SPAR Middleham in North Yorkshire has opened its doors under a new fascia and with a fresh and exciting range for customers.
Independent retailers Tony and Rachael Hewson have owned the business since 2007 and believe they have “100% made the right decision” by joining SPAR for the next chapter of the historic store’s future.
SPAR Middleham’s fresh food range has been improved significantly, and the store opened with the fanfare of the SPAR mascot in attendance. A Spin to Win wheel also offered customers the chance to win free prizes and the first 25 customers through the doors won their tea for free.
A SPAR tote bag designed by children from the nearby Kidz Day Nursery added a local feel to the opening and Mayor of Middleham Cllr Iain Pead-Jowett was also present at the launch.
SPAR Middleham’s location in West End is where the original entry gates of Middleham Castle were sited, which dates to the 12th century. The castle is also where King Richard III spent several years of his childhood.
Tony and Rachael are confident that the change to SPAR will open the gates to developing their business, also benefiting customers with improved value and an enhanced product range.
Tony said: “We are delighted to join SPAR with its North of England wholesaler James Hall & Co. Ltd. From the moment we visited James Hall’s SPAR Distribution Centre a few months ago we recognised what a professional operation SPAR is, and what SPAR could do for us and our business with its product range and its comprehensive support.
“Already we have enjoyed positive progress. The fresh deliveries six days a week are fantastic and we do not need to order full cases of fresh products. We can order single lines if that is all we need so we worry less about waste.
“The fresh range is great – fresh fruit and vegetables, cream cakes, fresh breads, sandwiches – and we are offering a Meal Deal at £4.50 for the first time. We are the only shop in the town offering this and the feedback from customers on all the changes has been excellent.
“The lorry drivers are also phenomenal – patient and helpful. They are the face of the company and are a credit to SPAR. By joining SPAR, we feel we have the support when we need it, but we retain the ownership and direction of our store. We have 100% made the right decision.”
Today, Middleham is better known for its horse racing royalty, with several high-profile trainers and jockeys based in the town. Its rural location and diverse customer profile is something that Tony and Rachael are aware they need to cater for.
Tony added: “SPAR’s range means we can cater for everyone, whether Price Locked staples like bread and milk, or the multibuy deals on SPAR products and Clayton Park Kitchen ready meals. We can also offer SPAR Rewards to our customers which is new and will be very well received.
“We do have very affluent customers who use our store too and this includes wealthy owners of horses trained by Middleham trainers. If they have had a big winner at the weekend, they may come in and buy quality champagne and whisky which we include in our range for that reason.”
Adding to the uniqueness of the store’s history is the fact it has only ever been owned by five families since its inception in the 19th century.
Tony said: “The history is fascinating. We have paperwork from a refit in 1935 which lists all the people working in the shop and a phone number with just two digits. We also have paperwork from a 1969 refit with two more digits on the phone number so you can see how technology developed over time. Those four digits still make up part of our phone number today.
“It was a pleasure to welcome the community down to reopen our store under the SPAR fascia and launch it into its new era. It felt like the right thing to do, and it really brought home what an amazing store and group of customers that we have.”
Peter Dodding, Sales Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd and Chair of the SPAR Northern Guild of Retailers, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Tony and Rachael to the SPAR family. It was a lovely community launch to bring such a historic store into the modern era of convenience retail.
“It is quite clear from the time I spent at the store that customers in Middleham are loving the new range that has come with the change to SPAR. Our ambition now is to build on that and develop it further to the benefit of both business owner and customer.”
Cllr Iain Pead-Jowett said: “I have known Tony and Rachael for years and I taught all their children to drive when I was a driving instructor. They were wonderful in the pandemic and go above and beyond for the community. I wish them every success now as SPAR retailers.
“Middleham has nothing else like this, and the SPAR Rewards app will be popular. The range is excellent and they seem to have added so much more into the store without you feeling overwhelmed by it. It still feels spacious as a customer. Overall, it has been a great refresh.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
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