The operators of the Despar business in northern Italy, Aspiag Service, has reported a 4.5% growth in turnover to €2.16 billion in 2017.
The company, which is active in the Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige, and Emilia Romagna regions, saw growth well above the Italian retail average (+1.4%, according to Istat data).
Retail Expansion
Last year, Aspiag Service opened 21 new points of sale in Italy and refurbished another 10, for a total investment of over €52 million.
The retailer closed some smaller and outdated stores during the year, but continued to invest in its neighbourhood store format.
Particularly noteworthy is the debut of the Interspar banner in the city of Bologna, and the arrival of the Eurospar banner in Modena. The group also saw strong expansion in Emilia Romagna.
In the second half of 2017, Aspiag Service started construction work on a new logistics hub in Monselice (Pordenone). It will cover an area of 32 hectares, following an initial investment of €163 million.
There has also been growth at Spar Austria, of which Aspiag Service is part together with the Spar organisations of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary.
In 2017, the retail group generated €14.64 billion in turnover (+6.5%), with 3,164 points of sale.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
