James Hall & Co. Ltd hosts SPAR Forward retailer event

James Hall and Co used its SPAR Forward retailer event to outline plans for expanded food manufacturing, investment in retail technology and continued growth in Food To Go.

More than 600 delegates gathered at Harrogate Convention Centre as the SPAR wholesaler shared convenience retail strategies, investment plans and new product developments with independent retailers from across the North of England.

Andrew Hall, chairman and chief executive, said the business would continue expanding its food manufacturing capabilities to help SPAR retailers navigate supply chain pressures and inflationary challenges, adding: “If we can’t buy it, we will make it.”

The tradeshow featured 66 suppliers from across the convenience retail sector including headline sponsors British American Tobacco, Budweiser Brewing Group, Carlsberg-Britvic, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Nestlé and PepsiCo.

Hall highlighted the launches of new SPAR fresh chicken products, mid-tier chilled SPAR brand pizzas and Clayton Park Bakery sourdough lines as key developments over the last 12 months.

He also announced that fresh food sales in the SPAR Northern Guild have outstripped the wider convenience retail sector by four per cent.

Longridge’s Ann Forshaw’s Milk Shed used SPAR Forward to launch a new Gooseberry and Elderflower yoghurt alongside an Apple Crumble luxury yoghurt in the brand’s glass jar range.

Accrington’s Clayton Park Bakery showcased new Cherry and Marshmallow Cupcakes at the event.

More bread lines, cake varieties, on-the-go food solutions and ready meals were also revealed as part of the new product development pipeline for launch in the months ahead.

SPAR Forward also marked 70 years of SPAR in the UK, with James Hall and Co the only remaining founding partner of SPAR UK from 1956 when the brand entered the market from the Netherlands.

SPAR international managing director Tobias Wasmuht highlighted success stories around own-brand products, store investment and fresh food.

He said research showed 42 per cent of Gen Z buy Food To Go at least weekly compared to 27 per cent of Gen X.

Joint managing director Niels Dekkers said the SPAR Northern Guild will invest £8.8m in new retail technology, marketing and margins.

He also stressed the value of Q-commerce platforms to convenience retail was continuing to grow following the introduction of Uber Eats in 2025.

Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have helped grow Q-commerce sales by 40 per cent over the last year.

SPAR Northern Guild Committee retailers Oliver Blake, Leigh Parkinson, Asif Patel and Paul Stone also relaunched the Guild’s position as a support network for independent retailers.

Peter Dodding, sales director and chairman of the SPAR Northern Guild, said: “Prior to SPAR Forward, I said we have convenience retail strategies here at James Hall and Co to keep our SPAR retailers growing both their sales and profitability.

“I believe we have achieved this with the presentation of our blueprint for the year ahead.

“Despite the obvious challenges we are facing in the convenience retail sector at present, there is a real feeling of optimism and togetherness under the SPAR brand as we continue to work hard to deliver real success for our retailers.”