SPAR Western Cape has bold initiatives to grow market share and the Spar brand, particularly in the Peninsula, says managing director Bill Brown.

He is now trying to sell his plan to developers, brokers and planners alike to have 50 new stores up and running in the Peninsula in the next four years.

Says Conway Nesbitt, retail operations director of Spar Western Cape, who is responsible for the three development opportunities (Kwikspar, Spar and Superspar): 'We'll find the retailers, if you can find us the sites. If there are opportunities, give us a shout, we want to be part of the action.'

Brian Beavon, chairman the Spar Guild of Southern Africa says Spar in South Africa is influenced by the group's strong presence overseas (it operates in 30 countries with over 17 000 stores). 'This puts us ahead of our competition in terms of trends overseas and is key to our growth.'

Beavon says the group's focus is on 'new generation stores'. Major emphasis will be placed on store image and standards. There are also major drives to remodel, upgrade and extend existing stores.

Beavon says the Spar group's strength is that it can target any kind of market from convenience right through to the large stores. 'We can style a store according to what is needed by customers.' Superspar stores are to be launched next month.