Spar stores keep opening in Russia; Some products sold are on EU sanctions list: Report

Spar supermarkets continue operating in Russia despite European efforts to weaken President Vladimir Putin’s war economy. New stores are still opening under the Dutch brand, and some products sold in the stores are on the European Union’s sanctions list, according to AD.

An AD investigation found that the Spar brand remains visible in cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan. Overall, there are about 300 Spar locations across Russia.

Recently, a new Spar store opened in Moscow on March 31, 2026, at Tverskaja Zastava street 4. Earlier this year, openings were also held at the Avenue Sever shopping center and on Koelakovastraat.

Two months ago, a video was published from a Russian account called "My SPAR" across social media, advertising the newly opened Tverskaja Zastava location. The video features a Russian-speaking interviewer talking to excited visitors about their favorite foods to buy at "Euro Spar." The visitors answered that they rushed to the newly opened location for hot sushi, blini (thin Russian pancakes), or Turkish manti dumplings from "Euro Spar's" ready-made section. An English-speaking interviewee told the woman that he has waited for "6 or 8" months for the location to open.

Many European companies have been seeking to leave Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Spar, however, remains active in the country. The company says it cannot end its Russian contracts because of existing agreements. Experts have, however, questioned that explanation.

The Dutch government says operating in Russia is “irresponsible and incompatible with the Dutch commitment to Ukraine,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We therefore actively discourage Dutch companies from doing business with or in Russia.”

A spokesperson for the company lashed out at the newspaper report and the legal experts who commented, saying their opinions on possible sanctions violations are wrong. The company says that the independent and decentralized nature of its retail business means the Amsterdam firm is not responsible for the Russian retail operations.

“Consequently, SPAR International does not own any stores, assets, inventory, personnel, or retail operations in Russia,” the company told NL Times in a statement. The company said it cut ties with Russian shopkeepers to the greatest extent possible after the war in Ukraine intensified with a full invasion in early 2022.

“Where legally possible, agreements with Russia-based retailers have been terminated, reducing the network from sixteen licensees to five licensees operating today. SPAR International has not entered into any new agreements to operate the SPAR brand with organizations based in Russia since February 2022.”

On a different note, in 2024, de Volkskrant reported that the license allowing Spar Iran to operate under the Spar name was allegedly used to support activities that may have helped Iran bypass international sanctions. The report said leaked documents from a whistleblower showed that the license was connected to questionable transactions involving individuals linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a heavily sanctioned group.

According to de Volkskrant, transactions carried out under the Spar Iran license included the import of Western technology and the granting of Schengen visas to people linked to the IRGC.