SPAR Slovenia has named David Kovačič as its new general manager, as the business marks its 30th year of operations in the country.
Despite a difficult period marketed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the retailer closed 2020 with a gross turnover of €909 million, up 8.9% on the previous year.
During the past year, SPAR Slovenia continued to expand its network with the addition of three new stores – including the Aleja shopping center in Ljubljana, the SPAR Radenci supermarket and the SPAR Logatec hypermarket.
It also renovated and enlarged the SPAR Lenart supermarket, which is now a hypermarket.
As of year-end, SPAR Slovenia’s network totals 160 SPAR and Interspar outlets, nine Interspar restaurants, 19 SPAR partner stores and the SPAR Online online store.
The business also recently built a new distribution centre in Slovenia, which covers some 43,000 square metres and has achieved IFS Logistik, ISO 9001 and ISO 50001 certification.
Online Presence
SPAR Slovenia's e-commerce platform underwent major development last year, as online shopping increased significantly during the pandemic.
At the first outbreak of the epidemic, its online services recorded at least 20 times higher demand compared to the period before. In December 2020, 2.5 times more orders were registered online, compared to the same period a year earlier, while basket size was 20% higher.
As of February 25 this year, SPAR Slovenia's online services, which to date have offered drive-in and delivery services in Ljubljana and its surroundings, has also been extended to Kranj and the surrounding area.
© 2021 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
