SPAR Norway has opened a new compact concept supermarket in central Bergen, designed for urban customers seeking quick meals and convenient daily shopping options.
The new store, SPAR Vaskerelven, marks the first location in Norway to test the concept developed in collaboration with SPAR International.
Urban Compact Store Format
The supermarket has a retail sales area of around 250 square metres and focuses on fast, convenient shopping for people moving through the city centre.
The concept blends traditional grocery aisles with a strong food-to-go offer. Customers entering the store first encounter ready-to-eat options before moving through dry grocery sections.
The store includes a coffee bar serving freshly brewed iced coffee, along with a salad bar, fresh baked goods and a dedicated chicken bar. A chilled fruit and vegetable section is also positioned near the entrance to support quick purchases.
Digital signage and large exterior windows are used to increase visibility from the street and highlight the ready-to-eat food area.
SPAR Norway chain director Ole Fjeldheim said the concept is designed to test a more compact format with strong hot-food offerings while still maintaining a core supermarket assortment.
He noted that the store combines hot meals, quality coffee and a streamlined grocery selection aimed at city customers who want speed and convenience.
Local Menu And City-Centre Focus
Located in Bergen’s city centre, the SPAR Vaskerelven store is intended to serve customers throughout the day, from quick snack purchases to full meals and daily grocery shopping.
Store manager Andreas Nederberg said the location also includes locally inspired products.
Among the items attracting attention since opening are Bergen-style shilling buns with cheese cream and salted caramel, along with bacon pancakes and fried chicken drumsticks.
The concept places a strong emphasis on quick meal solutions prepared in store.
Why It Matters
Urban compact supermarkets are becoming more common across European grocery markets as retailers respond to changing shopping behaviour.
Smaller city stores with strong food-to-go ranges allow retailers to capture demand from commuters, tourists and office workers who prioritise speed and convenience.
For Norway’s grocery sector, the SPAR Vaskerelven store acts as a test site for a format that could influence future Norway supermarket development, particularly in dense urban areas where full-size stores are harder to build.
The concept also reflects broader convenience trends shaping European retail, where fresh meals, coffee bars and ready-to-eat products are becoming central parts of the supermarket offer.
If successful, similar compact formats may appear in other city locations across the country.
Editor’s Note: Information in this article is based on official materials and announcements published by SPAR Norway regarding the opening of the SPAR Vaskerelven concept supermarket in Bergen.
