Netherlands-based supermarket chain Spar saw sales increase 7.4 per cent for the year to December 2020, hitting $62.5 billion (€39.8 billion).

And growth was highest in its Australian business, which saw strong revenue growth of 16.5 per cent off the back of its proximity and neighborhood format, as communities increasingly shopped locally due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spar currently has around 120 supermarkets across Australia.

Sales in the wider Asia-Pacific region grew by 1.5 per cent, with $2.9 billion (€1.88 billion) in retail turnover driven by the strong result in Australia and China, which recorded retail sales growth of $2.4 billion (€1.55 billion).

“Last year was very much characterised by the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic and its severe consequences, but it was also a year that saw accelerated growth as a result of the dedication and focus of our highly committed SPAR colleagues across all parts of our global SPAR network,” said Spar International chief executive Tobias Wasmuht.

“Crisis situations do invariably bring out the best in people and we at Spar can be proud of the astoundingly selfless and brave response of the Spar worldwide organisation.”

According to Wasmuht, the resilience shown by the Spar format has given the group confidence for the future, with developments accelerated across its retail and supply chain throughout the year despite the disruptions.

“A key positive factor of the last year has been the benefits of close international cooperation wrought by new, remote ways of working,” Wasmuht.

“The advantages of this intensity of cooperation are beneficial to all in Spar as we increasingly reap the benefits of our international presence and scale, whilst adding purposeful value to the local communities we serve.”