Spar is set to open 60 new stores in Ireland by 2025 in response to positive retail sales.

Sales for the symbol group exceeded €1.6bn last year, a 4.5% year-on-year increase, across the network of both Spar and Eurospar.

As a result, the group are looking to support retailers with “future growth” to develop and expand the business whilst creating over 1,100 new jobs.

Speaking at Spar’s 60^th anniversary event in Ireland, BWG Group chief executive, Leo Crawford, said: “Our Spar and Eurospar brands continue to perform very well, and our exceptional sales are a tribute to the strength of the Spar and Eurospar brands which have been at the forefront of the grocery sector in Ireland for the past 60 years.

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“We are very confident about the opportunities for future growth and look forward to supporting our retailers to further develop and expand their businesses over the coming years. Changing consumer behaviours are transforming the retail landscape and we will be ensuring that our Spar and Eurospar stores respond with innovative solutions to meet the needs of the more than 1 million customers who visit our stores every day.”

BWG Foods has found several potential greenfield and brownfield sites for the new stores, which will take the total number of Spar stores across Ireland to 525.

The firm also confirmed its intention to upgrade more than 100 existing stores across the region. The renovation plan includes the rollout of a new store design for EuroSpar supermarket format, featuring a number of carbon-reduction measures, these include refrigeration technologies, solar panel installation and recycled fixings.

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