Al Azizia Panda wins the spin on biggest shampoo bottle

On Thursday, the biggest bottle of shampoo in the world with 4,000 liters content of "Herbal Essences" and measuring 4.8m long is unveiled at the Hyperpanda store in Andalus Mall in Jeddah witnessed by a team from the Guinness Book of World Records who confirmed and certified the incredible feat.

In 2003, Panda made it to the Guinness Book when it launched the biggest pyramid-shaped box with Tide.

The latest initiative is a joint effort between Ismail Abu Dawood Trading Company (the official distributor of Procter & Gamble products in Saudi Arabia) and Hyperpanda.

The launch also features the new logo and look of the shampoo that comes in seven exciting essences.

Dr. Mohammad Amin Kashgari, president and chief executive officer of Al Azizia Panda United Co, who is equally happy about the new accomplishment of the company, said that the achievement is a reflection of the unqualified commitment that Al Azizia Panda Group always have to bring the maximum benefits to its customers.

The occasion, in which various activities for kids were held, brings a lot of excitements, with bountiful prizes ranging from 10 sets of jewelries for ladies to gift certificates for lady's spa and shopping certificates were handed over to lucky participants.

Boosting the company's corporate standing, Al Azizia Panda also announced on Thursday the opening of another store in Rakkah, Al-Khobar following the launch on Monday of a new store in Khamis Mushyat named "Khamis Avenue."

Kashgari said Al Azizia Panda plans to open additional 10-15 stores (both hyper and super) next year. Currently, it has 97 stores in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, out of which 22 are hypermarkets, with 15 of them in Saudi Arabia.

He said Al Azizia Panda will continue its "aggressive growth" delivered in three years, with the opening of 12 new stores this year.
The company's goal is to put up 100 Panda supermarkets and 30 hypermarkets in 2010, he added.

Kashgari attributed its success to Al Azizia Panda's corporate motto of "always fresh, always for less" which is a testament of the company's uncompromising commitment to always give the best to its customers. He said Al Azizia Panda "continues to be number one in price perception and in value for money."

On the impact of the present global economic slowdown, Kashgari said on the contrary, it turns out to be positive for the company since "food being a necessity, customers prefer to buy them from the stores and cook at home," rather than eating outside at a restaurant or any food shop. The shift in attitude brought about by dire economic circumstances increases Al Azizia Panda's sales, the CEO of Al Azizia Panda and the retail sector of Savola Group pointed out.

However, he added that the financial straits also negatively affected the company though "not really that big" as Al Azizia Panda "offers the best prices and best quality not only for food items but even for general merchandise as well, such as electronic products and appliances."

What was known as Al Azizia at the outset when it was established in 1979, it grew to become Al Azizia Panda in 1993 with the purchase of Panda Supermarkets. Al Azizia Panda United acquired Giant Stores in 2008 and merged it into its operations. The company intends to change all 18 Giant stores into Al Azizia Panda chain of hypermarkets and supermarkets "very soon", he said.

Al Azizia Panda United Company is a subsidiary of Savola Group.