The region’s largest retailers Emke Group opened its third and the country’s largest outlet –LuLu Hypermarket – at Al Gharafa in the presence of a large gathering including diplomats, government officials and prominent local businessmen.
The 270,000-sq ft venture, which is one of the largest of its kind to be operated by the UAE-headquartered group, is its 74th outlet in the GCC and Yemen.
Emke Group MD M A Yusuffali explaining the cold storage and butchery facilities at the newly opened LuLu Hypermarket (Al Gharafa) to a visiting Qatar government official as regional director of Emke Group Mohamed Althaf and hypermarket general manager Mohamed Basheer look on
Speaking on the occasion, the Emke Group Managing Director M A Yusuffali said the new shopping mall provided better convenience to shoppers from the fast-developing commercial and residential northern suburbs of Doha.
“More resourceful families are locating in the areas surrounding the new hypermarket and thus it has become the most convenient shopping location for all segments, including such families,” said Yusuffali.
The Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur said until now the global financial slowdown had only a negligible impact on most GCC states, particularly Qatar. The economy of this country is bound to record further growth in view of its strong financial base and considerably large disposable incomes of its people.
The new market, said Yusuffali, is built to international standards and its design is based on the most advanced European and American shopping malls.
He said the new venture was very important for this group as it had successfully implemented similar ventures earlier too.
Describing it as one of the most eco-friendly shopping locations with numerous features to reduce the carbon footprint, Yusuffali said the mall’s state-of-the-art logistics, refrigeration, LED lighting, cooling system, bio-degradable bags were all first of their kind in the region.
One of the major highlights of the new outlet is the digital price-tagging for the fruit and vegetable section, to be monitored directly from its control room. The promoters claimed it was the first facility of its kind in Qatar.
The promoters said the new hypermarket’s main focus would be on the extensive supermarket section. There are extensive counters for fresh vegetables, fruit, butchery and delicatessen serving hot and ready-to-eat foods and special counters serving the best of cakes and an array of Arabic sweets and similar delicacies.
The place also houses a number of other outlets including Doha Bank, Joy Alukkas, Watch Corner, Top Note, Al Dar, Asgharali, Hour Choice, etc. It also includes an optical centre, money exchange, and host of other branded outlets.
The company sources claimed the parking lot around the new mall could accommodate up to 900 vehicles.
http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=303395&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
Note: Sadly LuLu is lieing and they didn't create a 'first of its kind' in the region.
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