Qatar’s diverse consumer base is shaping a retail approach centred on affordability, direct sourcing and reduced plastic use, according to Mark & Save GCC Operation manager Mohammed Fasil in Doha.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Fasil said retailers operating in Qatar must respond to customers from a wide range of backgrounds, each bringing different household needs, product preferences and expectations of value.
Mark & Save recorded more than 2mn customer visits during its first 500 days in the country, with shoppers representing over 110 nationalities, according to figures provided by the company. Fasil described it as an indication of the breadth of Qatar’s consumer market.
Serving such a varied population requires access to products from multiple regions rather than relying on a limited sourcing base. Fasil said the company imports merchandise from countries including India, China, Bangladesh, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and Poland.
"We are directly importing from the manufacturing unit to the customer,” he said. "The intermediary cost is removed, and that is the benefit customers receive.”
He added that the sourcing model is intended to manage prices while providing a range suited to different communities. Affordability, Fasil said, remains an important consideration for households, particularly when purchasing everyday products.
He linked the company’s customer-focused approach not only to price but also to understanding how shopping practices are changing, including growing awareness of the environmental effects of single-use plastic.
The retailer is preparing to encourage greater use of reusable jute bags in Qatar and reduce its reliance on plastic shopping bags, following similar measures introduced in some of its other markets.
"We want customers to use more jute bags instead of plastic shopping bags,” Fasil said. "Plastics create environmental issues, so we will move towards jute bags as soon as possible.”
He said no date was provided for the full introduction of the measure in Qatar. However, the planned shift reflects how environmental considerations are becoming part of everyday retail decisions, from packaging and checkout practices to the choices offered to customers.
Moving consumers away from disposable bags will also require awareness and participation instead of a change imposed only at store level, Fasil added.
Reusable alternatives must be convenient enough to become part of regular shopping habits.