Renewed Spar Alken to reopen on 22 May

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

On Thursday, May 22, the Spar Colruyt Group store in Alken will reopen after a thorough renovation and expansion. This local supermarket is now more spacious, organised, and even better suited to meet the needs of its customers. With a wider assortment, sustainable innovations and a familiar team, the family-owned business remains faithful to its roots while being fully prepared for the future.

A family-run business with a rich history

Spar Alken has been a family-owned business since 1963. Today, Ward Melaer, Ingrid Melaer and Tom Punie, the fourth generation, continue to run the store with passion and commitment. “From a modest 150 m² shop in Pastoriestraat, we have expanded to this modern 980 m² store. Our focus remains on quality, freshness and maintaining a close relationship with our customers," says Ingrid.

Open Every Day, Always Welcoming

The store will continue to welcome customers every day during extended opening hours, even after the renovations. On Sundays, from now on, customers can pick up fresh bread rolls half an hour earlier, with the store opening at 7:30 a.m. An enthusiastic store team is always ready to assist, comprising experienced staff, flexible workers, and students, most of whom live in Alken themselves.

Key Strengths for Customers

This local supermarket is committed to delivering excellence in service and quality every day. ​ ​ Three key pillars make the difference:

• Expanded fresh food departments: the fresh food departments will stand out to customers, offering an even larger and more organised selection. The store offers a wide range of daily fresh produce, with a particular focus on bakery, cheese and cold cuts, butchery and catering.
• Customer-Friendliness: personal and helpful service are always at the heart of the shopping experience.
• Experience: most employees have been working at the store for over ten years, with some even having over twenty years of service. ​ Thanks to their expertise and the dedicated service they pass on to new colleagues, customers can rely on professional advice at all times.

Passion for Local Products

As a store in the heart of the fruit-growing region, Spar Alken focuses on offering delicious local products, such as strawberries and cherries. The store also offers regional specialties, including Pipo juices, as well as beers and gin from Wilderen Brewery. “We are proud of our connection with the region and want to highlight these local flavours even more," says Ward.

Sustainability at the Forefront!

Sustainability was at the core of the renovation. Solar panels, an energy-efficient cooling system, and lighting ensure the store is ready for the future. The parking lot is equipped with charging stations. The product range has also evolved, with more organic and sustainable products. "We want to be not just a great store, but also a responsible choice for our community," says Tom.

Spar: The Taste of Joy

“We continue to focus on offering sustainable and high-quality products, and are well-known in the region for our fresh and premium articles," says Ward, Ingrid and Tom. “With the expansion of our store, we look forward to serving our customers even better and offering them a wider and more sustainable range of products."

Festive Opening

The entire team of the newly renovated Spar is excited to warmly welcome customers from Alken and the surrounding area to the new store. They’ll be pulling out all the stops:

• Reception: at Wednesday, May 21, from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Competition: participants will have the chance to win an Ofyr, a firebowl with a wide rim that doubles as a griddle, along with an exclusive workshop for 2 people.
• Several actions and promotions in the weeks after opening.

More information

Spar Alken
​Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 133, 3750 Alken
​Ward Melaer, Ingrid Melaer and Tom Punie, store managers
​Tel: 011 31 21 76

Opening hours Spar Alken:
​Monday: 12 a.m. - 7 p.m.
​Tuesday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
​Saturday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
​Sunday: 7.30 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Colruyt Group Press Office
​Tel: +32 (0)473 92 45 10
​Email: press@colruytgroup.com