Lulu Group to reach the 150-store mark soon

UAE-based retail chain Lulu Group, which expects to reach the 150-store mark in the coming weeks, has launched a new hypermarket concept and revamped store design on July 2 at The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi (The Mall at WTCAD). The opening marks Lulu’s 148^th store and cements its status as the region’s fastest-growing retail chain with multiple stores across the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East.

Aldar Properties CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi inaugurated the 148^th store, along with LuLu Group chairman and managing director Yusuffali MA, executive director Ashraf Ali MA, CEO Saifee Rupawala and others.

The 100,000-sqft hypermarket, located within Abu Dhabi’s central business district, highlights an exceptional design with the state-of-the-art layout and aesthetic lighting – a first in the region. Created by well-known Italian designers, the new hypermarket’s design features wooden ceiling elements, neutral-coloured fixtures and modern patterns with a unique combination of contemporary and industrial style.

Yusuffali, speaking during the inauguration, said the newly launched hypermarket in The Mall at WTCAD significantly adds to the credible portfolio of Lulu Hypermarket chains. “We are glad to see another beautiful store opening that will cater to our loyal patrons living in the central area of Abu Dhabi. Through our internationally sourced quality products and enthusiastic staff, Lulu has been the shopping partner of different nationalities, and we will continue to preserve this identity with our new store. This new hypermarket at The Mall at WTCAD introduces a new improved design and space, which will further strengthen the world-class shopping experience that we are always committed to offer.”

“We, at Aldar, constantly review our retail mix to ensure that we provide residents and visitors alike with the right balance of brands and are pleased to welcome Lulu Hypermarket to The Mall at WTCAD. Along with this hypermarket, nine other new brands that have opened at the mall so far this year, expands the existing mix of retailers and will drive further footfall while responding to residents demand,” adds Al Dhiyebi.

Categories at the new store include grocery, fresh food, meat and fish, bakery, dairy, pizza and snacks, hot food, roastery and a delicatessen. A new addition to the product offerings is the first sushi station within the Lulu hypermarket.

“We see tremendous growth opportunities in Abu Dhabi where ten new hypermarkets are on the construction stage in different areas, and it will be operational within the next 18-24 months. It includes Al Falaha, Reem, Khalifa City, Sadiyat, Beda Zayed etc. Two more hypermarkets will open in the coming weeks (one in Umm Al Quwain and the other in Saudi Arabia) that will take the total number of outlets to 150,” concludes Yusuffali.

Apart from this, Lulu has also planned to enter the retail sector in China where it has a strong sourcing and logistics facility since 2000. A memorandum of understanding on co-operation in various areas of mutual interest was signed recently between Lin Yi, party secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC), Yiwu, in Zhejiang province and Yusuffali. As per the MoU, Lulu will increase its yearly exports from China from the current $220 million to $300 million. Also, Lulu will also look into the possibility of investing $200 million in setting up hypermarkets in Yiwu and other major cities.