The supermarket brand SPAR Australia, which has more than 100 independently owned stores, has been granted a permanent licence agreement with SPAR International just three years after being issued with a temporary licence.

Australian chairman Stephen Roger said This licence is a significant milestone for the company and one that proves SPAR Australia is making a strong statement in the food industry. We have become a serious contender and supplier to independent retailers.

The announcement at the annual general meeting came as figures for the 2009 financial year were released: sales had increased by 14.5 percent while store numbers were up 33 percent.

The first of four flagship stores has been unveiled in Deception Bay, with Gladstone, Byron Bay and Alexandria set to open their doors in the next few months.

Another development over the year was a roll-out of retailer training programs including the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE accredited SPAR Academy.