Home > Info Centre > News
Info Centre
News
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
Philpotts Introduces Winter-warming Christmas Range with Vegan Options
October 31, 2019
Philpotts is set to launch a new range for the Christmas period, including a festive selection of hot drinks, wraps and sandwiches
Blakemore Retail Commits to Disability Training in Support of Purple Tuesday
October 21, 2019
Blakemore Retail SPAR employees will undertake online disability awareness training in support of Purple Tuesday
Blakemore Trade Partners Launches New Retail Strategy at SRS19
October 02, 2019
Blakemore Trade Partners announces a brand-new Store Cluster Strategy at its 2019 SPAR Retail Show, aimed at helping retailers differentiate their stores for different locations and markets
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
A.F. Blakemore Ranked 44th Largest Privately Owned Company in Britain
July 04, 2019
A.F. Blakemore & Son has been named the 44th largest privately owned company in Britain in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100
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
Blakemore Foodservice Strengthens Ties with Suppliers
April 16, 2019
Blakemore Foodservice has called upon its supplier base to work more collaboratively with the business as it seeks to maximise exciting new opportunities across the sector
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
Nikki Rogers Appointed Food Solutions Director
April 03, 2019
A.F. Blakemore has announced the appointment of a new Food Solutions 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 Colleagues Celebrate Cracking Community Christmas
January 02, 2019
A.F. Blakemore employees supported more than two thousand different good causes in their local communities this Christmas
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
SPAR Retail Show Inspires with Food for Thought
September 06, 2018
More than 1,200 colleagues, suppliers and retailers attend Blakemore Trade Partners’ SPAR Retail Show, themed ‘Food for Thought’
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
A.F. Blakemore Warehouse Apprentice Well Picked
August 09, 2018
A go-getting young recruit at A.F. Blakemore celebrates becoming the first person to complete the company’s new Warehouse & Distribution apprenticeship programme
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Honoured for NSPCC Fundraising
July 23, 2018
Blakemore Retail employees are honoured for going the extra mile to help raise more than £3 million for the NSPCC
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 Retail Conference 2018: Shaping Our Future - The Pace of Change
June 28, 2018
More than 500 store managers, field staff, A.F. Blakemore colleagues and suppliers attend Blakemore Retail’s Managers Conference to find out about future development plans
Blakemore Retail Fundraising for NSPCC Tops £3 Million
June 14, 2018
Blakemore Retail has raises £3 million to help the NSPCC make a difference to 800,000 children’s lives
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 Revered at Walsall Council Partner Awards
March 20, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is presented with Bronze Partner Status at the Walsall Works Partner Awards
Blakemore Trade Partners and Fine Foods Launch New Apps
March 01, 2018
Blakemore Trade Partners and Blakemore Fine Foods launch new mobile apps to give their customers the ease of ordering on the go
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
AFB Graduates Attend Leading the Blakemore Way
January 29, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s most recent graduate joiners attend a three-day residential Leading the Blakemore Way course
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 & Son Ltd Reports Solid Results for 2016/17
October 18, 2017
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd Chairman Peter Blakemore has described a “good, solid result” for the 2016/17 financial year during a period of intense change across the food retail and wholesale markets
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
A.F. Blakemore Goes Green for Environmental Focus Week
July 05, 2017
As part of a series of commemorative events to celebrate 100 years in business, colleagues across A.F. Blakemore have taken part in the company’s first ever Environmental Focus Week
A.F. Blakemore Scoops Two HIM Wholesale Awards
July 04, 2017
A.F. Blakemore picks up two top accolades at the HIM Wholesale Awards 2017
Blakemore Retail Launches New Store at Aldridge
July 01, 2017
Blakemore Retail opens a brand new SPAR convenience store in Walsall featuring a state-of-the-art Daily Deli food service counter
New Blakemore Logistics Livery Hits the Road
May 31, 2017
A.F. Blakemore has begun the rollout of a brand new livery design on its distribution fleet
A.F. Blakemore Continues to Drive Apprentices to Achieve Potential
May 26, 2017
A.F. Blakemore has welcomed five new apprentices onto its Logistics Apprenticeship Programme
Blakemore Employees Roll Up Sleeves for Give & Gain Day 2017
May 19, 2017
26 employee volunteers from across A.F. Blakemore donated their time to making a positive difference to local communities as part of Business in the Community’s national day of volunteering
Blakemore Design & Shopfitting and Blakemore Property Achieve Investors in People Bronze
May 03, 2017
In recognition of their investment in staff, Blakemore Design & Shopfitting and Blakemore Property have been awarded Investors in People Bronze status
A.F. Blakemore Launches 1917 Heritage Grants Scheme
April 05, 2017
A.F. Blakemore is celebrating its centenary with a charitable giving scheme offering one-off community grants worth £1,917 to good causes across the company’s trading area
Eat 17 Scoops Three Convenience Retail Awards
March 20, 2017
SPAR Eat 17 Hackney has been crowned Best Large Convenience Store at the Convenience Retail Awards
2017 Responsible Business Report Out Now
February 28, 2017
A.F. Blakemore has published its 2017 Responsible Business Report
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd Reports a Rise in Sales and Profits for 2015/16
January 10, 2017
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd posts a 0.2% increase in profits and 2.4% increase in sales in its latest set of accounts
A.F. Blakemore Launches New Employability Programme
January 03, 2017
A.F. Blakemore launches a new community programme to inspire, engage and motivate young people into the world of work
A.F. Blakemore Celebrates 100 Years of Success
January 03, 2017
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd is marking its centenary with a series of celebrations throughout 2017
Blakemore Foodservice Celebrates Top Caterers at Catering Awards
December 22, 2016
Blakemore Foodservice celebrates the achievements of customers across the catering sector at its annual Catering Awards
Road Safety Week Reaches Out to 900 Schoolchildren
November 29, 2016
More than 900 pupils from across the West Midlands are educated on the rules of the road as part of Blakemore Logistics’ annual road safety campaign
Blakemore Logistics Colleagues Recognised at House of Commons
November 03, 2016
Two Blakemore Logistics colleagues are recognised for their achievements at the Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ Skills and Development Awards
Blakemore Retail Recognised with Five Retail Industry Awards
September 30, 2016
Blakemore Retail scoops five category wins and one commendation at the prestigious Retail Industry Awards
Blakemore Retail Opens New Flagship Store
August 22, 2016
Blakemore Retail opens a brand new flagship petrol forecourt store in Laceby, North East Lincolnshire
Blakemore Fresh Foods Achieves another Year of Record Sales
July 20, 2016
Blakemore Fresh Foods’ expansion into new trading areas has been identified as the key reason for the company achieving a consecutive year of record sales
News
March 20, 2020
SPAR Meets Surge in Supply Demand
March 19, 2020
Colleagues Praised for Outstanding Service in Coronavirus Crisis
March 19, 2020
View all Stories
