When the first EUROSPAR supermarkets opened in January 2000, the concept of a large format store nestled in the heart of communities was somewhat alien to Northern Ireland.
It wasn’t long after the arrival of the multiple brands, which opened out of town superstores, but they weren’t close to home, and that is where EUROSPAR NI stood out.
The brand brought everyday essentials and key services under one roof but, crucially, right on shoppers’ doorsteps. Today, there are 90 EUROSPAR supermarkets in Northern Ireland, with the brand making such an impact that many SPAR branded stores have expanded and rebranded.
Patrick Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group which owns the retail brands in Northern Ireland, said: “There is room and an appetite for both brands here, and our SPAR stores have also been increasing their footprint, with many of our independent stores keen to offer even more products and services under our popular symbol brand.”
Most recently, The Wall Group introduced a EUROSPAR supermarket to their portfolio of SPAR stores, following suit of many other independents.
The growth of the brand in the past five years, since the pandemic, has seen a steady rise in numbers of the large format stores opening here, Mr Doody said.
“In 2020,there were 68 EUROSPARs in Northern Ireland. Today, we have 90, made up of 35 independent and 55 company-owned stores.
“Covid restrictions meant more shoppers were discovering what we offered. They realised we stocked a majority of what their usual out of town supermarket may have, even matching their prices, but at that time, consumers weren’t willing to stray too far. They also knew their local store owners and teams as they’re all run by local people.”
The McVeigh family opened their Warrenpoint supermarket in 2000, the first independent EUROSPAR to open here. It continues to be run by the late Des McVeigh’s wife, Frances and daughter Paula, alongside long-term store manager, Brian.
Frances said: “It was a very proud moment to open our store, and I’m delighted to say that we have been thriving ever since, consistently investing in our staff and store, upgrading, renovating and engaging positively with our local community.”
Over the past quarter-century, EUROSPAR has not only become a household name but has played a pivotal role in the evolution of community supermarkets in Northern Ireland, and now, Henderson Group is looking towards the next 25 years.
“EUROSPAR’s success is rooted in its ability to adapt and grow while still delivering on its core mission of providing value on the doorsteps of our shoppers, while staying connected to local communities”, Mark McCammond, retail director at Henderson Group, said.
“Throughout our company-owned stores, we are focused on innovation and sustainability, building stores that not only serve the region for today, but will be there for the future. In the past 25 years, we have grown our links with local suppliers and now over 75% of our fresh food is sourced from local producers. We are committed to making a positive local impact for the next 25 years and beyond.”