Dubai, September 30, 2009-- Al Tayer Group LLC today announced a franchise agreement with leading home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel to open stores in the Middle East in early 2010.  Initial plans call for Crate and Barrel stores in Dubai and the first two stores for the brand will be located at the Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre. The stores will be managed and operated by Al Tayer Trends, the Group's lifestyle retail company.

Crate and Barrel, an industry leader in its category in the United States is known for exclusive furniture and housewares designs, including kitchenware, tabletop, and home accessories  with excellent value and superb customer service.  All the categories of merchandise offered in the US will be available in the UAE stores. 

Founded in 1962, as of July 2009, the company operates 177 stores across 82 North American markets, including Toronto and Calgary. Well-designed products at a good value were the basis of Crate and Barrel's success in 1962 and are still the hallmark of the company. Excellent customer service is its standard, and Crate and Barrel is well-known in the home furnishings industry for the quality of its merchandise.  The brand also publishes a popular catalogue featuring furniture collection, ready to assemble furniture, and contemporary table settings and accessories for home, apart from being well known for its bridal registry.

On the occasion of the announcement of the brand's overseas expansion, Barbara Turf, CEO of Crate and Barrel, said, "Dubai represents an excellent growth opportunity and

launching pad to extend our brand internationally.  It is a robust retail market, with many similarities to U.S. retail--state-of-the-art shopping malls, high-profile global brands and a diverse and sophisticated customer base.   We are fortunate in our franchise partner, Al Tayer Group, who brings tremendous operational expertise and resources to our collaboration."

Khalid Al Tayer, COO, Al Tayer Group said, "We are pleased to bring the Crate and Barrel franchise to the region and are confident that the brand's unique product mix coupled with our regional retail expertise will create a successful value proposition for customers."

With nearly three decades of retail experience, the Group has established retail expertise, spanning multiple sectors. Al Tayer Trends, representing lifestyle retail, has witnessed the most rapid expansion of store network within the Group.

-Ends-

About Crate and Barrel
Multi-channel home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel was founded in Chicago in 1962 by retailing pioneers Gordon and Carole Segal.  Working directly with European ateliers and factories to import their products, Crate and Barrel was among the first to make contemporary tabletop and kitchenwares designs affordable to American consumers. The Crate and Barrel family of brands now includes its more modern off-shoot, CB2, and childrens' home furnishings retailer, The Land of Nod.

Crate and Barrel is a privately held company owned by the Otto Group of Hamburg, Germany.

About Al Tayer Group
Al Tayer Group is a diversified regional business established in 1979 with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE.  Since its inception, the Group has grown rapidly and currently operates in 12 countries in the Middle-East and beyond, with over 7500 employees of 88 nationalities.  It has built leading operations in multiple sectors, including retail, automotive, distribution, engineering & contracting and services.

Al Tayer Group represents over 600 global leading brands that, including Ferrari, Ford, Land Rover and Jaguar, among others, in the automotive sector to brands like ABB and Danzas in services.

In retail, Al Tayer Group has firmly anchored its position as a leader in the Middle East through the representation of major brands such as Harvey Nichols, Armani, Gucci, Bvlgari, and Boucheron, to name a few. In addition, the Group has created and built a network of dedicated home-grown retail chains in fashion, jewellery & watches, perfumes & cosmetics, as well as interiors & furnishings. Complementing its position in luxury retail, the Group's portfolio also includes leading lifestyle brands such as Gap and Banana Republic.

About Al Tayer Trends
Al Tayer Trends is an Al Tayer Group company building new frontiers in lifestyle retail across the Middle East. It operates over 95 stores in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. Among the brands comprising its portfolio are Areej, Missha, Gap, Korres, Bobbi Brown, Banana Republic, Mamas & Papas, @home, mOre Café, Cosi, Caffè Nero and Galler. The company currently employs over 1000 people.

For more information, please visit www.altayer.com

© Press Release 2009