Spar Israel Plans Six New Stores Within a Year With Lobinsky Group Backing

Spar Israel, led by CEO Amit Zeev, is set to open six new stores within the next year, following the addition of Menor Holdings from the Lobinsky Group as an equal partner six months ago. This expansion, involving an investment of tens of millions of shekels, aims to establish Spar as an international alternative to local food chains and major suppliers.

With the financial backing of the Lobinsky Group, Zeev plans to create a significant retail presence, with aspirations to become a leading chain. He is currently overseeing the opening of two new stores, one on Alenby Street in Tel Aviv and another in Kiryat Ono, each requiring an investment of approximately 10 million shekels. Negotiations are also underway for three additional locations expected to open within the next two years. Spar stores operate on Saturdays, with weekend sales accounting for 15-17% of total revenue.

In addition to directly operated stores, Zeev is actively recruiting franchisees. The model involves partnering with existing retailers who will maintain control over their operations and pricing while adopting the Spar brand and gaining direct access to its international procurement network at reduced costs. This allows retailers to benefit from lower purchase prices compared to their current arrangements.

Zeev is also engaging with international brand importers, leveraging Spar's global purchasing power to offer competitive prices on products. For example, he notes purchasing Alpro from Spar at a lower cost than local distributors and selling it at a significantly reduced price to consumers. He is also in the process of importing numerous international brands directly through Spar, bypassing traditional Israeli distributors.

Zeev's path to the retail sector has been dynamic. Previously the CEO of Dor Alon for seven years, he later managed Yeinot Bitan, which secured the Carrefour franchise, but left after less than a year. He acquired the Spar Israel franchise after encountering the brand while seeking an international network for Electra Consumer Products. An earlier deal for a 20% stake with Shufersal fell through due to regulatory conditions imposed by the Competition Authority.

The first Spar store opened in Kfar Saba in early 2024, a large format store featuring diverse amenities. Subsequent ventures included a partnership with Yitzhak Mirilashvili, which was later dissolved, and the opening of a smaller urban store in Tel Aviv that temporarily closed due to an Iranian missile strike. Most recently, Spar granted a franchise to Kibbutz Beit Alfa for a mini-market serving its members. The partnership with the Lobinsky Group was facilitated by the accounting firm BDI, with discussions beginning in late 2025 and the deal finalized in July.