Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

SPAR Scotland kicks off major retailer recruitment drive with strengthened team

SPAR Scotland kicks off major retailer recruitment drive with strengthened team

SPAR Scotland has launched a new recruitment drive at it looks to accelerate its transformation plans.

The Scottish wholesaler and convenience retailer already services over 300 SPAR stores and has a distribution network with a fleet of 55 vehicles covering countryside to coast.


The new initiative has been driven by the transformation of the business led by chief executive Colin McLean. Key areas of investment have included the transformation of logistics, the warehouse, technology, trading, marketing and sales support. Recent investment has gone into a new fleet and stores with the roll out of new refrigeration and refurbishment works about to commence in key company owned stores.

Supporting this retailer recruitment drive is another new addition to bolster the sales team. Joining recent hires, Craig Lynn and Neil Ogilvie, to look after independent SPAR retailers with Steve Irons, is Jane McCulloch as one of the business development managers (BDM).

Jane McCulloch said: “I’ve been working in retail for 22 years having started with Asda whilst studying Retail Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. I worked for various retailers during my career including previous time at CJ Lang where I enjoyed 7 years with the family run business. To widen my skill set I moved on to work at United Wholesale Scotland followed by the last 4 years with Costcutter Supermarket Group. I am delighted to have returned to CJ Lang where my independent retail career started as I firmly believe SPAR is the strongest brand within the convenience sector in Scotland.”

McCulloch joins a growing retailer recruitment team. Craig Lynn recently re-joined the business in the newly created post of head of recruitment. He will work with Steve Irons who leads the sales team and spearheads this new retailer recruitment drive.

Neil Ogilvie and Jane McCulloch are newly appointed BDMs, joining the existing experienced team of BDMs Jonathan Sinclair, Steven Whyte, Stephen MacGregor and Derek Murray, regional sales manager. Karen Conway will continue to support all new accounts coming into the business and Gordon Wilson will work with entire independent sales team to offer additional administrative support.

There is also a dedicated development team within CJ Lang who focus on supporting the onboarding of all new retailers as well as taking responsibility for refurbishment projects for long, well-established SPAR retailers.

Steve Irons, wholesale sales director at CJ Lang, said: “The transformation of our sales team is very exciting. We are always searching for great people who are sales driven and passionate about independent convenience retailing. We want to give our retailer customers the best support, so they have the confidence to invest and grow their business with us. We are eager to hear from retailers across Scotland as we embark on this new recruitment campaign.”

More for you

Glenshire Group appoints Dan Arrandale as property director

Glenshire Group appoints Dan Arrandale as property director

Scottish business conglomerate Glenshire Group has hired Daniel Arrandale as its new Property Director.

Starting in the newly created role last week, Arrandale brings a wealth of industry experience to the business, including his most recent position as Acquisitions Manager for Asda and his previous position as Development Manager at EG Group.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carlsberg Zero
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe

Carlsberg shifts marketing focus as drinkers choose cheaper beer

Brewer Carlsberg is shifting some of its marketing focus to cheaper brands, it said on Thursday (31), as consumers in major markets bought cheaper beer and in reduced quantities.

The maker of Kronenbourg 1664, Tuborg and Somersby said beer sales volumes fell by 1.3 per cent in the third quarter, noting declines in China, France and the United Kingdom. Premium sales fell 0.5 per cent in the quarter."In Western Europe, there's no doubt that the average consumer is holding back," CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen told Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less
sustainability, zero waste store, refil lzone
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock

Consumers value ethics though 'sustainability needs to be competitively priced'

Consumers now want a greater commitment from retailers in cutting food waste, refilling stations, sustainable packaging, and partnering with social purpose organisations, states a recent research, which also highlights that a good majority (69 per cent) of younger consumers are more likely to shop with what they see as socially responsible retailers though price sensitivity still plays a crucial role.

According to the findings, published in Vypr’s Consumer Horizon Report, reducing food waste is the most important factor for the majority of UK consumers (29 per cent), especially for Gen Z women aged 18-24 (38 per cent). More than a third (37 per cent) of men aged 18-24 said they needed food storage advice. A similar number of women aged 18-24 (33 per cent) want meal kits with the exact amount of ingredients included for them to cut down on food waste.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sugro-Wn-News.png
Sugro UK
Sugro UK

Sugro UK unveils new B2B digital enhancements to empower members, retailers

Sugro UK, the number one buying and marketing buying group*, in partnership with b2b.store, is thrilled to announce a further expansion of its existing E-Loyalty scheme programme, which has proven to be very popular with its members and retailers, by introducing E-Loyalty Extra Compliance and Execution scheme as well as E-Coupons.

The E-Loyalty Extra is aimed to boost compliance and execution at retail store level to drive new product launches, core range compliance, some exciting fixture trials with its supply partners and more! It will be available to all member owned and member affiliated retail stores within the group.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

iStock image

Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

Expanding its footprint in the World Foods category, Paulig has acquired Panesar Foods, a prominent UK-based producer of sauces and condiments.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Tipton, Panesar Foods is a family-owned business with three production facilities, employing 308 staff and achieving a turnover of £59 million in the 2023 fiscal year.

Keep ReadingShow less