Contents
- Welcome
- CEO introduction
- The last 12 months…
- SPAR Scotland Awards 2025
- SPAR Scotland news
- Exhibitors list
- Meet our sponsors
Inspiring success in 2025
All roads lead to Aviemore once again this month as the annual SPAR Scotland Tradeshow returns for the fourth time. After our stunning event in 2024 which encouraged our delegates to ‘Raise The Bar’, this year we will be ‘Inspiring Success in 2025’.
The Tradeshow is Scotland’s largest event in the convenience retail industry and brings together everyone in the SPAR family in Scotland: independent retailers and company-owned store colleagues; CJ Lang & Son colleagues from support functions; and suppliers to highlight evolving consumer habits, provide insight, celebrate exciting new products and identify future opportunities with SPAR in Scotland.
Attendees came away buzzing after last year’s event and this year’s Tradeshow promises to be even more enlightening and inspiring as we hear from key speakers and learn about which trends are impacting our sector and how SPAR is adapting and evolving to stay at the front of the pack in what is an extremely tough and competitive landscape.
The day will include:
- The unveiling of Spar Scotland’s future plans for growth at business presentations to support the Tradeshow
- Sold out exhibition space with 210 exhibitors – our largest to date
- The Spar Scotland Awards
- A gala dinner
- Evening festivities including a live band, entertainment and dancing
Nobody does it better
Let’s face it, everyone in the independent retailing sector in Scotland knows that the last 12 months have been tough for us all – and it’s not something we at SPAR Scotland shy away from. From spiralling energy bills to big hikes in minimum wage and National Insurance, from epidemic levels of retail crime to seemingly never-ending legislative challenges, it’s been a hard year.
But at SPAR Scotland, we know this sector and we know what we’re doing. And it’s not all bad news. Far from it. Yes, the market is tough, but we also know that we are in the right market. Convenience is the place to be, as you can see from all the supermarkets and other big businesses trying to get a foothold in this market. But we also know that delivering great convenience stores, on that shoppers want to visit on a daily basis, is a tough job and it’s one that requires experience, investment, great people, strong business models and vision.
That’s why I believe SPAR Scotland is in the perfect place to meet all of the current challenges head on and come out the other side stronger and fitter with a very bright future ahead of us in the years to come.
Clear vision
We are very clear on our plans. We’ve got lots going on and we know what we’re doing. It’s time for a calm, steady approach with a clear vision and defined roadmap to the future. We have all of that and more at SPAR Scotland.
Critically, all of the investment and drive over the last five or six years to create an unparalleled business in Scotland is paying off. We are in a great position to deal with the challenges that have been thrown at us. We are stronger, fitter and more robust than we’ve ever been which makes it easier to cope with the tough times we’re currently experiencing. If the last 12 months have been tough for SPAR Scotland stores, imagine how hard they have been for some of our competitors?
Building success
And that’s why I’m thoroughly looking forward to welcoming everyone to Aviemore this year. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to bring everyone in the SPAR Scotland family together to reflect on the last 12 months and discuss how we can bring our collective expertise, energy and experience to bear for the next 12 months as we trade our way out of the tough times.
The theme this year is ‘Inspiring Success’ and it couldn’t be more apt. We are bringing together more retailers and more suppliers than ever before. It’s our biggest Tradeshow to date and it is a must-attend event which will definitely help inspire success in 2025 and beyond.
The event will feature our familiar programme of business briefings, inspiring presentations, our biggest ever exhibition, the SPAR Scotland Awards and, of course, our spectacular Gala Dinner.
It’s the biggest event of its kind in the Scottish convenience calendar and I don’t think I’m wrong when I say it’s also the best event of its kind in Scotland. And that’s exactly as it should be. SPAR Scotland is a genuinely Scottish business and that’s something we are very proud of.
And let’s be very clear on the point of the Tradeshow: it may be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a great day and evening with industry colleagues, but the core purpose of the SPAR Scotland Tradeshow is to deliver ideas, insight, innovation and inspiration that will help retailers grow sales and profits over the next 12 months and onwards.
The event is also an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate to all delegates that nobody can help you deliver success in the future quite like SPAR Scotland. Whether you are a retailer or a supplier, SPAR Scotland is uniquely placed to help you grow your business in Scotland.
From tri-temperature deliveries and timed delivery slots to tobacco price guarantees and market-leading availability, from Barista Bar coffee and award-winning own label to exclusive NPD, the modern SPAR Scotland is truly there for you.
I look forward to seeing you all in Aviemore and I’m confident you will leave fully inspired to deliver yet more success in the future.
Sold-out and bigger than ever!
SPAR is promising another industry-leading Tradeshow in Aviemore this month with another winning mix of networking opportunities, a sold-out exhibition space with 210 suppliers on show, inspiring business sessions, sparkling awards and, of course, a spectacular Gala Dinner with bags of entertainment.
Colin McLean, CEO, SPAR Scotland said: “Our 2024 Tradeshow was a huge success and we we were blown away by how well it was received. Our 2025 event is set to raise that bar even further with more than 800 delegates set to descend on Aviemore for our biggest and best Tradeshow to date.
“The theme this year is ‘Inspiring Success’ and once again we will have a few surprises in store for those attending. Our Tradeshow and sold-out Exhibition will be supported by business presentations where we will share future plans for our continued growth. The SPAR Scotland Awards will return for a fourth year and, as has become tradition, we will round the event off with a fantastic Gala Dinner with live entertainment and plenty of dancing.
“With 210 suppliers exhibiting this year, this event promises hands-on networking opportunities like no other in the Scottish convenience retail market.”
New for this year
New for this year’s Tradeshow is a dedicated presentation area built in the middle of the Tradeshow marquee where suppliers have been allocated 15-minute slots to offer their insight into the key developments in their categories. Presentations will be given across the day by suppliers including:
- VSL
- Red Bull
- Kepak
- Warburton’s
- Tennent’s
- Philip Morris
Raising the bar
September 2024
Successes celebrated at annual Tradeshow and Awards
Aviemore was abuzz on 26 September 2024, when more than 800 attendees, including over 200 suppliers, gathered at the MacDonald Hotel and Resort to review retail technological innovations, share best practice and celebrate success at Spar Scotland’s annual Tradeshow and Awards.
October 2024
Big Deals of Christmas returns
Spar Scotland’s national brand campaign, Big Deals of Christmas, launched in stores from 17 October, featuring more promotional offers than ever before.
The initiative was supported by a national media plan, including TV advertising on STV, in-store POS displays, digital screen promotion, social media support, and an e-blast collaboration with the Scottish FA. In addition, a Spar lorry specially wrapped to promote the campaign travelled all over Scotland.
December 2024
Christmas arrives early at Spar Greenock
To celebrate the return of Big Deals of Christmas, Spar Scotland held a Christmas party at Spar Greenock on Friday 6 December. The well-known convenience store on the town’s South Street was proud to return to Spar following a recent modernised makeover.
The event included face painting, giveaways, product sampling and the chance to walk away with vouchers for a CJ’s breakfast or hot drink. In addition, a £500 presentation was made to the Ardgowan Hospice and animal charity Underheugh Ark.
Spar Scotland donates more than £175,000 to local communities in 2024
In 2024, Spar Scotland donated in excess of £175,000 to local communities across the country. This incredible figure highlights the group’s commitment to nurturing neighbourhoods and supporting causes that make a real difference to people’s lives.
The donations have supported a wide range of initiatives, including contributions to Spar’s national charity partner Marie Curie, support through the 2024 Spar Community Cashback campaign, and individual donations to countless local charities, groups, and events throughout Scotland.
January 2025
Spar Scotland launches Frozen Fortune campaign
CJ Lang & Son launched the Frozen Fortune digital game campaign in partnership with fellow Spar wholesalers AF Blakemore & Son, Appleby Westward and James Hall & Co. After playing the Ice Breaker game three times, Spar customers could unlock the Fortune Maker game, where they could spin a wheel to win a guaranteed reward. A grand prize of £10,000 was up for grabs from each of the wholesalers.
Barista Bar brings joy on Blue Monday
On 20 January aka Blue Monday – allegedly the most depressing day of the year – Spar Scotland stores brought cheer with a coffee promotion. Barista Bar customers were smiling from ear to ear when they were treated to triple stamps on their loyalty cards for every hot drink purchased.
Spar Clyne Condorrat pledges to install life-saving kit at 31 schools
Whitelees Primary in Cumbernauld was the first of many schools to receive new life-saving equipment thanks to Spar Clyne Condorrat.
In collaboration with Hazkit, an award-winning safety equipment supplier, the store financed the installation of LifeVac devices in 31 schools throughout Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.
LifeVac is a regulated, non-invasive suction medical device with a patented one-way safety valve designed to dislodge choking obstructions in children when first aid fails or cannot be performed.
Spar Irvine hosts Value Deals party
On Friday 31 January, Spar Irvine highlighted Spar Scotland’s new product lines and unbeatable savings by throwing a big bash to celebrate the symbol group’s Value Deals campaign. The event gave customers the opportunity to sample key offers while enjoying a range of activities and giveaways.
The campaign offered shoppers a range of value-driven promotions featuring both branded and Spar own-label products, including milk, bread, eggs, and bacon.
March 2025
Renfrew customer wins £10,000 in Spar’s Frozen Fortune campaign
Spar Scotland awarded a £10,000 prize to Spar Renfrew customer, Abby McNicol, as part of Spar’s Frozen Fortune gaming campaign. She was one of four grand prize winners across Great Britain who took part in the free-to-play digital games. Overall, Spar recorded 1.23 million plays of its daily Ice Breaker game, plus 325,000 plays of its Fortune Maker game.
April 2025
Discover Spar Scotland campaign unveiled
Launched in April, Discover Spar Scotland is a six-month initiative designed to highlight the benefits of joining Spar and working with CJ Lang & Son. The campaign aims to drive awareness, engagement, and business growth opportunities among independent retailers who have yet to partner with Spar Scotland.
To support the campaign, Spar Scotland launched a new lorry livery featuring independent Spar retailer Saleem Sadiq of Spar Renfrew.
May 2025
Seven Spar Scotland stores achieve Healthy Living Programme premium status
In an incredible achievement, which reflects the group’s commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting local, Spar Scotland saw seven stores attain Premium Status within the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s Healthy Living Programme Retailer Development Plan (RDP).
The seven Spar stores that have achieved Premium status include: Spar Scotland company-owned Stores: Bo’ness, Crosshouse, Garthamlock and Hillfoot Road; and independent Spar stores: Blantyre, Condorrat and Renfrew.
SWNT stars celebrate Spar Scotland’s Barista Bar partnership with Pinkie Farm visit
Barista Bar is fast becoming a household name thanks to Spar Scotland’s exclusive partnership with the premium coffee-to-go brand. To celebrate its success, Scottish Women’s National Team (SWNT) players Emma Watson and Martha Thomas visited Pinkie Farm on Monday 26 May to meet shoppers and sample the Barista Bar drinks range. The players joined store owner Dan Brown to discuss the product range available and why the Barista Bar offering is such a hit with local shoppers.
Lorry livery launches after major awards win
Spar Scotland revealed a new lorry livery, highlighting that it had won Symbol Group of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Wholesale Association Achievers Awards for the third year in a row. The livery also supports the wider Discover Spar Scotland retailer recruitment campaign.
June 2025
Big Deals of Summer campaign kicks off
Spar Scotland launched its Big Deals of Summer campaign at the beginning of June. The vibrant multi-channel initiative ran for three months, featuring a range of headline summer deals across all core convenience categories.
The creative was proudly Scottish, leaning into the nation’s shared summer humour with the message that no matter the weather, Spar is here to bring the fun and great-value deals.
Schoolgirls football tournament attracts record numbers
The final of Spar Scotland’s Future Stars tournament took place on 3 June at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld. Braidhurst High School were crowned national champions in both S1/S2 and S3/S4 competitions.
Now in its fourth year, Spar Scotland’s Future Stars initiative, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, saw a record-breaking 282 teams register, up 30% on 2024’s figure of 218. Approximately 3,000 girls aged 12 to 16 competed in the regional qualifying rounds held throughout Scotland.
Spar Scotland to move to larger Ladybank store
Spar Scotland purchased new premises over the road from its existing Ladybank store in Fife. The new store, which is due to open at the end of the year, will feature a new food to go offer from CJ’s and a Barista Bar machine, as well as an enhanced chilled offer and a bigger range of Scottish produce.
Spar Scotland donates £2,500 to local Aviemore charity
Ahead of its annual Tradeshow in Aviemore on 25 September, Spar Scotland donated £2,500 to local charity Badenoch and Strathspey Community ConnXions (BSCC). By returning year after year to the stunning Highlands setting, Spar Scotland is proud to invest in and give back to the local community that has become home to this industry-leading event.
July 2025
CJ Lang & Son appoints Sonya Harper as COO
Sonya Harper was appointed Chief Operating Officer at CJ Lang & Son, taking responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the business and deputising for CEO Colin McLean in his absence.
Under the new structure, Company Owned Stores Director Frank McCarron and Independent Sales Director Brian Straiton will now report directly to Harper, who will also continue to oversee the Central Operations Team.
Ashleigh MacPherson joins CJ Lang as BDM
CJ Lang & Son strengthened its Independent Sales Team with the appointment of Ashleigh MacPherson as Business Development Manager.
MacPherson takes on the role as Business Development Manager for Area 4: Glasgow, Central Belt, Ayrshire and Dumfries.
August 2025
CJ Lang appoints Lorraine MacPherson as Recruitment and Sales Manager
CJ Lang and Son named Lorraine MacPherson as its new Recruitment and Sales Manager.
With an extensive background in wholesale convenience, Lorraine brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Prior to joining CJ Lang, she held a senior sales role with United Wholesale Scotland and spent time at Filshill before that.
CJ Lang & Son invests in wholesale tobacco price cuts
CJ Lang & Son helped Spar Scotland retailers to make higher margins, with a significant investment in reducing and matching the wholesale price of 106 tobacco lines. The move was designed to strengthen retailer margins, encourage greater purchasing loyalty and reinforce Spar Scotland’s competitive positioning in a challenging market.
Spar Scotland sells out of exhibition space for 2025 Tradeshow
Exhibition space for the Spar Scotland Tradeshow completely sold out in August. The forthcoming event reached a new milestone, with 210 suppliers confirmed to exhibit, marking a record number of participants and underlining the event’s status as the largest convenience retail tradeshow in Scotland. Held in Aviemore, the event brings together more than 800 delegates from across the Scottish convenience retail sector.
Community Cashback campaign sees Dundee charity awarded £10,000
The Yard Dundee, which supports disabled children and their families, was given £10,000 by Spar Scotland through Spar’s annual Community Cashback campaign.
Now in its fourth year, the campaign continues to grow in both reach and impact, with Spar Scotland stepping up in 2025 to support even more causes north of the border.
Spar Scotland Awards to recognise some of the best outstanding stores
One of the many highlights of this year’s SPAR Scotland Tradeshow will be the SPAR Scotland Awards, now in their fourth year. The awards will once again honour those who demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence across a host of categories, including:
- Independent Community Store of the Year
- Company Owned Community Store of the Year
- Independent Store of the Year
- Company Owned Store of the Year
- Supplier of the Year (multiple categories)
- Future Stars
The Independent Community Store of the Year will go to a Spar store that engages, empowers and supports their community, making an especially strong, effective contribution to its local area.
Independent and Company Owned Store of the Year awards will be given to two retailers adhering to the highest standards, with teams who are truly passionate about their work and embedded within their local communities.
Supplier of the Year awards will be given to companies based on product supply, NPD and promotional support activity.
Working in partnership with the Scottish FA, the Future Stars award is designed for CJ Lang & Son colleagues based at the distribution centre and head office in Dundee.
Winners are selected by a panel of CJ Lang & Son Area Managers and Executive team members, as well as category sponsors.
Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to once more recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions within SPAR in Scotland.
“The SPAR Scotland Awards underscore our commitment to celebrating innovation, excellence, and the community spirit within SPAR, and we look forward to honouring the remarkable individuals, stores, and suppliers who drive positive change and inspire others.”
Evening agenda
6.00 pm | Doors open to Osprey Arena
6.30 pm | Drinks reception, foyer, main conference centre
7.00 pm | Take your seats for dinner, Osprey Arena
7.15 pm | Formal proceedings commence including the SPAR Scotland Awards presentation
8.30 pm | Dinner service commences
10.30 pm | Evening entertainment & dancing commences
12.45 pm | Last orders at the bar
1.00 am | Evening Ends
Leading the line with Future Stars
Now in its fourth year, SPAR Scotland’s groundbreaking Future Stars schoolgirls’ football tournament has proven to be a massive hit across the country, with the recent SPAR Scotland Future Stars Cup attracting record participation.
Delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, the event continues to go from strength to strength and saw a record-breaking 282 teams register this year. That’s a huge 30% increase on 2024, with around 3,000 girls aged 12 to 16 competing in regional qualifying rounds held throughout Scotland.
The 2025 SPAR Future Stars Cup concluded in style on 3 June at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, where Braidhurst High School was crowned national champion in both S1/S2 and S3/S4 competitions.
A total of 420 players across 35 teams had the privilege of participating in front of a noisy and enthusiastic audience at the Cup finals.
Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “SPAR Future Stars continues to grow and we are proud to see such strong momentum behind it. This year, more than 3,000 girls from across Scotland took part – a remarkable milestone that shows just how much appetite there is for opportunities like this.
“We welcomed over 60 more teams than last year, with some schools registering interest within days of the 2024 finals. It’s clear that this tournament has become a much-anticipated fixture on the school sports calendar.
“Our goal has always been to create a positive, inclusive platform where girls can enjoy the game, develop their skills, and represent their schools in a supportive and competitive environment. As we look ahead to 2026, we are committed to building on this success – helping even more young people stay active, feel connected, and be part of something bigger in their communities.”
Shirley Martin, Head of Girls & Women’s Football at the Scottish FA, added: “SPAR Future Stars is a great opportunity for schoolgirls to play in a fun and friendly environment, with their friends, while representing their schools. We are delighted with the growth of this competition and proud to see teams from every corner of Scotland reach the national finals.
“Encouraging young girls into football is vital for the growth of the game. Initiatives like this by SPAR Scotland play an important role in nurturing a lifelong love of sport, building confidence and creating pathways to future opportunities.”
Registration is now open for the 2026 SPAR Future Stars Cup, with the finals due to be held in next June.
- 282 teams registered
- 30% increase on 2024
- 3,000 girls took part
SPAR Scotland – There For You
As a proudly Scottish business operating exclusively north of the border, SPAR Scotland brings over 100 years of experience in this market. That heritage gives us a unique insight into the Scottish local retailing market and Scottish consumers and retailers.
And that’s why we are able to understand their needs so well and drive unique activity that meets the needs of modern consumers while simultaneously helping boost retailers’ sales and profits.
Our Frozen Fortune promotion is a great example. This instant-win gamification initiative was conceived to fuel footfall, sales and engagement in SPAR Scotland stores in the typically quieter winter months of the year.
- 99,000 customers played the game
- 74,023 redemptions
- Average redemption rate of 24.7%
All consumers had to do was play our Ice Breaker game on their device by tapping virtual ice until it cracked to reveal if they were a winner. After playing the Ice Breaker game three times, players unlocked the Fortune Maker game, where they could spin a wheel to win a guaranteed reward. A prize pool of over 400,000 awards was on offer.
The results were spectacular. In just four weeks of January, almost 100,000 customers across GB played the game with over 74,000 redemptions recorded, an average redemption rate of 24.7%.
Not only did Frozen Fortune achieve a superb redemption rate, it also grew sales for retailers across a host of major categories in a month when sales were typically softer after the Christmas and New Year period.
The campaign was proudly emblazoned on SPAR Scotland trucks as they made their way across the country, spreading the word about this unique competition.
Price match guarantee
Another example of SPAR Scotland understanding the Scottish market and giving SPAR Scotland retailers the power to stay ahead of the competition is the recently launched investment in wholesale tobacco prices to strengthen retailer margins.
The initiative sees SPAR Scotland reducing and matching the wholesale price of 106 tobacco lines. The investment follows a series of successful tobacco trials and promotional deals which delivered strong results for retailers.
“This strategy is about listening to our retailers and responding to the market,” said Brian Straiton, Independent Sales Director. “Retailers told us we needed to review our tobacco offer to remain competitive and this price investment aligns us with activity from key competitors. By being proactive, we are helping retailers maintain margins and drive growth in a very challenging category.”
New appointments set to inspire future success
Retail is a people business and without great people around you, no business can reach its potential. That’s why CJ Lang & Son continues to evolve and develop its team and create a business that’s more than ready to inspire future success in 2025 and beyond.
Among those new appointments is the promotion of Sonya Harper to the role of Chief Operating Officer, taking responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the business and deputising for CEO Colin McLean in his absence.
Under a new management structure, Company Owned Stores Director Frank McCarron and Independent Sales Director Brian Straiton will now report directly to Harper, who will also continue to oversee the Central Operations Team.
CJ Lang & Son has added considerable experience and expertise to its team with the recent recruitment of Lorraine MacPherson — and her daughter Ashleigh.
Lorraine joins as Recruitment and Sales Manager while Ashleigh joins as a Business Development Manager.
Prior to joining CJ Lang, Lorraine held senior sales roles with United Wholesale Scotland and JW Filshill. In her new role, Lorraine will contribute to the recruitment strategy while also driving growth through expanded sales efforts and customer relationship management.
“Lorraine brings a rare blend of recruitment insight and sales acumen,” said Brian Straiton, Sales Director at CJ Lang & Son. “We’re confident she will play a key role in advancing our strategic priorities and enhancing the value we deliver to our customers new and old.”
Meanwhile, Ashleigh takes on the role as Business Development Manager. She will be responsible for Area Four, which takes in Glasgow, the Central Belt, Ayrshire and Dumfries.
Straiton commented: “Ashleigh brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and leadership. This is a great addition for us as a business. It strengthens our team and she joins us at a very exciting time as the business is continually moving forward with energy and pace.”
Exhibitors list 2025
Licensed
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Vinarchy Ltd | E04 |
| Asahi UK Ltd | F09 |
| AU Vodka | F03 |
| Australian Vintage Ltd | E01 |
| Bacardi – Martini Ltd | F01 |
| Bibendum Off Trade / Yealands | C12 |
| Brewdog plc | F13 |
| Broadland Drinks Ltd | E09 |
| Budweiser Brewing Group UK & I (AB InBev UK Limited) | G05 |
| Budweiser Budvar UK Ltd | F11 |
| C&C Group plc (Tennent’s) | G06 |
| Campari UK | F05 |
| Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company | F14 |
| Casella Family Brands Europe Limited | E06 |
| Cider Of Sweden (Kopparberg) | D15 |
| Concha y Toro UK/ VCT Europe | E11 |
| CVH SPIRITS | E16 |
| Damm 1876 Ltd | F08 |
| Diageo Great Britain | F04 |
| Differentiator Brands | C14 |
| Disaronno International UK | F02 |
| Fortitude Drinks (ICB) | C15 |
| Hatch Mansfield | E02 |
| Heineken UK | F15 |
| Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd | E14 |
| International Beverage Holdings Ltd (Inverhouse Distillers) | F06 |
| J Chandler & Co (Buckfast) Ltd | C13 |
| Molson Coors Beverage Company | F12 |
| Nice Wine | E10 |
| Off Piste Wines | E05 |
| Pernod Ricard UK Ltd | E15 |
| Proximo Spirits UK | E17 |
| Red star Brands – Four Loko | D14 |
| Sazerac UK | E12 |
| Scotbrew – Cold Town Beer | G04 |
| SHS Drinks | D16 |
| Thatchers Cider Company Ltd | C16 |
| The Glen Turner Company (Trading as LMB UK) | E13 |
| The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company | F10 |
| Treasury Wine Estates EMEA | E03 |
| Whyte & Mackay Ltd | E18 |
| Williams Brothers Brewing Co. | F07 |
Cigarettes/Tobacco/Vape
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| British American Tobacco (UK) Ltd | G03 |
| Clipper UK Ltd | A16 |
| Imperial Brands | A14 |
| JTI UK | A15 |
| Philip Morris Limited | G01 |
| Vape Supplier Limited | D01 |
Frozen
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| McCain Foods (GB) LTD | N16 |
| Crosta & Mollica | N17 |
| Nomad Foods | M09 |
| Mackies Ice Cream | M10 |
| Cook | N15 |
Non-Foods
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| DCS GROUP (UK) LIMITED | D11 |
| PMS International Group PLC | A10 |
| Sofidel UK (NICKY) | A11 |
| CARD CONNECTION | D12 |
| Essity | B14 |
| Fifo | A13 |
| B&J Toys | B15 |
| Diversey / Zeus Packaging | A12 |
| WEST TWELVE | D13 |
| Kelsius | K14 |
| Solv-x | B16 |
| Gorilla Glue Europe Ltd | A09 |
Grocery
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Lotus Bakeries | D10 |
| Indo European Foods Ltd | C11 |
| Baxters Food Group | C06 |
| Brave Pet Care | D02 |
| Nestle Purina | D03 |
| Thomas Tunnock Ltd | C09 |
| Hain Celestial | C01 |
| Stockan’s Oatcakes Ltd | C07 |
| Kohlico Brands UK Ltd | C04 |
| The Kraft Heinz Company | C05 |
| Nestle Beverages | C02 |
| SHS Sales & Marketing representing Fox’s Burton’s Companies | C10 |
| Premier Foods | C08 |
| Vitamin Well Ltd | D04 |
| RH Amar | C03 |
| Stoats Porridge Bars Ltd | D05 |
| Marshalls Foods | D06 |
| Walkers Shortbread | D07 |
| Weetabix | D08 |
| Baba’s Sauce | J12 |
| Grenade | D09 |
FTG Bread & Cakes
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Brownings the Bakers | J10 |
| Asher’s Bakery Ltd | J09 |
| Europastry Benelux BV | J03 |
| Grupo Bimbo UK | J02 |
| Samworth’s | I05 |
| Hovis | O01 |
| McGhee and Sons Ltd | J11 |
| Kepak Foods | I08 |
| Rollover | H01 |
| R T Stuart Ltd | J13 |
| Cambusnethan Slush Limited | I02 |
| CUPCAKES BY SOPHIA LTD | J06 |
| Tri Star Packaging | K13 |
| Pladis (McVitie’s) | J08 |
| Murphys Home Bakery | J04 |
| Howells Bakery | J15 |
| Rich Products | I01 |
| SFC WHOLESALE LTD | Vehicle outside |
Frozen
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Brothers – Tango Ice Blast/Slush Puppy | I03 |
| Warburtons Ltd | J16 |
| Vicky Foods | J14 |
| Country Choice Foods | H02 |
| iSqueeze Ltd | I04 |
| Nisbets | L19 |
| Barista Bar | J01 |
| RATIONAL UK Ltd | I07 |
| Fresh Fill Ltd | I06 |
| McAllister Bakery Company Limited T/A The Bread Guys Bakery | J07 |
| Simply Doughnuts Ltd | J05 |
Confectionery
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Anderson Veitch | O06 |
| Bazooka candy brands international | M12 |
| Bobby’s | I09 |
| BIP Candy and Toy | N19 |
| Crunchy Clouds | M11 |
| Dunhills Pontefract Plc (Haribo) | O05 |
| EuroFoodBrands | N23 |
| Ferrero UK | M15 |
| Golden Casket | N18 |
| Lindt & Sprungli UK Ltd | O03 |
| Mondelez International | N21 |
| Tilly Confectionery Ltd | M14 |
| Nestle Confectionery | O04 |
| Perfetti Van Melle (PVM UK) | N20 |
| RA Trading Ltd (UK distributors for the | NESTLE DAMAK brand) |
| Ritter Sport | I11 |
| Swizzels Matlow Ltd | N22 |
| Storck UK | M16 |
| Kervan Gida Uk Ltd | M13 |
| Hamilton Imports Ltd T/A 3D TRADING | I10 |
Crisps & Snacks
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Kellanova | A07 |
| Kettle Foods Ltd | B12 |
| Olly’s | B11 |
| KP Snacks | B10 |
| Taylors snacks | A05 |
| PROPER Snacks | A08 |
| PepsiCo UK (Walkers) | B01 |
| Tayto Group Limited | A06 |
| Grupo Bimbo UK – Takis | B13 |
Soft Drinks
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| A G Barr | A01 |
| Capri Sun | B08 |
| Carlsberg Britvic | A03 |
| Coca Cola Enterprises | A04 |
| Suntory | B09 |
| Red Bull Company Limited | L01 |
| Vimto Soft Drinks (Nichols PLC) | A02 |
| VITHIT | B04 |
| Nutrabolt UK Ltd – C4 Energy | B07 |
| Actiph Water | B06 |
| Get More Vits | B02 |
| Sneak Energy | B05 |
| Fever Tree | B03 |
Chilled
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Alpro UK Ltd / Danone | M01 |
| Grahams Dairies Ltd | O02 |
| LSI Germany (Jack Links / Peperami) | N05 |
| UFIT | N03 |
| May & Raeburn Ltd/ Fordham | M05 |
| Lectalis UK & Ireland | N06 |
| Norseland Ltd | N14 |
| Pilgrims Europe | N01 |
| Tropicana Products Uk Ltd | N02 |
| Compleat Food Group | N04 |
| Strathmore Foods LTD | M04 |
| P.K.Foods Glasgow Ltd | N11 |
| Huel | M02 |
| Muller Yogurt and Desserts | M03 |
| Rowan Glen | N13 |
| Connolly Meats | N09 |
| Malcolm Allan | N10 |
| Flower supplier JZ Flowers | M07 |
| Castleton | M08 |
| Browns Food Group | N07 |
| Cosmo Products Ltd | M06 |
| Worthenshaw’s Ltd | N08 |
| McMillan Foods | N12 |
Invest NI
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Thompson’s Tea | K01 |
| Clarke Millar Foods | K06 |
| Feedwell Petfood | K08 |
| Lakeland Dairies | K04 |
| Graham’s Bakery | K02 |
| Big Pot Co | K03 |
| Go Pig | K07 |
| Island Salads | K05 |
Property
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| GSS Contracts Ltd | L18 |
| Arneg UK | L17 |
| Vertex | K12 |
| Acorn Signs | L16 |
| SoluM | L15 |
| Counterline | L14 |
| TWC GROUP | L09 |
| Retail Solutions Scotland Ltd | K09 |
| Tomra | L13 |
| InPost | L08 |
| Snappy Shopper | K10 |
Marketing/Other
| Exhibitor | Stand |
|---|---|
| Hapi | L03 |
| Marie Curie | L04 |
| Grocery Aid | L05 |
| Healthy Living Programme | L06 |
| Scotland Food & Drink | L07 |
| SPAR BRAND | E07 |
| SPAR BRAND Wine Bar | E08 |
| Image Data | K11 |
| Allwyn Entertainment LTD | L11 |
| SLR | L10 |
| Facewatch | L12 |
| Scottish Guild | L02 |
Introducing our sponsors…
Headline Sponsors
Red Bull
Inspired by functional drinks from East Asia, Dietrich Mateschitz founded Red Bull in the mid-1980s. He developed not only a new product but also a unique marketing concept, launching Red Bull Energy Drink in Austria on 1 April 1987. A completely new product category was born – energy drinks.
Red Bull Energy Drink is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, students, and professionals in highly demanding roles, as well as during long drives. A cold can of Red Bull makes an excellent partner for busy, active lifestyles. Each can contains 80mg of caffeine per serving and 27g of sugars. It also includes taurine – an amino acid naturally occurring in the human body – and B-group vitamins B6, B12, Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic Acid (B5). Available in 4-packs, 12-packs, 24-packs, and Variety Packs. Red Bull Energy Drink comes in an aluminium can, one of the few food packages that can be almost completely recycled.
Vape Supplier (VSL)
Established in 2017, with over 40 years of combined management experience in the vape sector, Vape Supplier – better known as VSL – has rapidly grown to become the leading category partner for many of the UK’s wholesalers and retailers in the vaping and nicotine pouch space.
They specialise in optimising their customers’ ranges every quarter, using true data-led recommendations from their 30,000 distribution points across the UK. Alongside CJ Lang, key customers include Tesco, Morrisons, MFG, Booker, Dhamecha, Bestway, and 20,000 independent retailers.
Range, NPD, price, and speed of delivery are the most common reasons why customers continue to shop with VSL. With over £250m in revenue and more than 300 employees, VSL is one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK.
Their mission is not only to supply top-performing products and display unitry, but also to equip customers with the latest insights, trends, and innovations in the ever-evolving vape industry – ensuring they consistently stay ahead of the curve.
Chillout Zone Sponsors
Walkers
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Every day, millions of people in the UK enjoy our snacks.
Our portfolio includes some of the nation’s best-loved snacks like Walkers, Doritos, Cheetos, and Quaker.
Doritos was awarded “Food Brand of the Year” at The Grocer Gold Awards 2025. This recognition followed our £290 million reformulation, making Doritos non-HFSS (High in Fat, Sugar, and Salt). Doritos has also announced a groundbreaking multi-year agreement that will see us become an Official Partner of the sport until 2030. In 2027, the Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be the first edition of the tournament to be held in South America.
PepsiCo is a global sponsor for the 2026 and 2027 World Cups and is also deeply involved with UEFA Women’s Football, extending our sponsorship through 2030.
Quaker Oats is now an official partner of Team GB, supporting British athletes on their journey to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
Barista Bar
Barista Bar, Scotland’s fastest-growing coffee-to-go brand, is now proudly available in over 140 SPAR Scotland stores – and expanding rapidly.
As Northern Ireland’s No.1 coffee-to-go offering and a leading brand across GB, Barista Bar brings premium quality coffee and modern convenience together in one sleek, self-serve experience.
Exclusively available through CJ Lang & Son Ltd. in Scotland, Barista Bar delivers a full coffee shop experience at the push of a button.
Our signature blend offers a rich, smooth taste that keeps customers coming back. With a broad menu of hot and iced drinks (in selected stores), there’s something for every taste and season.
Since switching from a leading competitor brand, stores have seen a +37.5% uplift in cup sales – clear evidence of Barista Bar’s strong consumer appeal and commercial impact.
Our popular loyalty programme drives repeat visits, while our purpose-built units integrate seamlessly into the SPAR store environment.
Backed by compelling results, standout branding, seasonal campaigns, and overwhelmingly positive retailer feedback, Barista Bar is quickly becoming a firm favourite among Scottish shoppers.
Get in touch today to discover how Barista Bar can drive footfall, margin, and customer loyalty in your store.
Let’s brew success together.
Hot Food Zone Sponsors
Country Choice
Country Choice is the UK’s leading supplier of in-store bakery and retail foodservice products.
In addition to a wide range of high-quality frozen, chilled and ambient products, customers enjoy access to on-site training, equipment, and marketing support.
So if you’re a convenience store or forecourt needing advice on how to introduce a bakery or hot food-to-go, Country Choice can supply and support you with everything you need to make your business a success.
Rollover
At Rollover, we love good food that’s hot to go. To us, it’s all about enjoying the moment, hands-on, all-in, and messy in a good way. Since making our first sausage in 1991, we’ve been bringing that joy to people across the country: from convenience stores to forecourts, stadiums to cinemas, and everywhere in between.
While Hotdogs are our claim to fame, we’ve expanded our range to include Burgers, Nuggets, and more, making Rollover the ultimate lunchtime pick-me-up for people on the go.
Our products:
- Hotdogs: Original Hotdog, Chilli Cheese Hotdog, Veggie Hotdog, Halal Hotdog, Breakfast Sausage.
- Burgers: Chicken Burger, Beef Burger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, Sausage & Egg Breakfast Muffin.
- Snacks: Chicken Nuggets, Jalapeño Cheese Poppers.
- New Products: Boneless Chicken Wings, Chicken Tender Baguette, Bacon & Sausage Baguette, Bacon Cheeseburger, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Muffin
As well as an extensive product selection, we offer an unbeatable range of equipment to suit any occasion and all the brand support you’ll need to make your venture a success – all backed up by our award-winning service.
Spar Scotland Awards Sponsors
CCEP
CCEP is a global business with a local footprint. We are one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, known for our brands like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Monster.
Great brands. Great people. Great execution. Done sustainably. Our aim? To refresh our customers and consumers and make a difference. We’re in a privileged position to make iconic drinks that people love, while getting creative with new innovations, flavours and exciting new categories.
Our people are dedicated to delivering these drinks through world-class service to every single one of our customers.
At every step along the way, we’re working to reduce the environmental impact of our making, moving and packaging – and offering consumers more choice with less sugar.
Our portfolio is built on our core brands, but we’ve been expanding into new categories where we see growth opportunities, like coffee and alcohol ready to drink. We also like to keep things fresh and exciting, with flavour innovations like Fanta Halloween special editions, while offering low and zero sugar options so consumers have even more choice.
Samworth Brothers – Food For Now
At Food For Now, we’re redefining food-to-go with fresh, delicious options from some of the UK’s best-loved brands – including Urban Eat, Leaf & Loaf, Cornwall Pasty Co., Real Wrap Co., and SPAR’s own-label range. As part of the Samworth Brothers family, we bring decades of chilled food expertise and innovative thinking to every fixture, every day.
We manufacture, market and distribute a complete range of food-to-go solutions across retail, offering everything from chilled sandwiches and snacks to hot grab-and-go options. With trusted third-party partnerships and a portfolio of high-performing brands, we’re proud to be a one-stop solution for food-to-go.
Our service is simple, stress-free and risk-free:
- Direct delivery to your store – fast and reliable
- No risk on unsold stock – we’ll take it back and credit you
- Hands-off order management – we keep your shelves stocked
Backed by a national seven-day delivery network and deep category insight, Food For Now ensures your customers always have access to fresh, high-quality food. Whether you’re a convenience retailer or a grab-and-go outlet, we’re your expert partner in food-to-go.
Imperial Brands
Imperial Brands, headquartered in Bristol, UK, is a global consumer goods company and the world’s fourth-largest international tobacco firm by market share. Originally founded in 1901 as Imperial Tobacco Company to counter American competition, it rebranded to Imperial Brands in 2016 to reflect its evolving focus beyond traditional tobacco.
The company operates in over 120 countries, employing around 25,000 people and generating £30 billion in annual revenue. Its core tobacco portfolio includes brands like Regal, Richmond, Golden Virginia and Rizla – the world’s leading rolling paper.
Imperial Brands is also a major player in next-generation products (NGP), offering e-cigarettes (blu), heated tobacco (Pulze), and nicotine pouches (Zone, Skruf). Through its subsidiary Logista, it runs one of Europe’s largest logistics networks, distributing tobacco and non-tobacco products.
Committed to harm reduction, the company aligns its ESG strategy with commercial goals, focusing on sustainability and innovation. Listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 constituent, Imperial Brands emphasises a challenger mindset, leveraging its diverse portfolio and global reach to adapt to changing consumer preferences and regulatory landscapes – while driving long-term shareholder value.
SPAR UK
SPAR is the leading convenience group in the UK, with around 2,300 SPAR and EUROSPAR stores and more than 40,000 colleagues. The group’s combined turnover in the UK exceeds £3.6 billion.
SPAR UK produces and develops the national own-label products, benchmarking each one to ensure the highest quality standards, great taste and encourage repeat purchase. Over 900 products – including multi award-winning lines – are curated to meet the needs of convenience shoppers.
Hovis
At Hovis, we’ve been providing strength† to the nation since 1886. While many things have changed since then, our expertise and choice of carefully selected ingredients remain – baking the delicious taste of Hovis into every bite.
Hovis bread (which typically contains a minimum of 8.1g protein per 100g or 13% of the energy value of the bread) is a source of protein that contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass if eaten as part of a healthy lifestyle and balanced, varied diet.
AG Barr
Established over 140 years ago in Scotland and now operating across the UK and internationally, AG Barr have been creating and building great tasting brands that people love and our business has grown as a result. Employing 860 people across 9 UK locations, we are proud to be a responsible business that listens to our consumers, builds lasting customer relationships, takes care of our employees, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.
Graham’s The Family Dairy
Graham’s The Family Dairy produces an award-winning home-grown range of high-quality food and drink. The family-run business was founded in 1939 by Robert Graham in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, where he reared 12 cows, milked them by hand, then made all deliveries by horse and cart.
Today Graham’s Family Dairy produces a diverse selection of award-winning dairy products including the Gold Top and Organic ranges of products, milk, cream, butter, spreadable butter, ice cream, cottage cheese, quark, yogurt, Kefir and protein-rich products. All products are made using the finest ingredients from 100 specially selected Scottish farms.
Graham’s The Family Dairy has grown through three generations and today 70% of households in Scotland and 30% of the UK’s households buy Graham’s The Family Dairy products, making Graham’s The Family Dairy Scotland’s No.1 dairy brand.
