Spar International has completed a comprehensive educational tour to Ireland aimed at connecting directly into Ireland’s global technology innovation hub to 'inspire its next generation retail technologies'.
In a statement, Spar Ireland outlined that it hosted a delegation of Spar International retail directors representing 13,000 stores globally on technology showcase tour, which featured a number of high-level interactive meetings with a variety of the world’s leading technology companies in their respective fields including Microsoft, Intel, Checkpoint, Google, IBM, NCR, and Ireland’s own Pointy.
The two-day look and learn tour, which was hosted by BWG Foods, owner of Spar Ireland, was attended by retail directors from countries including Austria, Spain, Hungary, Russia and the UK.
Technology Hub
'Dublin was selected as the host country for the study tour on the basis that it is now widely regarded as the primary hub for technology innovation in Europe with 16 of the world’s top software companies based in Ireland, including Microsoft, along with an increasingly strong base of fast growing indigenous technology companies that boast pioneering retail solutions,' the retail group said.
“We’ve long believed Ireland to be at the very forefront of retail technology globally and this scouting mission by one of the world’s leading retail groups illustrates this," said Chris Donnelly, IT Director, BWG Foods.
The group explained that each company used the opportunity to showcase the latest technology solutions that will in the near future revolutionise how stores operate and how consumers shop.
Silicon Docks
The tour also visited Eurospar Barrow Street in the heart of the Silicon Docks where some of the world’s latest retail innovations have been put into practice, and DCU’s Alpha Campus and Talent Garden where select technology start-ups used the opportunity to pitch their latest innovations to the cohort of retail directors.
"Our unique concentration of the world’s largest tech companies, in addition to a bustling indigenous sector that is creating some of the most awe inspiring next generation retail solutions, has helped push Ireland’s retail sector, and convenience in particular, to the forefront of innovation globally," Donnelly added.
Voluntary Food Retail Chain
Spar International is the 'world’s largest voluntary food retail chain', with 12,777 stores in 48 countries and sales of €34.5 billion.
BWG Foods and its Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis, and XL retail brands have been at the forefront of grocery retailing in Ireland for over 50 years.
Through its branded retail estate of over 1,000 community based stores, BWG Foods is a market leader in the convenience sector, employing 22,000 people across Ireland and serving in excess of one million shoppers per day.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
