23 Oct 2006
Abu Dhabi: Al Safeer Group increased its retail footprint in Abu Dhabi with the opening of Al Safeer Centre and GRAND Safeer Cinema in Mussafah.
Al Safeer Group's newest hypermarket and amusement complex was opened to customers in the presence of J.P. Kalwani, Chairman and CEO of Al Safeer Group; Ashok Motwani, Group Executive Director-Novelty; Ashok Tulsiani, Group Executive Director-Food; Harish Kathuria, Group Director-Finance, and Mohan Sabnani, Executive Director-Abu Dhabi Operations. Al Safeer Centre and GRAND Safeer Cinema complex located in Sector ME 9, near Cambridge High School will add a new dimension to social life in Mussafah, a budding residential town 30km from Abu Dhabi, said Mahesh Kalwani, COO of Al Safeer Group, at the opening of the new complex.
Bringing value
"Unlimited choice and unbelievable price are among the main factors behind the success of Safeer Hypermarkets, and Al Safeer Centre, Mussafah, will bring the same value to the residents here," Kalwani said.
In addition to the wide product range that will be available to consumers through Al Safeer Centre, the complex in Mussafah is also expected to attract a large number of visitors because of the four-screen GRAND Safeer Cinema and the Amazon themed Jungle Bungle family entertainment centre.
According to Kalwani, "This is the first time that Al Safeer Group is offering cinema as an entertainment option in its malls or other retail destinations and we are proud to have tied up with the most renowned player in the field, namely GRAND."
Covering an area of 90,000 square feet, Al Safeer Centre has three floors and houses the 60,000 square foot hypermarket cum departmental store, offering groceries and provisions, electronics and home appliances, garments, footwear, household items, gifts and accessories, toys and games, small furniture and furnishings. The centre also has a coffee shop.
Future plans
With regard to future plans, Kalwani said, "Al Safeer Group is in a major expansion mode with a Safeer Mall coming up in Ras Al Khaimah [500,000 square feet] and Sohar, Oman [350,000 square feet] by 2007, in Fujairah [850,000 square feet] by 2008 and Umm Al Qaiwain [350,000 square feet] by the end of 2009.
"Sharjah will see a second Safeer Mall in 2008 covering an area of 300,000 square feet near the Cricket Stadium."
Al Safeer Group, founded in 1985 by its chairman Kalwani, is the third largest retailer in the hypermarket/supermarket sector in the UAE. It serves 20 million consumers annually today and has registered a 15 per cent increase in sales year on year.
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
