SPAR has been serving shoppers for more than nine decades, yet many are only now discovering what the name actually stands for. Established by Adriaan van Well in 1932, the Dutch multinational franchise now operates over 13,900 stores across 48 countries, welcoming 14.7 million customers daily.
The Origins of the Name
The very first SPAR-branded store opened in the Netherlands under the name DESPAR, styled as DE SPAR. Van Well crafted this acronym as a slogan for his shops. While the retailer is simply known as SPAR in England, it continues to trade as DESPAR in some parts of the world, prompting a baffled traveller to ask on Quora: "Why are SPAR supermarkets called DESPAR in Italy?"
On its website, SPAR explains: "It was initially launched as DESPAR, an acronym of a slogan created by van Well: Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig, which translates to 'All Benefit from Joint Co-operation Regularly.'"
"A simple yet powerful philosophy inspired van Well – independent wholesalers and retailers can achieve more by working together than working alone."
Global Expansion and Name Change
During the 1940s, the company opted to shorten its brand name before expanding across Europe. The first SPAR outlet in the UK opened in the 1950s. A statement adds: "SPAR International was established in 1953 to support and develop the SPAR brand and voluntary food retail network globally. Mr van Well was the first President of the International SPAR Board."
The United Kingdom became a member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the licence to a group of independent wholesalers. Today, five regional organisations build the brand in the UK, with a central office in London providing national marketing and buying services.
SPAR UK leads the convenience market, comprising independently owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores, including forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhood stores.
Commenting on the name retention in Italy, one Quora user noted: "When the company was founded in the Netherlands it was originally called Despar. Later when they expanded across Europe some countries shortened the name to Spar but Italy retained the original name. To English speakers Despar looks too close to 'despair' but to Italian speakers, it doesn't have this problem."
