MMI opens new retail store at Mall of the Emirates

The store carries more than 500 product lines and is located at the Carrefour end of the Mall in Welcome Court A, with a convenient entrance next to the car park.

As Dubai grows and develops rapidly and new residential areas are created, local residents are looking for the increased convenience of neighbourhood shopping to meet their needs for a whole range of products and services. In response MMI has developed a multi-faceted strategy with the objective of offering greater convenience for customers:

• the company is opening more new outlets. The Mall of the Emirates store is the second new MMI Retail outlet in 2005, and follows the opening earlier in the year of a new outlet in Ibn Battuta Mall. Further new stores are planned for 2006.

• MMI has introduced a new liquor licence application procedure by which new licences and renewals can be processed in a matter of days through MMI stores. To encourage uptake MMI is currently incentivising applicants with a gift voucher of Dhs150 at the time of the application that can be redeemed against in-store purchases.

• MMI has introduced a wider selection of wines and beers at all price points in response to customers' requests and offers monthly promotions that make popular lines even more affordable.

• The company has tailored its stores and product ranges to meet the distinctive needs of local neighbourhoods. Last year the MMI stores in Karama and Bur Dubai were re-branded to Cellar Saver and the product range adjusted to include more spirits from the sub-continent and fewer wines, in line with local customers.

Simon Thornton, MMI Regional Retail Manager stated

"All of the initiatives that we are taking are part of MMI's commitment to customer service through greater convenience and affordability. The introduction of the new liquor licence application procedures, combined with our local presence and tailored product range, now offer our local customers an unprecedented level of convenience."

He added, "Many customers who haven't visited MMI stores in some time are now finding more reasons to go. The response to our initiatives has been very good in recent months - traffic through the stores has increased greatly and licence applications are at an all time high."