Dutch supermarket chain Spar has opened three stores in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, with 12 more stores to be operating by the end of the year.
The retailer’s Indonesian business operates as a joint venture between Spar International and local retailer Ramayana Lestari Sentosa, which operates department stores across the Asian nation.
Spar has invested US$1.13m in refurbishing the three suburban stores in Bogor, Cibitung and Cibubur, all of which will operate under the Spar brand, offering groceries, in-store dining and in-store bakeries.
Spar International retail director Tobias Wasmuht said the partnership with Ramayana, which was announced in September 2014, was part of Spar’s larger plans to build its presence not only in Indonesia, but across growing markets in Asia.
“The opening of the three new stores … introduces a new level of retailing excellence to the Indonesian marketplace,” said Wasmuht in a company statement. “[These] developments will act as a strong foundation to develop our strategy and build our presence further in the Indonesian market.”
Ramayana president Agus Makmur said the joint venture offered the “perfect partnership” to utilise the retailer’s local knowledge while developing its food retail business in Indonesia, with an expected 30 per cent increase in retail turnover as a result of the store conversions.
“Based on our years of experience serving customers in Indonesia, we are confident that these stores offer shopping environments which provide excellent value, quality and service to the typical greater Jakarta family,” Makmur said.
