SPAR Switzerland to acquire 60 AVIA forecourt stores

Currently, SPAR Switzerland has SPAR Express convenience stores at 16 AVIA petrol stations.

As of 1 January 2021, SPAR Switzerland is to acquire 60 AVIA forecourt stores from Store Service AG, which is owned by various AVIA member companies. Currently, SPAR Switzerland has SPAR Express convenience stores at 16 AVIA petrol stations throughout the country.

The addition of the 60 forecourts, subject to the approval of the Swiss Competition Commission WEKO, will allow SPAR to expand its position in Switzerland’s growing forecourt business “considerably”, according to a company’s press release.

SPAR first started to collaborate with AVIA, the largest forecourt operator in Switzerland, in 2012.

“The SPAR Group can look back on a long-standing, excellent cooperation with AVIA. We are very pleased to deepen the partnership through the acquisition of 60 additional forecourt stores”, said SPAR Switzerland CEO, Rob Philipson.

“We consider ourselves lucky to have found the ideal partner for the future of our forecourt stores in SPAR”, commented the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Store Service Holding AG, Thomas Hill.

SPAR Switzerland has undergone several changes since being founded in 1989. In 2000, the family-owned business was transformed into a holding company with three operating companies: SPAR Handels AG, TopCC AG and SPAR Management AG. The business grew further, combining corporate and independently owned stores, spanning forecourt retailing to large supermarkets. In early 2016, SPAR Switzerland announced the sale of 60% of shares to SPAR South Africa.