MUMBAI: Radhakrishna Foodland, a food distribution company has obtained a license from Spar, a international food retail brand, to introduce the Spar brand in India. The guiding philosophy being to support independent retail member allowing small independent retailers to have access to modern retail solutions, marketing and merchandising assistance, store refurbishment, staff, process and systems training, point of sale (POS) development and implementation and most importantly, sourcing most of their products from a single distribution platform with all the supply chain efficiencies.

This customisation will allow Spar to successfully address the needs of all types of retail formats from a local convenience store to a hypermarket.

Radhakrishna Foodland chairman and managing director says, "We believe that the entry of the Spar brand into India is a significant development and will usher in a new cooperative model in food retailing in the country solely aimed at protecting the interest of the independent retailer members. The standout feature of the Spar retail model is that it eschews competition and relies instead on cooperation and growth for all to achieve its development. The first store at Juhu will serve to illustrate the benefits of retail the Spar way not just to customers but to all stakeholders, including potential licensees and suppliers. We believe that the Spar brand's growth in India is guaranteed because it follows a course of support and benefit for existing independent retailers rather than seeking to establish new stores."

Spar is not a multinational company, neither is it a retail organization, but an association of independent retail members working together in partnership to enable them to survive the threat posed by large retail groups and international chains.

India's first Spar store opened today December 17 at Juhu in Mumbai. Radhakrishna Foodland has entered into an agreement with an independent retailer under the terms of which it will provide the complete range of retail solutions, supply the merchandise required for the store and will, through a sub-licensee arrangement permit the independent retailer member to use the Spar brand.