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Jordan to monitor retailers during Ramadan
Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Amer Hadidi has announced the ministry will increase its monitoring and inspection of stores during the holy month of Ramadan to ensure that essential commodities are available at affordable prices, the Jordan Times has reported. Legal measures against traders who violate the ministry's laws and regulations will be taken, he said.
Camel-milk chocolate to be sold globally
Martin Van Almsick, general manager of Dubai-based Al Nassma, the world's first brand of chocolate made with camels' milk, has said the company plans to expand into new Arab markets, Europe, Japan and the US, Reuters has reported. The company will deliver the first ton of chocolates soon to Saudi Arabia first through a partnership with a Jeddah-based distributor, followed by Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the US within the next few months, he said. Al Nassma is also in talks with British department store Harrods and San Francisco's Chocolate Covered to sell its products.
GCC consumers continue spending
A recent Booz & Company survey of consumers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE has found that only 28% of consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have reduced spending levels in the past six months, and 26% have increased spending. Some GCC consumers report fewer shopping trips, buying more sale items, and putting luxuries or other material purchases requiring large cash outlays on hold, the report said. Roughly one-quarter of the UAE's and Saudi Arabia's consumers report spending less now than six months ago; in the UAE, 55% have maintained consistent spending levels since the crisis began. Another 37% have reduced spending, and 9% are spending more. 36% of consumers in Saudi Arabia have maintained spending levels and 20% have scaled back, but 43% report spending more.
Mars International to open hypermarket in Oman
Mars International LLC, one of the largest retail chains in Oman, has announced it will be opening a new hypermarket at Al Ghubra suburb in the Omani capital, Muscat. Mars Hypermarket provides food stuff, perishables, grocery, textiles, cosmetics, vegetables, meat and fish, in addition to dedicated counters of telecom industry players and many other brands.
Merle Norman opens in UAE
American skincare and make up brand Merle Norman Cosmetics has opened its first studio in the UAE. The new studio is located in Sharjah Mega Mall, with another scheduled to open on Jumeirah Beach Road before the end of the year. Merle Norman Cosmetics currently operates approximately 2000 studios and the UAE is its first market outside North America.
Dubai festival receives 4,000 registrations
Suhaila Gobash, events manager and retail registration supervisor of Dubai Shopping Festival Office has said that over 4,000 retail outlets have registered to be part of the promotion organized during this year's Dubai Summer Surprises. Promotions and shopping deals are currently being done through Dubai Summer Surprises, the Back-to-School season, Ramadan, and 'Eid in Dubai' (Eid Al Fitr).
Pure Gold launches new range
Jewellery retailer Pure Gold Jewellers has launched a new solitaire range of diamond rings, earrings and pendants. All pieces are certified by the International Diamond Laboratories (IDL), which provides the diamond trade and jewellery retailers with quality reports of polished diamonds. The product range will be available across all Pure Gold Jewellers outlets in the UAE and the GCC from mid-July 2009.
Damas opens three new stores in Qatar
Damas, the jeweller and watch retailer, has announced the launch of three new stores in Qatar, bringing the total number of stores operated by the company in the country to 18. Two of the newly opened stores are located at the City Center and Lulu Centre shopping malls, while the third is located at Al Wakra.
Saudis ban sale of Nestle dough
The government of Saudi Arabia has banned the sale of Nestle dough products at its stores and restaurants due to a possible E. coli contamination. The move follows a recent outbreak in the US, where Nestle USA voluntarily recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products on June 19 after those who ate the raw product became ill. Fadi Sahyoun, the communications manager for Nestle Middle East, said there should be no cause for concern in the GCC.
Marks and Spencer opens new store in Kuwait
Marks & Spencer Al-Futtaim, has launched a new store, in 360 Mall, Kuwait City. The new store is the second in Kuwait, the 13th Marks & Spencer store in the Middle East and the fourth new store to be opened in 2009.
Ping Pong opens first restaurant in the Mideast
Ping Pong, a teahouse and dim sum emporium, has announced its plans to open its first outlet in the Middle East this September at Dubai Mall. The new restaurant will be the first for Ping Pong outside of the UK, where it has 12 restaurants in London.
Sharjah stores warned over female seller quotas
The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) has launched an awareness campaign to urge female clothing shop owners to start employing female sellers before the official cut-off time, Wam has reported. 'This decision is very important to us due to the privacy of women's stores and the conservative nature of Sharjah,' SEDD has said. Stores will be given until January 1, 2010 to replace male employees with female employees, after which strict fines will be levied, and measures taken, against violating establishments. Some shops will require the employment of female sellers only, while others may still employ some males, the department has said.
Dubai IT traders to launch rating scheme
Dubai Computer Traders' Group (DCTG), a non-profit organisation of the emirate's IT retailers, has launched a rating system, in a bid to reduce incidences of credit fraud within the industry. The credit ratings start from A for a member providing basic information to A+++ for a highly credible organisation providing maximum information.
Degrenne Paris expands in GCC
French manufacturer of table and kitchen ware, Degrenne Paris has opened its first flagship shop in Dubai at Dubai Festival City. The shop spreads over 1,600sqft, offering both casual and formal ranges of porcelain, cutlery, cookware, glassware, kitchenware, table and kitchen linen and children's collections. About 13 outlets are due to open in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain over the next two years under franchising by Alphamed Group, which will exclusively operate the retail outlets in these countries as well as manage a flagship cookery school.
Ethos: Mall of Emirates 'best UAE mall'
An independent retail study by Ethos Consultancy, which included 22 retail sectors across the country, has named Dubai's Mall of the Emirates as the UAE's 'Best Mall.' 2,300 shopping visits were made across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to thirty five shopping centres and malls, covering 115 brands and 558 outlets, with Mall of the Emirates being recognised as home to the best performing stores.
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