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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPAR Retail Show Looks Ahead to New Opportunities

November 04, 2020

Blakemore Trade Partners’ SPAR Retail Show explores the new opportunities presented to SPAR retailers this year and how they can continue to react to the needs of local communities and customers

A.F. Blakemore Launches New Commission Operator Store Model

October 01, 2020

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

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

A.F. Blakemore Expands Operations with Acquisition of Online Vegan Store

August 13, 2020

A.F. Blakemore announces the purchase of the online wholesaler and retailer Vegan Store

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

Blakemore Retail Trials Self-service Checkouts

July 23, 2020

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

A.F. Blakemore Ranked 60th Largest Privately Owned Company in Britain

July 02, 2020

A.F. Blakemore is set to be named the 60th largest privately owned company in Britain in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100

AFB to Give Away £30,000 with Community Cashback Scheme

June 17, 2020

A.F. Blakemore launches a Community Cashback Grant scheme to thank groups who are there for vulnerable people during the Covid-19 crisis

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

A.F. Blakemore Introduces Home Delivery for Most Vulnerable

April 23, 2020

A.F. Blakemore introduces home delivery to 165 of its company-owned stores to assist vulnerable customers in local communities

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

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

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

SPAR Meets Surge in Supply Demand

March 20, 2020

Thousands of SPAR stores around the UK are meeting exceptional customer demand by maintaining a high level of stock availability and service throughout the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic

Colleagues Praised for Outstanding Service in Coronavirus Crisis

March 19, 2020

Customers and SPAR retailers thank AFB colleagues for their commitment to outstanding customer service during the coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus Update

March 19, 2020

The services we provide, the relationships we have with our trade partners and the health of our colleagues and customers are of the utmost importance to us, and as a company we are following official guidance with regards to the running of our business and services

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

A.F. Blakemore Supplier Event Attracts Record Number of Attendees

February 24, 2020

A.F. Blakemore welcomes more than 300 attendees to its annual Supplier Conference

AFB Set to Host First Women in Blakemore Conference

February 24, 2020

A.F. Blakemore is set to host its first Women in Blakemore conference on 26th February

A.F. Blakemore Partners with Disability Sport Wales

February 03, 2020

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

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

New Year, New Company Values

January 09, 2020

A.F. Blakemore is re-launching its company values: The Blakemore Way

Blakemore Foodservice Announces Contract with SOHO Coffee Co.

January 08, 2020

Blakemore Foodservice announces a three-year contract to supply SOHO Coffee Co.

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

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

Blakemore Logistics Steps Up for Safer Streets

November 27, 2019

More than 700 pupils from across the West Midlands are educated on the rules of the road as part of Blakemore Logistics’ annual Road Safety campaign

Blakemore Retail Raises a Dino-mite £34,000 for NSPCC

October 02, 2019

Blakemore Retail SPAR stores across England and Wales have been on a fundraising drive for the NSPCC while raising awareness about keeping children safe from sexual abuse

Blakemore SPARs Celebrate Industry Award Success

October 01, 2019

SPAR stores across the Meridian & Welsh Guild win five titles at this year’s Forecourt Trader and Retail Industry Awards

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

A.F. Blakemore Set for Success After Year of Investment

August 28, 2019

A.F. Blakemore is “energised and ready for the year ahead” after a year of significant investment and reorganisation

A.F. Blakemore Sets Sights on New Distribution Depot

August 21, 2019

A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd has set its sights on a brand new purpose-built warehouse in Bedford as part of ambitious growth plans.

Blakemore Retail Colleagues Raise Record-breaking Total for NSPCC

July 31, 2019

Blakemore Retail colleagues celebrate a record-breaking year of fundraising after generating more than £450,000 for the NSPCC

A.F. Blakemore Crowned National Winner at Business in the Community Awards

July 10, 2019

A.F. Blakemore is celebrating after being crowned a national winner at the prestigious Responsible Business Awards 2019, run by Business in the Community

Peter Blakemore Outlines Vision for One Company with One Goal

July 04, 2019

Peter Blakemore reinforces his vision of one company with one goal for A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd at the company’s 2019 Management Communication Day

Blakemore Foodservice Joins Country Range Group

June 14, 2019

Blakemore Foodservice joins the Country Range Group network of independent wholesalers

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

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

Blakemore Logistics Purchases New Econic Vehicles

May 07, 2019

Blakemore Logistics has demonstrated its commitment to road safety with the purchase of two Mercedes-Benz Econic vehicles

Flagship Store Programme Shortlisted for Grocer Gold Award

May 01, 2019

A.F. Blakemore’s Flagship Store Programme is shortlisted for Business Initiative of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards

A.F. Blakemore Announced as Finalist for Responsible Business Awards

April 29, 2019

A.F. Blakemore is named as a finalist for Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards 2019

Caoire Blakemore Joins Black Country Women in Business Steering Group

April 17, 2019

A.F. Blakemore Group Board Director Caoire Blakemore has joined the steering group of the Black Country Women in Business forum

Blakemore Retail Ball Fundraises £32,000 for NSPCC

April 16, 2019

Blakemore Retail raises £32,000 for the NSPCC at its third Charity Ball

Ranald Forbes Announced as Supply Chain Director

April 03, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has announced the appointment of a new Supply Chain Director for its group of companies

Double Success at Convenience Retail Awards

April 01, 2019

Eat 17 SPAR Hammersmith scoops Best New Store and Blakemore Retail’s Lyndsay Howden-Smith walks away with the Community Hero award

A.F. Blakemore Launches Education Programme for Secondary Schools

February 27, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has launched a brand new education programme for secondary school children to help them develop the attitudes and behaviours for success

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

New Community Engagement Report Published

February 27, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has produced a publication showcasing the great work that took place as part of the company’s community engagement programme during 2018

2016 Apprentice Winner Launches Cake Range at SPAR Pwllheli

February 26, 2019

The winner of 2016’s The Apprentice launches a delicious cake range at independent retailer Conrad Davies’ SPAR Pwllheli

A.F. Blakemore Centenary Publication Now Out

January 29, 2019

A.F. Blakemore has published a 100th anniversary commemorative publication showcasing the company’s history through photos, memories and newspaper cuttings

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

SPAR Brayford Wharf Relaunches with New Food-to-go Range

January 23, 2019

SPAR Brayford Wharf has undergone a significant transformation to introduce Blakemore Retail’s latest food-to-go offer

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

Blakemore Logistics Delivers Road Safety Message to Schools

November 28, 2018

More than 800 pupils from across the West Midlands are educated on the rules of the road as part of Blakemore Logistics’ annual road safety campaign

Drivers Celebrate Warehouse to Wheels Success

October 29, 2018

A.F. Blakemore employees celebrate successfully qualifying as LGV drivers on the company’s Warehouse to Wheels programme

Blakemore Retail Raises Child Safety Awareness and a Roarsome £52,000 for the NSPCC

September 04, 2018

Blakemore Retail SPAR stores across England and Wales have been on a bank holiday fundraising drive for the NSPCC while at the same time raising awareness about how parents can keep their children safe from sexual abuse

New Eat 17 Hammersmith Store Reinvents the Market Hall

August 14, 2018

Multi-award-winning fine food store and restaurant chain Eat 17 opens a new store in Hammersmith, complete with an indoor street food market and yoga classes

Blakemore Foodservice Crowned Favourite Delivered Wholesaler at HIM Wholesale Awards

July 03, 2018

Blakemore Foodservice scoops the title of Independent Foodservice Operator’s Favourite Delivered Wholesaler at the HIM Wholesale Awards

A.F. Blakemore Rolls Out Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Sessions

July 03, 2018

A.F. Blakemore begins the rollout of a new Equality, Inclusion & Diversity (EID) awareness session across the company

Blakemore Logistics Helps 100 Young People into Work

May 28, 2018

Blakemore Logistics helps more than 100 young people into work as a result of a partnership with a West Midlands employability programme

SPAR Thurcroft Re-launches at New Site

April 20, 2018

Blakemore Retail’s Thurcroft SPAR store in Rotherham relaunches with a brand new Greggs

New SPAR Store Launches at Roadchef Strensham South

March 23, 2018

Blakemore Trade Partners launches a new SPAR store offering premium food to go at Roadchef Strensham South Services in Worcestershire

A.F. Blakemore Honoured at Apprenticeship Awards

February 21, 2018

A.F. Blakemore is crowned Employer of the Year at the Performance Through People Achievement Awards

A.F. Blakemore Spreads the Word on Responsible Business

February 15, 2018

More than 30 business leaders, council heads and community organisations from across Walsall join together to investigate collaborative ways to address key challenges across the borough

Inside Eat 17’s Latest Store at Bishop’s Stortford

January 31, 2018

A.F. Blakemore and entrepreneurial business partners James Brundle and Chris O’Connor opened their latest Eat 17 store in the Hertfordshire town of Bishop’s Stortford in November

Defibrillator Installation Now Complete Across AFB RDCs

January 30, 2018

A.F. Blakemore’s rollout of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across its retail distribution centres is now complete

A.F. Blakemore Awards 12 Good Causes £1,917 Heritage Grants

December 20, 2017

A.F. Blakemore has concluded its centenary year by awarding 12 good causes a grant of £1,917 through its charitable trust, the Blakemore Foundation

Colleagues Rally Together for Education Focus Week

November 30, 2017

A focus week based on A.F. Blakemore’s Branching Out education programme took place this month, as part of the company’s centenary celebrations

A.F. Blakemore Celebrates Equality, Inclusion and Diversity

October 25, 2017

A.F. Blakemore hosts an Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Week as part of a series of commemorative events to celebrate 100 years in business

A.F. Blakemore Ready and Waiting to Sign Up New Retail Accounts Today

October 01, 2017

If you are looking for a new supplier partner for your store, look no further than our SPAR team here at Blakemore Trade Partners

100th Anniversary Charity Birthday Party Raises £86,000 for Good Causes

September 29, 2017

On September 1st, colleagues across England and Wales took part in 300 celebratory events at stores and depots across the company’s trading area

A.F. Blakemore Launches Apprenticeship Partnership with PTP

August 03, 2017

A.F. Blakemore announces West Midlands-based training company Performance Through People as the lead provider in the delivery of its 2017/18 apprenticeship programme