Peter Blakemore, managing director of A.F. Blakemore and Son Ltd, has been presented with the Adriaan van Well Medal for his ‘outstanding contribution’ to Spar International.
Blakemore played a key part in the growth of Spar UK and the rise of the convenience retail sector, serving as a director on the Spar UK board for more than 40 years, with 20 years as chairman. In addition, he has served as a member of the board of Spar International for 12 years.
The news comes as Blakemore steps down from the board of Spar International. His position will be taken by Dominic Hall, managing director James Hall & Co. Ltd and chairman of the National Guild of Spar.
Contribution
Speaking about the award, managing director of Spar International Tobias Wasmuht said, “In over 85 years of Spar's proud history, the van Well medal has been awarded only 23 times in recognition of individuals whose contribution to the Spar has been exemplary and personify the Spar values and ideals."
“Peter has contributed greatly to Spar in the UK and internationally. His extraordinary energy and enthusiasm and commitment to his colleagues, his customers, his community and Spar International exemplifies this principle.”
Background
A.F. Blakemore and Son was founded in 1917. Today the company consists of nine trading divisions spanning across the retail, wholesale, food service, logistics and shop fitting sectors. It employs more than 8,100 people, and owns and operates 300 Spar convenience stores.
In addition, A.F. Blakemore runs 14 cash and carry depots, with six major distribution centres located across the Midlands, South Wales, East Sussex and Yorkshire.
Adriaan van Well was a Dutch wholesaler who founded Spar in the Netherlands in 1932.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
