India is the latest country to play host to Dutch group Spar as the retail chain enters a partnership with Landmark Group’s Indian subsidiary Max Hypermarkets.

The partnership’s first supermarket opened in Hyderabad on Friday, according to Top News, taking advantage of India’s franchise retail legislation.

Max Hypermarkets will control the entirety of the new outlets, and Spar will contribute knowledge transfer and technical expertise.

The new supermarket is around 1,900m2 and offers fruit and vegetables, baked goods, dairy, meat, poultry, fish and wine, among a range of other non-food lines.

India’s retail ownership laws stipulate no foreign-owned retailer can sell direct to consumers, but if an Indian company owns 51 per cent of a single-brand outlet in a franchise arrangement a foreign company may own the remaining 49 per cent.

Spar is one of the largest food retailers in the world, with stores in 35 countries on four continents.