AF Blakemore places SPAR stores on sale

MORE than 30 SPAR stores from the estates of Willenhall-based AF Blakemore and Son and its newly acquired partner Capper & Co have been placed on the market.

Five of the 22 units in England are in the West Midlands with a further 10 located in Wales.

This latest development follows the news last month that AF Blakemore had acquired fellow SPAR wholesaler Capper & Co, headquartered near Cardiff, in a deal thought to be worth around £40m.

The deal created a group with a turnover of £1.1bn, making it the largest of the six SPAR franchises in the country.

Together, they operate 300 company-owned stores and supply to over 1,000 SPAR branded stores.

A company statement said they had reviewed their estates and the 32 stores had been placed on the market as they did not fit in with its future strategy.

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The quintet of West Midlands stores are in Sutton Coldfield, Rugby, Kings Norton, Stourbridge and the Rednal area of Birmingham.

Leasehold opportunities are available on the majority of the units, some come with post offices and they are being marketed by London-based retail business advisor Christie + Co.