SPAR Ireland has graduated the first 26 participants of its NextGen Entrepreneurs Programme, while launching a second cohort of 21 independent retailers for an eight-month leadership course.

The initiative is led by BWG Foods, the license holder for SPAR and EUROSPAR in Ireland. It is designed to strengthen succession planning and long-term leadership within the independent grocery sector.

The inaugural 2024/2025 programme was delivered in partnership with Dublin City University and supported by 16 retail mentors. It combined academic learning with hands-on application inside participants’ own stores and businesses.

Core modules included retail operations, financial management, leadership and team management, business strategy, innovation, customer experience, and digital transformation. The structure allowed participants to apply insights immediately in real trading environments.

The second intake of 21 trainees has now begun the same structured eight-month course. BWG Foods said the programme is focused on building confidence, capability and long-term sustainability for future retail leaders.

SPAR has operated in Ireland since 1963 and is part of BWG Foods UC, one of the country’s largest wholesale and retail groups. Independent retailers trade under the SPAR and EUROSPAR formats across a nationwide network.

The programme signals continued investment in leadership development across the convenience and neighbourhood grocery channel, as independent retailers face succession challenges, digital change and rising competition.

For the wider Ireland supermarket landscape, structured succession planning is becoming increasingly important as many family-run stores transition to the next generation of operators.

Key Facts

  • 26 retailers graduated from first cohort

  • 21 retailers enrolled in second intake

  • 8-month leadership and succession programme

  • Delivered with Dublin City University

  • 16 retail mentors involved

Why This Matters

Independent retailers remain a core part of the Ireland supermarket and convenience ecosystem. Leadership pipelines, digital capability and structured succession planning are now central to maintaining network stability.

Programmes like NextGen indicate that major retail groups are investing in long-term operator development rather than short-term expansion alone — a shift that could influence how supplier partnerships and store standards evolve in the coming years.