Lulu Hypermarket (stylized as LuLu Hypermarket) is a hypermarket chain and

retail venture started by Lulu Group International in 2000. M. A. Yousuf Ali is

the managing director of the group that is based in Abu Dhabi. LuLu has over
30,000 employees of various nationalities.[1]
It is one of the largest retail chains in Asia and is the biggest in Middle East
with 117 outlets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and one in
Kochi, Kerala, India. Research firm Deloitte, recently placed it amongst the
worlds 50 fastest growing retailers.[2]
History[edit]
LuLu Group International opened its first supermarket in Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates, in 1995, when the retail business scenario in the region
started to change with the entry of Continent (now Carrefour). Later, more
LuLu Supermarket stores were opened in different parts of Abu Dhabi There
are also several Lulu stores found in the emirate of Dubai. In the late 1990s,
the LuLu Center department stores were launched, and the group expanded
to other countries in the Middle East.

In 2000, the first Lulu Hypermarket store was opened in Dubai. With this
launch, the Group embarked on an aggressive expansion plan. It soon grew
into a chain with several outlets across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen. On March 10, 2013, LuLu
Hypermarket was opened in Kochi, India at LuLu Mall. It is one of Asias
largest shopping malls.[3][4][5]

Today the LuLu Hypermarkets, Supermarkets and Department Stores together

control 32% of the retail market share with 106 stores and is regarded as the

retail pioneer constantly setting new benchmarks for the industry.

The Group that follows the tagline "LuLu, where the world comes to shop" is
hailed as a one-stop-shop for the multi-ethnic community of the region with
an international mix of products.

Operations[edit]
Around the Middle East[edit]
As of 2015, there are 114 LuLu Hypermarkets in the GCC countries and one in
India at Kochi, Kerala.[6]

International[edit]
In April 2013, LuLu Group launched its operations in the UK at Birmingham
with the inauguration of a logistics and packaging centre under the name, Y
International. The 20,000 sq. ft. facility procures and exports food, non-food,
chilled and frozen products of British origin to LuLu Hypermarkets spread
across the Gulf countries. Date coding and labeling for different countries,
translation of labels, Halal and other relevant certifications are also carried
out here. About 60 British nationals are employed at the facility which hopes
to create 200 jobs soon.[7] In May 2014, following the visit of Prime Minister
Najib Razak to United Arab Emirates, a memorandum of understanding
between Lulu Hypermarket and the Federal Land Development Authority
(FELDA) was signed for the establishment of ten Lulu Hypermarkets in
Malaysia.
LuLu co-branded credit cards[edit]
LuLu Hypermarket has partnered with banks in the Middle East to create cobranded cards that help loyal customers gain special privileges and rewards
every time they shop. The ADCB LuLu Credit Card in association with the Abu
Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) helps users gain points on every AED 1 spent
at any Lulu outlet in the UAE.[14]
The LuLu Doha Bank Shopping Credit Card in association with the Doha Bank,
Qatar helps the card holders get a 5% discount on every purchase made from
a LuLu outlet in Qatar. Shopping points can also be accumulated and
redeemed on purchases.[15]
Corporate social responsibility[edit]

LuLu Hypermarket is involved in various corporate social responsibility

initiatives. Here are some of LuLu Hypermarkets recent charitable
involvements:
In April 2013, a memorandum was signed between LuLu Hypermarket and
Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO) to
sell organic products locally grown by the special needs community in UAE.
The agreement aims at rehabilitating people with special needs by involving
them in a productive and social life.[16][17]
In February 2013, LuLu teamed up with Dubai Cares to adopt schools in Gaza
and Nepal thereby improving the infrastructure of primary school classrooms.
It also aims to improve the access to adult education and literacy skills by
providing training to local facilitators.[18]
In July 2012, LuLu Hypermarket teamed up with the Bahrain Petroleum
Company for the LuLu Joy of Giving Programme. Seven Bapco petrol stations
were set up with Lulu food banks to provide a box filled with water, lemon
juice, dates, oranges, grapes and a cake roll during the Ramadan month.
[19]
The initiative was continued in 2013 during Ramadan in association with Your
FM 104.2. This time, four vans branded "LuLu Joy of Giving" traveled to four
locations in Bahrain each day at sunset and distributed free Iftar packages to
the needy.[20]
In December 2012, BankMuscat joined hands with LuLu Hypermarket to equip
40 young Omanis with the necessary skills to develop their careers and
contribute to national development. On successful completion of a 3-month
training programme, the Omani youth, including women, from low-income
families in Dakhiliyah and Dhofar governorates were to be absorbed by LuLu
for various jobs in its outlets.[21]
In June 2011, LuLu Hypermarket was part of the initiative to combat inflation
across the UAE by subsidizing the cost of about 400 products. The
Government had asked retail chains to subsidize costs in a bid to check
inflation. LuLu joined the project by classifying the extra cost it incurred, as
corporate giving. The Al Ain Cooperative had also joined the programme.[22]