Watts SPAR Ballyclare powers through for next generation

It has been a landmark year for Watts SPAR Ballyclare, having completed a significant refurbishment following an investment of over £3 million. The company’s director, Darryl, tells NR the work is about serving their customers whilst investing in the future and honouring the history of the store.

Opened in 1950 by Norman Watt, the site started out as a car repair garage which also sold fuel from one small hand-operated pump. An important part of the local community, Norman carried out a rebuild of the facility in the 1960s.

Owned and run by the family, Watts SPAR in Ballyclare is now a third-generation business.

Over its 76 years of trading, the site and store have grown significantly, with two iterations, including a rebuild in 2000, and a change of format last year.

A complete knockdown and rebuild of the store was carried out in 2000, when the previously unbranded store became a Costcutter for approximately 20 years, before rebranding as SPAR in May 2021.

“We have always been in the same location,” said Darryl. “Five years ago we purchased an adjacent site that had been a funeral home, and we then incorporated the two sites into one.

“It had been disused for a number of years, and we went through the planning process, which took four years. With the support of the local council and councillors, plus invaluable input from Henderson Group, we were able to create a store which not only supports our customers but transforms the visual impact at the town entrance.

“The store more than doubled in size from 2,421 sq ft to 4,370 sq ft. We significantly increased our hot and cold deli, and made-in-store food-to-go offering, as we wanted to emphasise our dedication to providing fresh, locally sourced, quality produce and food. This is one of our key goals.”

The new-look store, which was under renovation for nine months, has also provided 16 new jobs for the area, including both on the shop floor and in the deli.

The investment has resulted in an expansion of Watts Deli, serving breakfast and lunch to go, as well as sandwiches, wraps, salads, ready meals, and sweet treats all made in store. Working closely with local suppliers, the store offers treats from Dougie’s Goodies, The Cake Box, and French Village Bakery, as well as from Stanley’s Butchery and potatoes from Rooney’s.

In addition to accessible essential services such as PayPoint, Lottery, and an external ATM, the store offers a wide selection for shoppers on the go, including a Barista Bar coffee machine and a self-serve ice cream machine.

“We also considerably changed our forecourt,” said Darryl.

“It was always very tight and difficult for customers to get in and out of, and now it’s nice and airy and very open. We have 26 parking spaces, and we made the decision to make the car parking spaces bigger and give more room per space. We have had a lot of positive feedback.

“We are with BP for fuel because they are a quality provider and offer ultimate guides to fuel. We thought that it partnered well with the SPAR brand because it’s a quality offering rather than the lowest-cost option.

“The feedback from customers has all been very, very positive,” added Darryl. “They are very happy with it and have given extremely good feedback.”

With 24 staff employed across part-time and full-time roles, Darryl thanked them all for their hard work, including three members of staff who have been with them for over 20 years.

“Having those familiar faces goes a long way for customers,” said Darryl.

“Staff training is something we are careful about. We are very conscious of our food hygiene, especially in our deli and food-to-go sections, and we use the Henderson Training Academy, which offers excellent and thorough training, keeping everyone up to speed.”

Inevitably, there are the all-too-familiar industry challenges, from staffing to business costs, with Darryl explaining they have worked extremely hard to make the store as energy-efficient as possible.

“The cost of electricity has become significant. We have tried to mitigate that through the use of solar panels, heat recovery systems, very efficient refrigeration systems, and fully automated lighting.

“We have tried to make the building as efficient as possible in terms of heating and insulation. It’s as efficient as it can be, and our electricity bills are still very expensive,” said Darryl.

“The changes and increases in National Insurance have had a massive impact and have forced us to look at more automation, such as self-scans, electronic shelf-edge labels, and Glory automatic cash handlers, in an effort to mitigate staff costs,” he added.

“All retailers are facing the exact same problems. Staff costs and the ability to recruit staff are the biggest problems for us. We are finding it very difficult to get staff.”

However, there are still positives to look forward to, as well as reflecting on the success of the business as it fast approaches eight decades serving the local community.

READ THE FULL FEATURE ON WATTS BALLYCLARE IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE