SPAR International has appointed Quail Digital as a Preferred Supplier following the rollout of more than 3,000 retail headsets across over 500 SPAR stores throughout the UK and Ireland.
The deployment represents almost one in five of the approximately 2,700 SPAR stores operating across the two markets making it one of the ‘largest retail communication headset rollouts in the UK convenience sector’ according to the manufacturer.
Store teams use the digital communication system every day to coordinate replenishment, respond to customer requests, improve communication between colleagues and support day-to-day store operations. Quail Digital estimates colleagues now exchange thousands of communications each day using the headset system across the SPAR network.
Feedback from participating SPAR stores following a survey by the headset maker found the system had ‘made it easier’ for colleagues to locate one another, coordinate replenishment, respond to customer enquiries and ‘react more efficiently’ to health and safety incidents.
Stores also reported improvements in staff safety after integrating the headset system with technology that alerts colleagues when repeat offenders enter the store, enabling teams to communicate ‘discreetly’ and request assistance immediately when required.
The appointment gives Quail Digital preferred supplier status within the SPAR International network, making it a recommended technology partner for SPAR organisations worldwide, while purchasing decisions continue to be made locally by individual SPAR businesses.
Tom Downes, Founder and CEO of Quail Digital, said: “Communication underpins almost every activity that takes place inside a supermarket, yet many retailers are still relying on systems that were never designed for today’s retail environment.
“Being recognised as a SPAR International Preferred Supplier is an important milestone for Quail Digital. It reflects the success we’ve achieved working alongside SPAR retailers across the UK and Ireland and demonstrates the value better communication can bring to store operations.
“The best communication is the communication nobody has to think about. When technology simply works, colleagues can focus on serving customers, supporting one another and keeping the store running smoothly.”
The appointment follows the launch of Quail Digital’s latest Pro12 Retail Headset System at EuroShop 2026 in Düsseldorf earlier this year. The system combines hands-free communication, speech recognition, IP telephony compatibility and AI-enabled functionality to help retailers improve communication and simplify store operations.
Dave Pickford from James Hall & Co. Ltd, a primary wholesaler and distributor for SPAR across the North of England, said: “There has been a great improvement to store efficiency. If we were to take away the headsets now, our employees wouldn’t be happy. It’s been a great success.”
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