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.
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.
February 13, 2023
The 2023 Drinks Retailing Awards celebrated a range of dynamic supermarkets, convenience chains and regional stores, all of which are championing drinks and helping the off-trade thrive.
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.
February 06, 2023
A convenience store shopper from Scunthorpe has won the ultimate Christmas after entering a SPAR competition.
February 06, 2023
A convenience store shopper from Welshampton has won free fuel for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.
February 06, 2023
A convenience store shopper from Worcester has won free energy for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.
February 06, 2023
A convenience store customer from Peterborough has won free shopping at SPAR for a year after entering a SPAR Christmas competition.
February 06, 2023
SPAR is launching five new and exciting own label lines to its overall confectionery range.
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.
February 02, 2023
A.F. Blakemore & Son launched a SPAR Christmas campaign in December giving away up to £100,000 worth of prizes.
December 23, 2022
The Blakemore Foundation awards donations worth circa £65,000 to more than 1,300 activities and events in communities this Christmas
December 23, 2022
Blakemore Retail’s Operations Support team makes the shortlist for a Head Office Heroes award at the Retail Week Awards
December 22, 2022
Blakemore Retail’s Alsager SPAR store relaunches with a delicious new food-to-go offer
December 08, 2022
A.F. Blakemore launches a SPAR Christmas campaign giving away up to £100,000 worth of prizes
December 07, 2022
Machynlleth SPAR and Post Office reopens with a new Greggs bakery after undergoing a refurbishment
December 07, 2022
Blakemore Retail’s Quay Road SPAR and Post Office reopens after undergoing a refit
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
November 22, 2022
Meat Trader Bal Mehmi from Blakemore Fresh Foods is crowned a winner at the national Women in Meat Industry Awards
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
October 27, 2022
Four hundred people attend SPAR UK’s national conference in Gran Canaria
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
October 21, 2022
An independent family-owned SPAR store in Dersingham rebrands as a SPAR Market store
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
September 30, 2022
Back in August, A.F. Blakemore welcomed Bruno Krssak to the business as General Manager for its Bedford distribution depot
September 29, 2022
Blakemore Retail’s Llanharry SPAR and Post Office reopens after extensive fire and water damage forced it to close in April
September 29, 2022
More than 800 A.F. Blakemore colleagues enjoy a free day out at Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire
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
September 27, 2022
SPAR Beddau Supervisor Lisa James wins Sales Colleague of the Year at The Convenience Awards
September 14, 2022
Blakemore Retail’s August bank holiday fundraiser has already raised more than £30,000 for the NSPCC
September 13, 2022
Five A.F. Blakemore colleagues complete an epic bike ride from London to Paris in aid of charity GroceryAid
September 13, 2022
Blakemore Retail colleagues help various good causes supporting people in need during the school summer holidays.
September 09, 2022
Five A.F. Blakemore colleagues embarked upon an epic bike ride from London to Paris in aid of charity GroceryAid
August 26, 2022
Five A.F. Blakemore colleagues celebrate completing apprenticeships at a graduation ceremony at Stafford County Showground
August 26, 2022
Twenty-nine colleagues from A.F. Blakemore volunteer a day of work time to help Disability Sport Wales deliver a major sports festival event
August 26, 2022
Colleagues get set to celebrate GroceryAid Week from Monday 5th September to Sunday 11th September
August 24, 2022
Blakemore Retail and independent SPAR stores across the Meridian & Welsh Guild make the shortlist at 2022’s Convenience, Retail Industry and Forecourt Trader Awards
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
August 02, 2022
Five Blakemore colleagues take part in a new virtual community volunteering opportunity with the NSPCC
August 01, 2022
Colleagues at A.F. Blakemore’s Bedford distribution depot brave their local river waters to take part in a raft race in aid of charity
July 29, 2022
More than 250 store managers attend Blakemore Retail’s Managers’ Conference to learn about exciting new initiatives setting the business up for future success
July 12, 2022
SPAR UK awards £100,000 to good causes across the UK via its Community Cashback scheme
June 22, 2022
SPAR UK signes a new partnership deal with Deliveroo covering all 2,160 SPAR stores in England, Scotland and Wales
June 22, 2022
Blakemore Retail raises more than £40,000 for the NSPCC at its fourth charity ball
June 17, 2022
‘New World, New Opportunities’ was the key theme lighting up the room at Blakemore Trade Partners’ SPAR Retail Show this year
June 10, 2022
Blakemore Retail colleagues enjoy the long bank holiday weekend celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a fundraiser for the NSPCC
June 10, 2022
Colleagues wish A.F. Blakemore’s Group Managing Director for Operations, Geoff Hallam, a happy retirement after 32 years with the business
June 09, 2022
Now that the A.F. Blakemore Retirement Savings Plan with Aviva is up and running, we want to make sure that it continues to deliver what members really need and value - and so we need your help
June 01, 2022
Blakemore Retail colleagues are getting ready for a big bank holiday weekend celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
May 18, 2022
A.F. Blakemore launches a Race at Work Strategy
May 09, 2022
SPAR launches a variety of own label products to maximise this summer’s great opportunity
May 04, 2022
Blakemore Retail launches a brand-new SPAR convenience store in the town of Spalding, Lincolnshire
April 22, 2022
There are just five days remaining for colleagues to get behind A.F. Blakemore’s new ‘Play & Win’ smartphone game!
April 22, 2022
SPAR Aberavon relaunches with a new and improved hot food counter serving delicious food to go
April 21, 2022
Blakemore Retail is recognised at the NSPCC Corporate Impact Awards with the CEO’s Choice Award for Fundraising
April 06, 2022
A.F. Blakemore trials an electric truck at its Willenhall distribution centre
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
March 25, 2022
A.F. Blakemore opens its Mentoring Programme up again for a new intake of mentors and mentees
March 25, 2022
A.F. Blakemore is inviting all colleagues to get involved in Environment Week next month
March 25, 2022
Blakemore Foodservice and Wholesale Distribution colleagues volunteer 31 hours of work time to packing bags of essentials for people in need
March 24, 2022
A.F. Blakemore relaunches its road safety awareness campaign to more than 450 students at two West Midlands schools
March 18, 2022
A.F. Blakemore is inviting colleagues to join in with Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection
March 18, 2022
A.F. Blakemore colleagues and retailers support numerous appeals to help Ukrainian people
March 17, 2022
A.F. Blakemore takes part in World Cancer Day
March 04, 2022
A.F. Blakemore will be inviting all colleagues to have their say on working at the business in a new company-wide survey later this March
March 04, 2022
Seven Blakemore colleagues volunteer their work time to supporting a school half-term food parcel scheme in Wolverhampton
March 02, 2022
Find out more about new Environmental Sustainability Manager Darshika Patel
March 02, 2022
A.F. Blakemore will be trialling an electric truck at its Willenhall distribution centre for a week in March
February 18, 2022
Blakemore Retail launches a brand-new concept store at SPAR Aberystwyth
February 16, 2022
A.F. Blakemore appoints David Cooke to the newly created role of Group Commercial Director
February 07, 2022
SPAR announces market-leading sales for the four weeks to 2nd January 2022
January 13, 2022
Vegan Store launches a new weekly delivery box for Veganuary
January 13, 2022
Ten new tractor units have been delivered into A.F. Blakemore’s food distribution fleet, each meeting Transport for London’s three-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rating
January 12, 2022
SPAR unveils new UK-wide brand positioning that celebrates the unique characteristics of SPAR convenience stores
January 06, 2022
SPAR makes its full range of own-label wines suitable for vegans
January 05, 2022
SPAR is launching a brand-new consumer campaign in participating stores around England, Scotland and Wales throughout January 2022
December 17, 2021
More AFB colleagues have qualified as mental health first aiders
December 17, 2021
Last week’s Festive Friday is estimated to have raised more than £20,000 for charity
November 26, 2021
Kelly Burrows, Ian Cawley and Alan Mayor are crowned winners at this year’s FWD Awards
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
November 24, 2021
SPAR UK fundraising for Marie Curie surpasses £2 million
November 19, 2021
A.F. Blakemore moves its operations to 100% renewable electricity
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
November 15, 2021
Blakemore Retail’s charity partnership with the NSPCC wins bronze at the Corporate Engagement Awards 2021
November 05, 2021
Blakemore Retail colleagues dress up and decorate their stores in purple for disability awareness event Purple Tuesday
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
October 22, 2021
Blakemore Trade Partners lays on its annual show for suppliers, colleagues and retailers from across SPAR UK’s Meridian & Welsh Guild
October 22, 2021
177 A.F. Blakemore colleagues take up the company’s offer of a free flu vaccination
October 15, 2021
Blakemore Retail will be teaming up with the NSPCC this October half term to promote the charity’s Home or Out Alone campaign across its store estate
October 15, 2021
Blakemore Retail opens a new SPAR store in the village of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire
October 01, 2021
Independent retailer Ajay Odedra has chosen to move his Simply Fresh supplied store in Boreham, Essex to SPAR
October 01, 2021
Did you know that A.F. Blakemore can offer colleagues across England a wide range of apprenticeships bespoke to their job roles completely free of charge?
September 17, 2021
Seventeen colleagues from A.F. Blakemore get set to embark on a brand-new Level 7 commercial apprenticeship programme
September 15, 2021
SPAR Parkfoot is named Convenience Retailer of the Year at The Convenience Awards 2021
September 03, 2021
Blakemore Retail’s PANTS Weekend fundraiser held in aid of the NSPCC over the August bank holiday has already raises in excess of £35,000
September 03, 2021
A.F. Blakemore welcomes 100 young people into the business on work placements via the government’s Kickstart Scheme
September 02, 2021
A.F. Blakemore launches a new online performance development review process that will be rolled out to all colleagues
September 01, 2021
The Association of Convenience Stores announces the appointment of SPAR Managing Director Louise Hoste as its new chair from November
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
August 20, 2021
A.F. Blakemore hosts the Walsall NHS Trust Covid vaccination bus at its Willenhall head office site