SPAR is on a boat tour in the Dutch province of Friesland. The one-person floating store set off on 14 July. It will stop in Leeuwarden, Woudsend, and Franeker. This is the first-ever floating one-person store in the Netherlands. With it, SPAR hopes to serve holidaymakers and day-trippers. They want to provide quick, healthy meals and beverages. Water sports enthusiasts and recreational sailors can also place online orders. Local SPAR owners will deliver these. That will be on the same day to the dock in these three locations.
First and only floating convenience store
SPAR CEO, John van der Ent, and Dutch weatherman, Piet Paulusma, christened the 'SPAR on tour'. They did so in the Prinsentuin marina in Leeuwarden. They also wished everyone a safe trip, as is tradition. "These summer holidays, SPAR will further focus on personal convenience and local involvement," van der Ent says. "This is the first and only floating SPAR. So, now we can supply consumers on the water too. They can buy a quick breakfast or a tasty lunch. Or a healthy snack or convenient meal."
Kicking off the summer campaign
The floating SPAR is the symbolic kick-off of SPAR's summer campaign. That started on TV, online, and instore on 13 July. Van der Ent says, "SPAR is the only store Dutch tourists will find all over the world. That makes us truly unique. Because who doesn't shop at SPAR while on holiday in Austria, Spain, or Thailand? But this summer we're stay put in our own country. And so, people will shop in their own SPAR too."
That's why SPAR is launching this new campaign. It's aimed at people staying home, day-trippers, and holidaymakers. According to Van der Ent, "SPAR is particularly relevant this summer. You might stop at a SPAR Express for breakfast on your way to the amusement park. Or go on a nearby bike trip. Then you'll take along a healthy lunch from your local SPAR or SPAR city. Or even end a lazy day on the beach with a SPAR easy meal."
Leeuwarden, Woudsend, and Franeker
The floating 'SPAR on tour' was in and around Prinsentuin in Leeuwarden on 14 and 15 July, The convenience store will then sail on, with stops in Woudsend and Franeker. The 'SPAR on tour's last stop is the Franeker harbor on 19 July. "Not the (well-known Dutch skating event) Elfstedentocht yet. But we're covering a good distance," laughs John.
1-person store for a 1.5m society
According to Van der Ent, SPAR's responding to the new normal with this one-person store. "There's only one employee. They stand outside and receive stock and enforce the door policy. Only one person's allowed inside at a time. There's a self-scanner. So, checkout is fast, handy, and corona-proof too. In this way, we're all set for the 1.5m society."
Online orders and deliveries
The CEO calls on all holidaymakers in Friesland to stop by the 'SPAR on tour'. "We have delicious meals and drinks for the road. We're handing out' messages in a bottle' too. Water sports lovers and amateur sailors can order groceries online. Local SPAR store owners will then deliver these to the ports of Leeuwarden, Woudsend, and Franeker. People who show this message when they visit a SPAR in one of these three towns will also get two free croissants and freshly-squeezed orange juice," John concludes.
Source: SPAR