Alshaya and Mothercare mark 25 years as partners

M.H. Alshaya Co., the Middle East’s leading franchise operator, and Mothercare, the specialist retailer for mothers-to-be, babies and young children, recently celebrated a 25-year partnership within the region.

Ben Gordon, CEO of Mothercare was recently in Kuwait and attended a dinner held in his honour by Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of M.H. Alshaya Co. to mark the occasion. Mr. Alshaya presented Mr. Gordon with a commemorative plate to celebrate the long standing and successful business relationship between the two companies.

Commenting on the event, Mohammed Alshaya said: “Alshaya and Mothercare have been on a long journey together.  When we started, retailing within the Gulf was not as sophisticated as it has since become, and I believe the work we did together in the early years helped to set standards for the industry throughout the region. Over the years our relationship has developed to the level where it is seamless and almost innate. Our organizations work so well together it’s almost as if we’re one. And the best part about it is that it feels as though we’re only beginning. There is scope for so much more to be achieved. The markets we operate in still have considerable room for growth.”

In recent times Mothercare has gained a reputation as a business that has continued to perform and grow despite the economic issues that have beset the global marketplace.   From the first store opened in Kuwait in 1983, M.H. Alshaya Co. now operates over 180 Mothercare outlets.

The strength of the partnership between Mothercare and M.H. Alshaya Co. has seen them expand together into other territories. M.H. Alshaya Co. also has the franchise rights for Mothercare in Russia, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the successful growth pattern witnessed in the Gulf is being repeated in these markets.

Mr. Alshaya continued on the connection with Mothercare, saying, “The special relationship and degree of trust we have with Mothercare is actually mirrored by the brand’s own bond with its customers. Mothercare is a brand that builds trust and a long-term relationship with those who use it. There are now generations of families in the Gulf whose confidence in the brand reflects the positive experience it has given them over time.”
For further information please contact Lisa George/Meral Hassan, ASDA’A Burson Marsteller, Dubai. Tel: 0097143344550. E-mail: l.george@asdaa.com/m.hassan@asdaa.com

About M.H. Alshaya Co.
M.H. Alshaya Co. is a leading international franchise operator for over 40 of the world’s most recognized retail brands, including Starbucks, H&M, The Body Shop, Foot Locker, Mothercare, Debenhams, River Island and Boots. The company operates over 1,700 stores across six divisions: Fashion & Footwear, Health & Beauty, Food, Casual Dining, Optics and Pharmaceuticals.

M.H. Alshaya Co. stores can currently be found in 16 markets across the Middle East and North Africa, Turkey, Cyprus, Russia and Poland. More recently, the company launched operations in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. It employs more than 15,000 people from over 35 nationalities.

The company has established itself as the industry leader across these territories through a combination of local market understanding and a comprehensive commitment to customer service. Growth in each of its operating divisions and brands is supported by continuous investment in talent and infrastructure. It applies best practices in retail operations, merchandising, marketing, information technology, logistics, real estate, human resources and financial controls.

M.H. Alshaya Co. is the retail business of the Alshaya Group, which was founded in Kuwait in 1890 and today represents one of the most dynamic companies in the Middle East.  In addition to its retail operations, the Alshaya Group is active in a number of other sectors including real estate, automotive, hotels, trading and investments.