SPAR, originally "DESPAR", styled as "DE SPAR"[2] (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈspɑr]), is a Dutch multinational franchise that provides branding, supplies and support services for independently owned and operated food retail stores.

The company operates a partnership programme and has a presence in most European countries, as well as throughout Asia, Africa and Oceania.

[5] The name was originally DESPAR, an acronym of the Dutch phrase Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig[note 1] 'Through united co-operation everyone profits regularly', which was used by Van Well to describe the brand.

Spar shops can be found in Europe, Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, China, and India.

[22] Spar opened in Vanuatu on 1 December 2009, ending Au Bon Marché's grocery monopoly.

[23] A Spar shop may be owned independently, by a franchise, or be part of a chain, depending on the model applied in any given country.

The name and the current logo was most recently revised in 1968 by Raymond Loewy and has since remained unchanged.

[26] Spar stores in the Netherlands are members of Superunie, an inventory purchasing organisation for a number of otherwise unaffiliated supermarket brands.

[citation needed] In 1988, SPAR South Africa became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tiger Brands, a holding company with a large diversified portfolio.

[27] In July 2014, SPAR South Africa opened its first supermarket in Angola but no expansion of the brand is planned for this market.

[28] In 2015, Ahold acquired all 35 hypermarkets and 14 supermarkets from Spar Czechia for more than 5.2 billion Czech koruna.

They originate from the acquisition of retail units from the Julius Meinl coffee and tea chain in 2000.