Retail Report

Coffee consumption in the Middle East, as well as in other parts of the world, has proven to be more than just the need to quench the thirst for caffeine. A Euromonitor International survey has suggested that the regional coffee industry continues to thrive despite the recent economic downturn, which saw most consumers cutting back costs on non-basic commodities. Michael Schaefer, consumer food service analyst at Euromonitor, says the Middle East coffee sector, including that of the ...

With a captive market of nearly 2 billion people or about 20 per cent of world population, the halal food sector did not only ride out the global financial crisis confidently, but has also posted substantial annual average growth of 10 per cent – making it a lucrative $580 billion (Dh2.1 trillion) industry. While the double-digit growth may be impressive considering the current economic climate, industry sources believe that the global halal food sector could register further growth ...

Dubai-based food manufacturer and exporter Al Ghurair Foods is keen on strengthening its global presence by investing in markets such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan (specifically Peshawar), Indonesia and Japan, a company spokesperson has confirmed on Monday. A family-run business, Al Ghurair Foods – which currently operates flour mills in the UAE, Lebanon, Sudan, Iran and Sri Lanka, a rice mill in Pakistan as well as silos in Algeria – is also exporting its flour and grain products ...

Exhibition space sold for this year’s Gulfood has increased by 20 per cent compared with 2009 as the GCC region’s food sector continues to experience healthy trading despite the crisis, organisers have announced on Tuesday. The annual food and beverage exhibition, which will be held at an approximate floor space of over 1 million square feet at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from February 21 to 24, will also have 3,500 companies exhibiting from 81 countries ...

Japanese IT firm NEC Corporation has introduced its retail solutions technology to the Middle East market, starting with the UAE, through a partnership with Dubai-based point-of-sale (POS) solutions provider Hassan Mohd Habib (HMH) Establishment. Kazunobu Waki, general manager of NEC Corp's Global Retail Services, said their company is keen on expanding into other countries following their UAE launch as they are optimistic about future growth in the region’s retail industry. “Through this [UAE] debut, we hope to be able ...

Swedish home-furnishing retail giant Ikea is upbeat about its Middle East operations as it formally launched plans to open a 32,000-square-metre store in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, which will be operational by early next year. In a video interview with Alrroya.com, Mile Franicevic, acting group director of Al Futtaim Retail, revealed that the company has plans to expand Ikea’s Middle East presence with the opening of stores in Oman, Qatar and Egypt in the coming years. “Our next project ...

Its slogan sums up its business focus. Adhering to the mission of creating fine jewellery “for the connoisseur,” Italian brand Aliel has defied the credit crunch with the opening of its first Middle East store at the Gate Village in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on Monday. The brand undoubtedly caters to a select few who appreciate the fine things in life that money can buy. Like gold, rare precious stones such as those used by Aliel in ...

Jewellery designers are turning to alternative materials such as leather, textiles and ceramics in a bid to create innovative designs and offset high gold prices, Paola de Luca, co-founder and creative director of jewellery trends forecaster TJF Group, told Reuters. The jewellery sector has become increasingly intertwined with the fashion industry, de Luca said. "With this merging of the fashion brands into the jewellery industry, now we have a new approach to design, and jewellery is becoming more and ...

Kristiauna Mangum, 22, a senior at Ohio State University in Columbus, said she always had a flair for makeup, but never considered it a professional calling. Then she heard about a pilot college programme offered by Avon’s little sister brand, Mark, two years ago. “My mother was an Avon Lady, so I thought, huh, maybe becoming a Mark Girl could really be the way to go,” she said. Now Mangum is the sales manager for Mark at ...

Sale of traditional paper greeting cards remains high in festive seasons despite a rise in e-cards, a spot check in Dubai shows. An official of Gulf Greetings LLC, the top retailer of gift items and greeting cards in the Middle East says the rise in technology marvels like Twitter, Facebook or even phone SMSs does not mean death to paper cards. “Contrary to expectation, the popularity of traditional Christmas cards is not dwindling. Based on all of ...