RIYADH, 18 January 2006 -- The Saudi Hypermarkets Company (Carrefour), which has opened three hypermarkets in Saudi Arabia, announced on Monday a major expansion plan under which it will open 18 more stores in the Kingdom within the next few years. Carrefour, which is rated the first and best hypermarket chain in Europe, has launched this ambitious multi-million riyal plan with an aim to win the largest share of the retail market in the shortest possible time.

"The accession of the Kingdom to the WTO would now lead to the expansion of the retail market in which Carrefour would play a major decisive role.

As a global chain, Carrefour is operating some 10,000 branches in 30 countries including the Gulf states. It has on its payroll more than 420,000 persons today," said Abdullah Al-Ahmed, Carrefour's vice president responsible for business development and public relations. "Carrefour has more than 1,500 employees in Saudi Arabia alone."

Referring to the expansion plan, Ahmed said that Carrefour has finalized 10 sites in several regions, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Tabuk, Madinah, Makkah, Taif, Abha, Buraidah and in the Eastern Province. The company plans to open three more stores this year.

The Carrefour stores have introduced many new concepts for the first time in the Saudi market, said Ahmed.

"We have introduced more ranges and services in our outlets," he said. The new Carrefour outlets also have a toys corner, a big digital world and game play station areas, where customers not only can buy products, but also test them and evaluate them properly before purchasing.

"We also tried to enhance the ambiance, the comfort and the looks of the shops with sole aim to make them more customer friendly," he said.

Every few months, Carrefour introduces a new country and highlights its wide variety of products. "And we continue to add more new products, which can be of best value to our customers," said the Carrefour executive.

Ahmed noted the generous contributions made by the local operation of Carrefour to the local Al-Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women during the holy month of Ramadan this year.

Al-Nahda has emerged as a major NGO working in Saudi Arabia with the help of hundreds of women members. This society, founded in 1962 by Princess Sarah, daughter of late King Faisal, along with her sister Princess Latifa and two other ladies namely Modafar Adham and Samira Khashoggi, seeks to develop the abilities of Saudi women and promote voluntary works done by the women to help the growth of the country.

On the range of products at Carrefour stores, Ahmed said, "Carrefour had created its own impressive portfolio of over 700 products, built around your every need. And we are confident that every one of these quality products offers you the very best value at an affordable price.

"This is the reason that a Carrefour store is visited by some 20,000 shoppers on a daily basis."

By M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan

© Arab News 2006