SPAR Croatia hosted the 68th International SPAR Congress in Zagreb. This Congress brought together nearly 300 senior delegates from top management and owners of licensed SPAR organisations across almost 40 countries around the world.

Referring to Croatia’s successful path in EU integration, former President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, opened the Congress, delighting the  participants with her impressive speech.

The international SPAR network was delighted to celebrate the milestone of 20 years of growth of SPAR brand presence in Croatia by bringing the International SPAR Congress to Zagreb for the first time. Since its launch in 2005, SPAR Croatia has grown from strength to strength, supporting local communities, creating widespread employment, and building opportunities for Croatian producers both at home and internationally.

As part of the 68th International SPAR Congress and in keeping with the commitment to leave a legacy in the host country of the annual event, a donation of 50,000 euros was presented to the Special Hospital “Goljak” during the congress gala dinner.

The Special Hospital Goljak, based in Zagreb, is the leading rehabilitation hospital and education centre for children with neurodevelopmental and motor disorders in the region. This is the only hospital in Croatia that carries out systematic monitoring and rehabilitation of neurological risk children. The hospital provides approximately 560 specialist examinations, diagnostic tests and therapies daily, and about 10,000 specialist examinations per year.

The hospital was founded in June 1946 as the Institute for Children with Disabilities. In 1960, it was registered as a facility for rehabilitation for children with disabilities and in 1984, expanded into the rehabilitation of children with neurological disorders, which makes up the majority of patients today.