Sharjah: Retail major Lulu has opened its newest hypermarket in Sharjah's Al Nahda area, taking its store count to 77 amid an aggressive expansion drive.
The store inaugurated by Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah's Department of Islamic affairs, is the third outlet of Lulu in Sharjah.
The inaugural function was also attended by Ahmad Mohammad Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Hussain Mohammad Al Mahmoudi, director general of the chamber, along with senior government officials and other celebrities.
Parking facilities
Spread over 175,000 square feet, the new Lulu hypermarket is accessible to both Dubai and Sharjah residents with ample car parking.
Commenting on the latest project, Yousuf Ali M.A., managing director of Lulu, said: "It's our policy now to be as close to the shoppers as possible, thereby reducing the driving time and making it convenient for them to reach us easily. With an investment of over Dh120 million, the hypermarket offers a whole world of shopping with a good selection of brands and product lines under one roof."
Besides the usual fresh food section comprising fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and hot and cold ready-to-eat food, the hypermarket also has a huge area dedicated to department store items such as electronics, home appliances, furnishings and furniture and fashion brands for ladies, gents and kids.
It also features a number of outlets including Lulu International Exchange, Malabar Gold, Dar Optics, Axiom Mobile, Lulu Pharmacy, Coffee Shop and Perfume counter.
Expansion plans
Commenting on the group's expansion plans, he said: "We will be opening more hypermarkets in both existing as well as new markets in the UAE and other GCC countries. All our planned projects are on track and our immediate plans include a shopping mall in Al Ain, Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi, new hypermarkets in Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia."
The group plans to open its 100th store by the end of next year.
In India it is building one of the country's biggest malls in the southern city of Kochi, and it intends to be operational in Egypt this year.
Lulu hypermarkets account for nearly a third of the entire Gulf's retail market share accounting for nearly 350,000 footfalls daily.
