DESPAR Italia expanded its national store network in 2025 with 102 new store openings and 30 renovations, taking total developments to 132 locations across the country.
The result marks an increase of 22 additional stores compared with 2024, strengthening the SPAR-branded retailer’s footprint in both urban and regional markets.
DESPAR Italia said independent retailers continued to play a central role in the network’s growth. Of the 132 new and modernised stores, 114 were independently owned and operated, reflecting the cooperative structure of the brand’s Italian model.
Growth was strongest in the neighbourhood and convenience formats. The core DESPAR neighbourhood format added 49 new and refurbished stores, while DESPAR Express expanded by 46 locations in high-traffic areas. The group also opened or upgraded five EUROSPAR supermarkets and two INTERSPAR hypermarkets during the year.
Regional expansion was led by DESPAR Central South, which recorded the highest number of new openings with 62 new stores and three renovated locations.
DESPAR Nord added 27 new and refurbished stores, while DESPAR Nord Ovest opened 14 new outlets and modernised six existing stores.
Island regions also contributed to network growth. In Sicily, DESPAR’s local partners delivered six new and upgraded stores, while DESPAR Sardinia opened five new locations and reopened three renovated outlets.
The retailer said the multi-format model remains central to its expansion strategy. Store layouts and product assortments are adapted to local shopping patterns, allowing neighbourhood, express, supermarket and hypermarket formats to operate under one coordinated national brand structure.
DESPAR Italia operates as a consortium, with six regional partners working under the SPAR licence framework. The central organisation supports buying scale, private label sourcing and operational coordination across the country.
Why It Matters
Store expansion remains one of the key growth levers in the Italian grocery market. DESPAR Italia’s 2025 performance shows how cooperative retail models are still able to scale physical networks while keeping strong regional ownership structures.
The heavy weighting toward neighbourhood and convenience formats also reflects shifting shopper behaviour, with demand rising for proximity stores, quick shopping trips and high-frequency urban locations.
For suppliers and branded manufacturers, a growing DESPAR network increases national distribution reach, particularly in southern and island regions where modern retail coverage continues to expand.
DESPAR Italia said the focus for the brand remains on strengthening local community presence while maintaining national buying efficiency and operational standards.
Source: DESPAR Italia
