Spar appoints Debbie Robinson as new MD | Independent News | TalkingRetail.com

Debbie Robinson has been appointed the new managing director of Spar UK and will be joining at the end of the summer.

Spar chairman Peter Blakemore said:“We are delighted that Debbie is joining the Spar organisation. She brings with her a wealth of retail experience and her passion and knowledge will be invaluable to our business.”

Debbie Robinson will be based from Spar’s central office in Harrow. In her previous role as director of food marketing at the Co-operative Group, she developed formats including layout, space allocation, merchandising and design for petrol forecourts, convenience stores and supermarkets.

She was also general manager for brand and retail, responsible for all store locational and acquisition strategies, format designs and ranging.

Robinson also developed the Co-operative’s “good with food” campaign, including TV, radio and press communications.

Robinson said:“I am delighted to be taking on this role; Spar is a fantastic business with a regional structure that is ideally suited to today’s customer needs.  My priority will be to continue to drive the Spar brand forward increasing its relevance with customers and developing the offer to drive sales and profit.”

Current managing director Jerry Marwood said:“This is a fantastic hire for Spar Debbie’s appointment is in line with the further development of Spar. Our retail estate is growing and our Spar retailers are positive about their prospects and still continue to invest locally. I am very confident that Debbie will be an excellent contributor to the business.”

Spar retail sales for the nine months to the end of January have been“solid” but the organisation says the economic climate is still challenging with more and more competition coming into the convenience sector, and this will continue well into 2012.

Retail sales for the organisation rose by 1.66% year-on-year to 31 January 2011. The increase has come as retailers are focusing on increasing the value and volume of promotions on offer to their customers and ensuring that customers are able to get“better-than-ever value closer to home”. 

Spar is also reporting that sales of its own-brand range have risen considerably, delivering greater value to customers.  Own-brand sales rose by 3.85% year-on-year with a particular strong performance in the sales of fresh foods which has risen by 6.59%.

Source: Spar

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