, called Go Yellow, in support of Marie Curie’s special birthday anniversary.

Read More


Tipton scores with new SPAR store

July 19, 2023

Wolves FC legend, Steve Bull MBE, officially opened the new £1.1m SPAR store in Tipton recently.

Read More


SPAR launches own label raspberry flavoured vodka

July 12, 2023

Leading symbol group SPAR is entering the flavoured spirits market and has launched a brand new own label raspberry flavoured vodka spirit.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

Read More


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.

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


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

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


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


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

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


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 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


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 Retail Unveils New Concept Store at SPAR Aberystwyth

February 18, 2022

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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

Read More


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

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


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

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


SPAR Bentley Relaunches at New Forecourt Site

September 06, 2019

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

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