Adrianus Johannes Maria (Adriaan) van Well (Zegwaart, 24 December 1898 – The Hague, 19 August 1967) was a Dutch entrepreneur, credited as the founder of the supermarket chain Spar on June 28, 1932.[1]
In 1880 Adriaan's grandfather Antonius van Well had started a shop selling liquor and groceries in Zegwaart, The Netherlands, which was later taken over by Adriaan's father Louis. He operated as a wholesaler selling to grocers in the region.
Adriaan van Well took over the business of his father in the 1930s, during a severe economic crisis. Influenced by an American example of Voluntary Chain Stores, he came up with a business model whereby retailers not only buy together but also collaborate on sales and advertising, an approach that had hardly been tried out in Europe. He had come up with this idea through an article by Johan Frederik ten Doesschate in a trade journal for wholesalers. Ten Doesschate stated that "by purchasing and advertising together, costs would decrease". Buying from fewer suppliers left more time for selling. Wholesalers would be less bothered by small orders."[2]
In June 1932, sixteen shop-owners in the Dutch province South-Holland decided to participate in his venture for which Van Well choose as logo "de Spar", which means "spruce tree" in the Dutch language. A tree that remains green all year round. Later, a motto was chosen: "Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig": DESPAR, which translates into: “All benefit from joint co-operation”. Employees at the company jokingly said that the motto also could have been: “All benefits from the joint co-operation go to Adriaan”.[3]
The concept of the voluntary branch company appeared successful and in 1934 a joint head office was opened. In 1937, 2000 grocers had joined De Spar. From 1947 onwards, Spar stores were opened in Belgium and Western Germany followed by other countries in Europe and the African continent. Adriaan van Well founded Spar International in 1953, headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands[4]
Spar following van Well's death
When Van Well died in 1967 at the age of 68, Spar had stores in 15 countries with a total turnover of 8 billion Dutch guilders. Van Well left behind his wife Huberta van Well-Wubben, six sons, and two daughters. His four eldest sons continued to manage the South-Holland Spar company under the name Royal A.J.M. van Well BV[5] until 1987, when the company was acquired by Schuitema NV.
In 2007 Sperwer and the Sligro Food Group both acquired 45% of the shares in the Dutch Spar Holding. The remaining 10% is in the hands of Spar retailers.[6]
In 2020 Spar International had 13,500 stores in 48 countries[7] of which more than 450 in the Netherlands, where Spar was founded.[8]
References
^"Inventory of the archives of Spar Central". National Archive of The Netherlands (in Dutch). 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"1932, De Spar". Zoetermeer mijn stad. Based on: Vermeulen, Ton., e.o., 75 jaar Spar, from Zegwaart to Beijing. Rotterdam, A.J.M. van Well. 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Vermeulen, Ton; van Helvoort-Segerink, Marieke (2007). 75 Jaar Spar - Van Zegwaart tot Beijing (in Dutch with English summaries). Rotterdam, A.J.M. van Well.
^"The history of SPAR". Website SPAR International.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Movies about de Spar and the family van Well". Movies from the archive of the Historical Society "Oud Soetermeer" (in Dutch and English). 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Sligro en Sperwer gaan op in Spar (in Dutch)". Trouw.nl. 27 September 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
adriaan, well, adrianus, johannes, maria, adriaan, well, zegwaart, december, 1898, hague, august, 1967, dutch, entrepreneur, credited, founder, supermarket, chain, spar, june, 1932, borndecember, 24th, 1898zegwaart, netherlandsdiedaugust, 19th, 1967the, hague,. Adrianus Johannes Maria Adriaan van Well Zegwaart 24 December 1898 The Hague 19 August 1967 was a Dutch entrepreneur credited as the founder of the supermarket chain Spar on June 28 1932 1 Adriaan van WellBornDecember 24th 1898Zegwaart The NetherlandsDiedAugust 19th 1967The Hague The NetherlandsOccupation s Entrepreneur founder of SparOrganizationSPARSpouseHuberta van Well WubbenHistory with Spar EditIn 1880 Adriaan s grandfather Antonius van Well had started a shop selling liquor and groceries in Zegwaart The Netherlands which was later taken over by Adriaan s father Louis He operated as a wholesaler selling to grocers in the region Adriaan van Well took over the business of his father in the 1930s during a severe economic crisis Influenced by an American example of Voluntary Chain Stores he came up with a business model whereby retailers not only buy together but also collaborate on sales and advertising an approach that had hardly been tried out in Europe He had come up with this idea through an article by Johan Frederik ten Doesschate in a trade journal for wholesalers Ten Doesschate stated that by purchasing and advertising together costs would decrease Buying from fewer suppliers left more time for selling Wholesalers would be less bothered by small orders 2 In June 1932 sixteen shop owners in the Dutch province South Holland decided to participate in his venture for which Van Well choose as logo de Spar which means spruce tree in the Dutch language A tree that remains green all year round Later a motto was chosen Door Eendrachtig Samenwerken Profiteren Allen Regelmatig DESPAR which translates into All benefit from joint co operation Employees at the company jokingly said that the motto also could have been All benefits from the joint co operation go to Adriaan 3 The concept of the voluntary branch company appeared successful and in 1934 a joint head office was opened In 1937 2000 grocers had joined De Spar From 1947 onwards Spar stores were opened in Belgium and Western Germany followed by other countries in Europe and the African continent Adriaan van Well founded Spar International in 1953 headquartered in Amsterdam The Netherlands 4 Spar following van Well s death EditWhen Van Well died in 1967 at the age of 68 Spar had stores in 15 countries with a total turnover of 8 billion Dutch guilders Van Well left behind his wife Huberta van Well Wubben six sons and two daughters His four eldest sons continued to manage the South Holland Spar company under the name Royal A J M van Well BV 5 until 1987 when the company was acquired by Schuitema NV In 2007 Sperwer and the Sligro Food Group both acquired 45 of the shares in the Dutch Spar Holding The remaining 10 is in the hands of Spar retailers 6 In 2020 Spar International had 13 500 stores in 48 countries 7 of which more than 450 in the Netherlands where Spar was founded 8 References Edit Inventory of the archives of Spar Central National Archive of The Netherlands in Dutch 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 1932 De Spar Zoetermeer mijn stad Based on Vermeulen Ton e o 75 jaar Spar from Zegwaart to Beijing Rotterdam A J M van Well 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Vermeulen Ton van Helvoort Segerink Marieke 2007 75 Jaar Spar Van Zegwaart tot Beijing in Dutch with English summaries Rotterdam A J M van Well The history of SPAR Website SPAR International a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Movies about de Spar and the family van Well Movies from the archive of the Historical Society Oud Soetermeer in Dutch and English 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Sligro en Sperwer gaan op in Spar in Dutch Trouw nl 27 September 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Spar International 2020 Financial Review Website SPAR International a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link SPAR Netherlands Website SPAR International a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adriaan van Well amp oldid 1095251883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
