Appleby Westward’s managing director Mike Boardman calms concerns among SPAR employees in the Southwest, as the wholesaler’s parent company Spar South Africa (SPAR Group) progresses with plans to sell the UK distribution business.
Speaking at the company’s annual trade show and conference in Torquay on 3 July, Boardman said it would be business as usual, till point of sale, saying the group remains committed to servicing its network of 160 independent SPAR retailers and 133 company-owned stores across the Southwest of England.
Boardman told attendees, “We are seeking an owner that will take the business forward.” He reassured stakeholders that service levels remain high and that the company’s operations continue uninterrupted, despite being designated a discontinued operation by SPAR Group.
SPAR South Africa confirmed in May that it had entered exclusive talks with a UK-based buyer. While industry speculation has centered on AF Blakemore—SPAR’s distributor for central England and Wales—as a logical purchaser, the company has declined to comment on its interest. Boardman emphasised it was still “way too early to be discussing this,” but acknowledged the issue had become “a bit of an elephant in the room.”
In a statement to Talking Retail, Boardman described Appleby Westward as a “jewel in the crown” and reiterated that commitments to suppliers, retailers, and colleagues remain undiminished.
The sale comes as part of SPAR Group’s wider international strategic realignment.
As reported by Moneyweb and Irish Examiner, SPAR is looking to reduce its offshore footprint and refocus on its core South African business. The group is simultaneously disposing of its Swiss operations and seeking to exit the UK, which together account for approximately €1.1bn in sales. SPAR Ireland, by contrast, achieved record retail sales of €1.3bn in 2024. According to Moneyweb, SPAR Group expects a drop in headline earnings for the interim period ended March 2025, while the Irish Examiner described the shift as a pivot “towards a more profitable international presence.”
Appleby Westward had previously been included in SPAR’s long-term investment plans. However, SPAR Group’s strategic review determined that company-owned stores—such as those managed by AWG—no longer fit its global direction, which now prioritises partnerships with independent retailers.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2023 Retail Outlook sheds an uncomfortable light on the global retail sector instability due to inflation and macroeconomic volatility, challenges many retailers—particularly in Switzerland and the UK—have been adapting through digital transformation, loyalty enhancements, and operational restructuring.
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