EXCLUSIVE: Lulu boss warns shops 'running low' on fresh food

Monday, 19 April 2010 12:24 PM

BIG PLAYER: Emke Group operates supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets and even shopping malls.

The managing director of Lulu Hypermarkets, one of the region’s largest supermarket chains, has warned that the volcanic ash cloud currently disrupting air travel in Europe has led to a shortfall in the supply of fresh food to its stores.

“We bring in significant quantities of products from different European countries, especially fruits and vegetables, dairy products, chilled meat, and breads,” Yusuffali MA, managing director of the Lulu Hypermarket Group, told Arabian Business.

“Last week has been chaotic and naturally we are running low on these speciality imported products,” he continued. “My import team has been in constant touch with various suppliers and they seem to be hopeful of resuming normal supply from next week.

“We are making alternative products available from other parts of the world and hope that our valued shoppers understand the situation and bear with us, in the face of this unforeseen calamity.”

The Lulu Hypermarket Group is part of Emke Group, which operates supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets and even shopping malls. It controls more than 32.5 percent of the total market share within the GCC, and is one of the biggest Indian-owned conglomerates in the Gulf, employing more than 22,000 people from over 29 countries.

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Posted by: MH Tuesday, 20 April 2010 4:21 PM[UAE] - UAE

Agree with the sentiment in most of the postings. But, even being Dutch myself, disagree with you Pundit that Dutch tomatoes taste better. They might look better than their Lebanese and other relatives, but these greenhouse tomatoes taste like coloured water. It's a bit of work to pick out the right ones, but it always makes me feel good to pay 5 times less and have better product ;-). Enjoy your fresh produce and may you eat lots of it!

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Posted by: Brock Stathom Tuesday, 20 April 2010 12:41 PM[UAE]

I agree with Pundit and Vijay! Now here is where Supply and Demand comes into play, Volcanic ashes are just the sprinkling dash suppliers need to increase the value of goods. So now you'll be eating a tomato or an orange that is almost the price of a Tiffany's bracelet. Eat slow, enjoy the every bite as it rips through your pocket!

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Posted by: Rafi Tuesday, 20 April 2010 12:39 PM[UAE] - UAE

Hi, Nice to read all those sweeping statements from Jebel Baba and Pundit. Hypermarkets source foods from Europe because there is demand for it here. All those people who deserted the greener pastures for a desert creates that demand. We can as well reduce the carbon emission if no one fly here. But there is a bigger point. Our body is tuned to our environment and we can survive by using natural resources available in our surrounding. Arabs lived using dates, fish and camel meat and milk for a long-time. We are in a desert, we were not supposed to be in a desert, and even local cultivation add burden to our eco-system. If we all can go back to our roots, and eat locally cultivated food, nothing like it. This selective 'love for nature' is killing our environment.

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Posted by: Hurez Hussain Tuesday, 20 April 2010 12:33 PM[UAE] - United Arab Emirates

How can we blame Lulu or other Hypermarkets? The simple rule of economics is that when there is Demand, Supply will follow. If it wasn't for the consumers desires for exotic and rare food items, no supplier would supply these items. Before blaming anyone else we have to look at ourselves.

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