Alliance to take on large supermarkets
The Co-op and Spar have formed an exclusive buying alliance to help the two convienience chains take on larger supermarkets.

It will focus on targeted areas of own label products and will be managed by the Co-operative Retail Trading Group, which handles more than£5 billion worth of food sales on behalf of more than 3,000 Co-op stores throughout the UK.

By pooling their own label volumes, the two retailers will achieve valuable commercial benefits.

Spar operates a chain of 2,742 neighbourhood stores, with retail food sales of£2.5 billion.

Spar UK managing director Jerry Marwood said: 'The synergies between Spar and the Co-op are numerous, which gives us confidence that this alliance will be mutually beneficial. Spar is committed to the development of its own brand and this alliance will enhance our position, enabling us to compete more effectively in the marketplace.'