An insight driven programme on the future of convenience retail is the focus of James Hall & Co’s annual retailer event – this year branded Spar Inspire.
After the success of the company’s revamped one-day event that debuted in 2024, Spar Inspire has expanded for 2025.
Returning to Harrogate Convention Centre, Spar Inspire will bring together current and prospective Spar independent retailers on Thursday 10th April with James Hall & Co’s G&E Murgatroyd company-stores division to connect and share ideas and initiatives.
Keynote speakers include Andrew and Dominic Hall, joint managing directors of James Hall & Co., and recently appointed managing director of Spar UK, Michael Fletcher, who will give oversight on SPAR’s focus areas in the UK market.
Scheduled topics to be covered off by other speakers on an action-packed morning agenda include:
- Niels Dekkers, IT and Marketing Director – IT updates and customer campaigns
- Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director – Value and promotion strategies
- Wilf Whittle, Trading Controller – Fresh produce developments
- Peter Dewhurst, Food To Go and Fresh Food Sales Manager – Meal solutions and category project results
- Peter Dodding, Sales Director – Coffee success stories and Food To Go development
Spar independent retailer and Northern Guild member Bhavesh Parekh will also present to delegates, highlighting the progress of his business since joining Spar through its association with James Hall & Co., in 2016.
Following the morning sessions, retailers will be able to engage with an expanded number of 58 big brand suppliers in the afternoon tradeshow.
James Hall & Co. Ltd’s brands will be showcased again, with Cheeky Coffee, Ann Forshaw’s, Fazilas, and the recently rebranded Clayton Park Bakery all having dedicated positions in the exhibition hall alongside an extended area for SPAR brand products.
There will be chilled out Inspiration Hub where retailers can catch up, and the day will close with a relaxed, informal social evening of food and drinks, with entertainment provided by Bingo Lingo.
Peter Dodding, sales director and chairman of the Spar Northern Guild said: “Last year’s retailer event set the bar high for 2025, but we feel we have risen to the challenge with Spar Inspire to showcase our outstanding community retailing, wholesaling, and manufacturing.
“We have an insight rich agenda across a range of category areas for retailers to take inspiration from, with a tradeshow following on which is 30% larger than last year and full of brands and products that thrive in the convenience sector.
“The tradeshow has been incentivised again this year giving one lucky retailer the opportunity to win up to £10,000 worth of stock, and this adds impetus to engage with our valued suppliers and take advantage of the superb deals they will bring with them for the occasion.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming all of our retail family at SparInspire and to provide them with knowledge and learnings to take home and drive sales and profit through their SPAR stores.”
James Hall & Co., is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent Spar retailers and company-owned Spar stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
