Why is Spar intent on boosting Norway's cruel and dying whaling industry?

Norway's fourth largest food retail brand is using its vast store network to promote whale products in the face of consumer boycotts

Last year, Norway killed more protected whales than any other country - all for the sake of a marginal and dying industry characterised by cruelty and exploitation of an internationally protected species. Its 2014 catch of 736 minke whales was more than the combined catch of Japan and Iceland - 447 and 261 whales respectively.

Commercial whaling was banned almost 30 years ago. Norway, however, has consistently flouted bans on commercial whaling and international trade in whale products through reservations to the international agreements under the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.