The winner of the Operator of the Year for Equipment Innovation is SPAR Scotland.
This award, sponsored by Jestic Foodservice Solutions and presented by culinary director Michael Eyre, recognises the time, investment and sheer hard work that goes into rolling out innovative equipment across multiple sites.
Stephen Brown, head of food-to-go at SPAR Scotland, said: “Not only have we rolled out food-to-go, we have also had the pandemic to deal with which has seen us be extremely busy. Our store teams have managed to deliver that amongst this backdrop so this really is a credit to them.”
Stewart Ferguson, trading manager at SPAR Scotland, added: “We’ve opened 90-odd stores now at a rapid rate of knots, in between having social distancing issues and all that came with it but this is really transforming our business, it’s a really good story to tell. It’s also a change of where we are in retail from that traditional convenience store to now offering that foodservice element as well.”
Convenience store operator SPAR Scotland has been rolling out its food-to-go brand CJ’s at a rapid clip thanks to the installation of innovative foodservice merchandisers.
The company worked with Counterline to create a dual-purpose heated and chilled countertop display capable of holding a variety of breakfast and lunchtime offerings.
The multi-functional base unit provides the operator with flexible preparation support and bread bay, as well as utensil, tray and packaging storage areas.
The concept is close to being installed in all 108 company-owned stores and is set to be extended to independent SPAR retailers that wish to expand into grab-and-go.
The CJ’s offer gives store managers the opportunity to serve hot drinks, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, pizza slices and pie throughout the day.
Finalists
- German Doner Kebab
- Oakman Inns & Restaurants
- Papa John’s
- Pret A Manger
- SPAR Scotland
