Spar International has opened its first two stores in Albania, in Tirana East Gate (TEG) and in the QTU shopping centre, following the announcement of its recent partnership with local operator Balfin Group.
Spar Albania, as part of Balfin Group, plans to convert its existing 15 stories to Spar branding, and plans to open over 100 supermarkets and 10 hypermarkets across the country by the end of 2017.
Approximately €50 million will be invested in the venture, and once completed, it will be the largest retail network in Albania.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Balfin, a leading privately owned Albanian business Group, to develop Spar Supermarkets and Interspar Hypermarkets in Albania," said Spar International Managing Director, Tobias Wasmuht.
"Working in true co-operation with the Balfin Group, we are able to unite the best of international with the best of local, creating an excellent proposition of value, service, quality and choice for our customers in Albania.”
Albania is the 44th country in which Spar now operates.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
