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With the UAE shutting down commercial flights in and out of the country and shoppers stockpiling goods, hypermarkets operator LuLu Group has chartered more special flights to bring additional supply of fresh produce into the UAE.
The retail giant told Zawya that at least three cargo jets carrying at least 53 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and processed food from India have just arrived in the country. The additional stocks should be enough to last for at least six months.
“[These items} are perishable. We have increased our imports to beef up our warehouse stocks, to sustain long-term food requirements,” Nandakumar, chief communications officer of LuLu Group, told Zawya.
Retailers across the UAE, including e-commerce platforms, have recently seen an unprecedented surge in demand for groceries, as consumers are filling up pantries with food and other essentials that could last for longer periods.
Online grocery delivery demand has likewise surged, with e-commerce sites seeing a 70 percent to 100 percent increase in grocery sales, as people avoid the crowds and opt to self-isolate.
The coronavirus, which has now infected more than 400,000 people worldwide, has riled the markets and disrupted global supply chains.
The outbreak has prompted the UAE government to cancel inbound, outbound and transit flights, as well as close shopping malls and public venues, and urged residents to stay home.
To ensure there is a stable supply of goods at the stores, supermarket owners are beefing up stocks in their warehouses. Just last week, Union Cooperative signed contracts, worth 400 million UAE dirhams, with various suppliers, in preparation for a surge in consumption in April and May, when Muslims celebrate Ramadan.
Chartered flights
LuLu’s first chartered flight in response to surging demand due to the coronavirus outbreak arrived in the UAE on Monday, carrying 18 tonnes of fruits and vegetables from Kochi, India.
The other two flights arrived the next day, with more than 35 tonnes of agricultural products and processed food from Delhi and Kochi.
“These flights [were] being chartered from Spice Jet. We are also working closely with other airlines of GCC countries to directly take cargo from India to those countries. These timely steps will further ensure un-interrupted supply of essentials in all LuLu hypermarkets,” Nandakumar added.
Despite the closure of malls, retail establishments and food and beverage outlets, supermarkets will remain open and have the option to operate for 24 hours.
(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Mily Chakrabarty)
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