LuLu Hypermarket Group opened its latest hypermarket in the new shopping landmark of Abu Dhabi: Mushrif Mall on Airport Road, taking the total number of its outlets to 94. The latest LuLu Hypermarket in the UAE, which was built on a total area of 230,000 sq feet featuring an extensive supermarket section with fresh vegetables, fruits, butchery and delicatessen serving hot and ready-to-eat foods. The store also has special counters serving cakes and other baked goods, an array of Arabic sweets and delicacies, as well as a wide range of electronics and IT products, appliances, fashion garments, sports equipment, etc. Talking to the media after the opening ceremony, Yusuf Ali, Managing Director of LuLu Group said: “It has been our policy always to bring world-class shopping experience closer to the people rather than making them drive long distance. Even though there have been talks of economic slowdown in the market, we have decided to carry on with our expansion plans of reaching the figure of 100 stores by the end of 2011, and do our bit to further strengthen the regional economic scenario.” He further said that LuLu Group is set to open two new hypermarkets during the second half of this year in Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre in Abu Dhabi in the next few weeks and also in Ras Al Khaimah.Lulu Group investments are spread all over the Gulf region, Egypt, Yemen. Its expansion plan includes opening new hypermarkets in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain in the coming months. Yusuff Ali said that the Group’s expansion plans were not affected by the world financial crisis as its business is relevant to the retail sector which was the least affected by the crisis, explaining that the group has already opened around 20 branches in the region in 2009 and 2010. Today LuLu group dominates 32% of the retail “Hypermarket” sector in the Middle East.