Company Strategy & Performance - Spar Group initially expanded overseas due to South African investment restrictions, seeking to be proxies in other markets for investment managers [2][3] - Spar Group divested its Swiss and UK businesses due to subscale operations and high capital requirements to meet strategic ambitions [5] - Spar is refocusing on its home market in South Africa, expanding its DIY, pharmacy, and liquor operations [6] - Spar's African revenue has significantly outpaced its European revenue in recent years [4] - Spar aims to compete with Shoprite, currently being the second biggest supermarket brand in South Africa [8] Market Dynamics & Opportunities - South Africa has a high density of retail space with over 1400 shopping malls [1] - Liquor shops in South Africa are expanding rapidly, growing almost twice as quickly as conventional supermarkets [7] - Spar's liquor brand, Tops, has become the single biggest retail liquor brand in South Africa through independent retailers [7] - Groceries in Switzerland are often 50% more expensive than in neighboring European countries due to strong trade protection measures [4]
Spar's Retail Pivot: Pulling Back From Europe to Focus on Africa
Bloomberg Televisionยท2025-08-30 07:00