Chalhoub Group outlines sustainability strategy for KSA, as part of latest sustainability report

• Report sets out key targets for the Kingdom by 2023, including increasing Saudi frontline workforce from 91% to 93%, increasing the number of women in senior management positions from 20% to 50%, delivering sustainability training to 90% of frontline staff where stores have implemented the sustainability programme and implementing measures to reduce its ecological footprint per employee
• Sustainability initiatives will form central pillar of the group’s activity in KSA, underpinning its commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 National Agenda

Chalhoub Group, the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East, has revealed ambitious new targets to coincide with the release of its 2020 Sustainability Report, including a major set of new objectives for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have been unveiled as part of a wider report into the Group’s performance in the GCC.

A hybrid retailer bringing luxury experiences to the fingertips of its customers everywhere, the Group’s latest Sustainability Report outlines ambitous new targets which will inform its strategy in KSA over the next three years. This includes specific areas of the business model that can be strengthened each year, are measurable, and will support the Group’s efforts to deliver meaningful impact in the Kingdom and wider region.

A member of the UNGC Community and signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), the Group’s report underlines how sustainability has become integral to its strategy for the region and forms part of a policy that includes actionable targets for each independent objective. The five pillars are identified as leadership, people, partners, planet and impact, reaffirming the Group’s efforts to support the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

A key priority for the Group is to increase the number of Saudis working in back of house roles from 34% to 52% in the next three years, underscoring its commitment to nurturing local talent in line with the Kingdom’s National Transformation Program. The Group will also aim to integrate a significant number of People of Determination into its workforce and ensure their spaces are friendly for people with different kinds of mobility and ability needs.   

Increasing the number of women employed in senior management roles from 20% to 50% by 2023 is another primary objective; committing to the WEPs is part of the Group’s ongoing strategy to create a working environment that is equal to all. A female senior leadership programme will further extend the opportunities available to women who strive to reach the highest positions in the Group. These progressive practices are among the initiatives that have contributed to the Group being recognised as one of the ‘Best 30 workplaces in the KSA’ for 2021 by the presitigious Great Place to Work®.

On an operational level, the Group has formulated plans to reduce its carbon footprint, and reveals in the report that they are investing in renewable energy solutions and technologies to reduce per employee electricity consumption (-16%), water (-6%) and paper (-15%) which will lead to a further reduction in anthropogenic carbon emissions. Digital systems now allow the Group to use more resource efficient measures and promote responsible business practices. The report also outlines how store frontline teams in KSA will now be encouraged to complete their sustainability awareness training, with the aim of recording a 90% success rate in this field by 2023.

Patrick Chalhoub, Group President, Chalhoub Group, said: “This report reflects the accomplishments of our teams dedicated to living our core values of respect, excellence, and entrepreneurial spirit. At Chalhoub Group, we set ourselves ambitious targets in line with the KSA Vision 2030, because it represents the understanding of a future that we share for this country: consistently aiming to be the best. Our Group owes its success to the talents and experiences of our diverse workforce of 114 nationalities; we believe our people are our greatest force in helping us to make a difference to the world around us, and we are very excited to work together to achieve these goals over the next three years.”

Volunteers are central to Chalhoub Group’s commitment to delivering tangible, meaningful impact, by supporting diverse community projects which benefit hundreds of thousands of children, students and people in need every year. Over the next three years, its aim is to significantly bolster its number of volunteers, from 193 currently to 1,300.  

Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chalhoub Group, said: “While the pandemic was challenging, it provided time for new levels of learning and innovation. Across our Group, the necessity to rapidly implement digital technologies has revealed just how important the relationship between efficiency and sustainability is. This, and our people’s dedication to the long-term vision of our Group, has meant that we have continued to make progress on issues like diversity & inclusion, carbon emissions reduction and renewable energy integration. Our sustainability vision is a critical priority for us as a Group, and we look forward to continuing this journey towards a future that puts sustainable economic growth at its heart.”

Chalhoub Group is committed, as a major operator in KSA for over 50 years, to use its influence to make a positive contribution towards the nation’s sustainable future growth. The new initiatives will be built firmly around the Group’s consistent efforts of expanding its business, along with continuous efforts to put its people at the heart of that philosophy as it integrates the 17 SDGs into its operations.

About Chalhoub Group

The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the Group has become a major player in the beauty, fashion and gift sectors regionally.

By blending its expertise of the Middle East and intimate knowledge of luxury, the Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers. The Group is moving fast from a traditional distributor and retailer for luxury to a hybrid retailer bringing luxury experiences to the fingertips of customers everywhere.

With a growing workforce of more than 12,000 people, in 14 countries, as well as operating over 700 retail stores, the Group's success comes from its most valued asset: highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group's competitive edge in today's market.

By being committed to implementing further sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact Community, signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles and was awarded its seventh CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

© Press Release 2021