The Croatian subsidiary of the international retail chain Spar said on Monday it has added 564 jobs to its operations since the start of the year, currently employing 4,600 people in the country.

They also said that wages at the company have been increased since the start of the year, by an average of 9.5 percent, which, the company says, is among the most significant salary increases made in the Croatian retail sector.

SPAR has 106 stores in 12 cities and towns across the country.

“By increasing wages and investing in the development of human resources, we want to be seen as a desirable place for work and professional advancement. We also offer our employees a number of benefits, such as education, training, and opportunities for advancement,” said CEO of Spar Croatia, Helmut Fenzl.

SPAR has invested €500 million and paid out 2 billion kuna (€271 million) in wages to its Croatian workers since it started operating in Croatia in 2005. It is among the largest retail chains in Croatia, and the second largest retailer in Zagreb, the statement said.

In a recently published survey on the most desirable companies among Croatian jobseekers, the top three places were won by German retail chains and Spar’s competitors DM, Lidl, and Mueller.

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