SPAR distributor announces top appointments

Spar distributor CJ Lang has made two appointments to its independent retailer sales team.

Neil Ogilvie has joined as business development manager covering Aberdeenshire to Kirkcaldy. He has previously worked at a number of retail brands.

Craig Lynn , who formerly worked with CJ Lang as a field sales executive, returns as head of recruitment and key accounts.

He comes back from United Wholesale Scotland, where he was responsible for both recruitment and store standards.

CJ Lang’s wholesale sales director Steve Irons said, “We have ambitious plans to grow the independent side of our business and are positioned well to deliver a truly Scottish offering to grow market share and to support our customers further.”

The news comes a day after SPAR reported figures of buoyant sales happened in the festive season. Year-on-year (YOY) sales grew by +2.3 percent whilst year-on-year-on-year (YOYOY) sales grew at +13.2 percent well ahead of the symbol group market as a whole.

In the four weeks to Jan 2 2022, the total grocery category rose by +14 percent YOY. Medicines had the highest YOY sales rise (+47 percent) with cold and flu remedies driving this growth. Baby products sales grew by +25 percent YOY with baby food within that up by +24 percent YOY.

Crisps and snacks grew by 19 percent, propped by everyday sharing subcategory, with YOY growth of +53 percent. Soft drinks had the highest contribution to the overall grocery sales with impulse sports and energy drinks subcategory driving the growth.