CONVENIENCE RETAIL group Spar posted retail sales of €1.67 billion for the year ending 2007, a 15.7 per cent rise on the previous year.

During the year, the group, in partnership with its independent retailers, invested a total of €103 million in its store network - opening 52 stores and creating 1,190 new jobs. It was the first time the retail group opened more than 50 stores in one year, with the addition of 28 Spar, five Eurospar and 19 Spar Express stores.

"Last year was just exceptional. To open one store a week is a massive undertaking," said the managing director of Spar Ireland, Peter Kealy. He said the Spar Express concept - its specialist forecourt retail offering - was a key driver behind the rise in sales.

"With Spar Express, we have strategically developed our stores to drive a combination of food sales and fuel - contributing to the record results announced today," said Mr Kealy, adding that the company's innovative approach to convenience retailing also added to the increase in sales.

"Our strategy to create modern store layouts and improve food and beverage offerings through the development of bespoke product offerings such as Treehouse juices and smoothies and Signature Sandwiches, in-store sub-brands such as Kitsu Noodle Bar and Russell & Ryan Butchery, as well as partnerships with leading third-party brands such as Insomnia and Tim Hortons, are all aimed at meeting customers' changing convenience requirements," he said.

The company is on track to open more than 40 new stores in 2008 with 16 having already commenced trading in the first four months of the year, he said. New openings will create about 1,000 jobs this year, he added.

Spar Ireland confirmed that it had moved into fifth position in the global Spar International rankings, up two places from 2006.

The ranking is based on overall turnover and puts it ahead of its counterparts in Norway, Spain, France and Denmark.