JOHANNESBURG, March 17 (Reuters) - South Africa's SPAR

Group said on Tuesday that it will launch a voluntary

severance programme in selected parts of its business as the

retailer pushes ahead with efforts to improve costs and sharpen

competitiveness.

* The initiative forms part of a wider operational reset

aimed at aligning the company's cost structure with softer

trading conditions.

* The programme is voluntary and will not affect its network

of independent store owners or the services it provides to them.

* SPAR did not share targeted number of job cuts.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla)