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| Sauvage: to maintain “price leader” status |
Al Meera Consumer Goods Company yesterday said it was refurbishing its outlets across the country to give a facelift in view of increasing competition.
The company also assured customers that it would continue to be the “price leader”.
Although the company did not give details about the cost of redesigning its 23 outlets across the country, its CEO Guy Sauvage said the expenses would be absorbed by the company despite taking a hit on its margins.
Moreover, Al Meera is in talks with Barwa and other developers like Lusail and The Pearl-Qatar to open more outlets as well as with bakers including Bakemart.
It was also contemplating acquisitions and overseas expansion, Sauvage said.
“We need to compete in the market. With our expansion plan in full swing, a complete redesign of our stores is taking place in parallel,” Sauvage said on the sidelines of a tour to its first concept store in Khalifa South.
He said the new concept store - which would have more assortments, including imported goods, amid premium ambience - would be replicated across the country and the aim is to refurbish half of its retail outlets by next year.
This year, it would be redesigning three, including one in Mansoura and another in Markhiya, and the next year, it would undertake 10 more outlets.
Al Meera early this year acquired Qatar Markets Company, which runs Giant Stores, as well as Al Oumara bakery, a deal that would not only mark its first step on to hypermarket format operation in Qatar but also see additional revenues of QR350mn accruing to it.
Sauvage said the Giant Stores would be completely brought under the new concept of Al Meera within the next six months.
He also said Al Meera had entered into agreement with French food retail chain Casino Group to market the latter’s branded products. A multi-format entity, ranked the 24th largest worldwide retailer of food items, the Casino Group would support Al Meera using its international connections and networks in supplying the local chain with all international brands.
