"spa" = 'neighborhood grocery store', aka 'convenience store'? (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Victor Steinbok]

I'm pretty sure it just goes by Spar even in the Netherlands--at least
in the shops. The corporate name may well be De Spar. [PS: No, it isn't.
It's Spar Holding B.V.]

http://goo.gl/YmjfG

I'm not sure there is a connection between Spa and Spar. And it's not
just a chain of convenience stores--they actually have two sizes of
stores, the convenience store size and the regular supermarket. I've
been to both in Groningen. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference
because many Dutch supermarkets are quite small and there is no price
differentiation within the chain on foodstuff. The difference is largely
in emphasis--the "convenience stores" have more prepared food
(pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, etc.) single-serving fruit, and
chilled drinks. But they also have the usual assortment of meats and
cheeses and bread, along with other sundries. Spar is not alone in this
dichotomy. Super de Boer, Plus and Albert Heijn also have "express"
locations that resemble convenience stores.

On the other hand, there is a Belgian brand of mineral water that is
dominant in the Dutch market (it sells three varieties in NL,
differentiated by place of origin, carbonation and label color--plus
assorted fruit-flavored drinks).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa_%28mineral_water%29
http://goo.gl/fD98e
http://www.spa.be/#/home

     VS-)

On 3/1/2011 8:17 AM, Eoin C Bairéad wrote:
> If a furriner might be allow comment.
>
> People might like to check the Dutch chain of small grocery shops called De
> Spar, called simply SPAR in England&  places colonised by England.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spar_(retailer)
>
> Eoin
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spar_(retailer)>
>
> 2011/2/28 Mullins, Bill AMRDEC<Bill.Mullins at us.army.mil>

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