- Two new Carrefour Market supermarkets opened, with two still to open in 2011 in the UAE
With a focus on fresh, high-quality produce, low prices, convenience, a wider choice and improved customer service, the new Carrefour Market supermarkets have received a positive reception from local shoppers in their four months since rebranding.
In June this year, Carrefour MAF began a rebranding programme with 16 Carrefour Express stores across the UAE becoming ‘Carrefour Market’ supermarkets, highlighting the range of quality, and freshness.
During the summer months, 13 Carrefour Market stores across Dubai and three stores in Sharjah received fresh fruit and vegetables and professional butchers and fishmongers were on hand to help customers.
During this same period, two new large stores opened in Sharjah Al Goaz area and in Umm Al Quwain. The next Carrefour Market openings are coming very soon in Dubai’s JLT Red Diamond Centre followed by Burj Views, Downtown Dubai, both scheduled to open before the end of 2011.
Franck Rouquet, Vice President Carrefour Supermarkets in the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, says customer reaction has been very positive to the new-look stores. “As expected, we are finding customers are using our Carrefour Market supermarkets to top-up their larger, monthly shopping trips to a hypermarket. With such a high-turnover of produce, our supermarkets are receiving fresh produce on a daily basis, which is fundamental to the success of this model.”
With the emphasis moving from basic grocery items to fresh produce of the highest quality, Carrefour Market is looking to differentiate itself from other supermarkets in the region by being a practical, weekly shopping destination.
With extended opening hours in all stores – the Carrefour Market in Tecom is now open 24 hours-a-day – special order options including preparation from the Butchery for BBQ’s, parties or special cuts along with birthday cakes, Carrefour Markets wants to provide a convenient location for their loyal customers.
Carrefour Market always aims to be the supermarket offering the cheapest prices in the immediate area in which it operates, along with the widest variety of products. Produce in-store at Carrefour Market centres on fresh, high-quality food products with bread baked in-store, butchers and fishmongers on hand and daily deliveries straight to the supermarket shelves. Product ranges are also introduced on a store-by-store basis to reflect and accommodate the needs of the immediate surrounding community.
Recognized as one of the most active shopping concept developers in the region, the Majid Al Futtaim group first introduced the Carrefour model to the Middle East in 1995.
