The BD14 million Bahrain's largest hypermarket, sprawling over 300,000 square feet, Lulu Hyper-market in East Riffa opened its doors for business yesterday.
The managing director of the EMKE Group Yusuffali MA, who officially opened the market, said that Bahrain's attractive climate would continue to play as a catalyst to attract more foreign investments in all sectors including retail business.
Yusuffali said EMKE Group, owner and operator of 70 Hypermarkets across the GCC and Yemen, would continue to see Bahrain as an opportunity for the business expansion.
"Following the success of two Lulu Hypermarkets in Bahrain, we are keen to open another Mall in A'ali as part of expansion plans in Bahrain. Bahrain's retails market is very competitive and really fits the philosophy of EMKE Group."
Talking about the growing competition in the local market, he said competition would help to maintain the best quality as well as affordability for customer base.
As a business model, he said, Lulu Hypermarkets welcome healthy competition which in turn is also good for the end-users.
"Our group has offered job opportunities to 700 Bahrainis and this number is growing with the opening of new malls in Bahrain and beyond. Keeping in view the quality of Bahraini workers in retail business, now we are appointing Bahrainis across the Middle East."
Lulu announced its second market in heart of Riffa is the 70th store of the group in the Middle East, making it one of the largest retail chains in the region.
Highlighting the importance of Riffa Lulu Hyper Market, he said: "The tremendous support and loyalty we got for our first project has further boosted our development plans for Bahrain which we have always considered as one of the most forward-looking and promising economies in the region. "The new hypermarket in Riffa will be a totally new experience for discerning shoppers of the Kingdom, and we have made sure that they get the best of everything in every section of the store, be it quality, range, service or price." Talking about the other details, the managing director added: "Apart from the regular supermarket and department store sections, the new hypermarket will also house a range of specialty stores such as money exchange, jewellery, pharmacy, computers and information technology, coffee shops, mobile phones and watches.
"Another attraction would be the food court on the ground floor featuring top international franchises which will offer multi-cuisine flavor. This is sure to add a new dimension to grocery shopping. We have tried to encompass as many amenities as possible to give a wider option to shoppers so that they can get almost all their requirements met at this store itself.
