Retailers had the opportunity to showcase their darts talent on Friday evening at Flight Club, followed by a day of city exploration and retail therapy on Saturday. The social weekend culminated with a delightful three-course gala dinner on Saturday evening, accompanied by live music and dancing. Additionally, a Marie Curie fundraiser was held during the gala dinner, successfully raising £3,060 for Spar UK’s principal charity partner.
Peter Dodding, sales director at James Hall & Co and chairman of the Northern Guild, expressed his enthusiasm about the weekend social, calling it a fantastic gathering of the independent Spar retailer family. He also emphasized the success of the charitable fundraiser for Marie Curie, which added to the festivities.
Dodding highlighted the accomplishments James Hall & Co and Spar have achieved since their last social event in Chester in 2022. He mentioned their lucrative campaigns like “Win With Every Goal” and “£10K To Getaway,” driving customers to their stores. Additionally, he mentioned exciting new product launches such as Clayton Park Kitchen’s home replacement meals and exclusive convenience store offerings like Spar Prime, MrBeast Feastables, and Vimto Energy. These initiatives have provided fresh trade opportunities for the retailers.
Recognizing these achievements in an informal setting allows them to celebrate and appreciate their progress before focusing on supporting Spar retailers to achieve their business objectives in the second half of the year.
James Hall & Co, based in Preston at Bowland View, serves an extensive network of independent Spar retailers and company-owned Spar stores across Northern England six days a week.

