Middle East retail giant LULU to set up first mega mall in Cochin

Middle East retail giant LULU to set up first mega mall in Cochin

EMKE group, the biggest retail chain based in the UAE with operations spread across the Middle East is all set to enter the Indian retail sector with mega shopping malls and hypermarkets. The group which has the flagship "LULU" Hypermarkets and department stores chain with 48 branches in all major cities of Gulf, controls 34 per cent market share of the middle east retail sector.

The proposed shopping mall is coming up in Cochin , the commercial capital of Kerala . Apart from this one million sq. ft shopping mall, the project also consists of a 250 room five star hotel and an International standard convention centre which will be set up in the second phase.

Ideally located on the main highway with easy access for the shoppers, the mall will have parking facility for more than 2,500 cars. The anchor store of Lulu Shopping Mall will be Lulu hypermarket -the biggest in India with 180,000 sq. ft. of shopping space. The hypermarket will also have a host of ready to cook as well as ready to eat items from around the world in the most scientifically and hygienically designed environment.

Other features of the mall include more than 160 outlets of the leading fashion and lifestyle brands from all over the world, jewellery centres, 40,000 sq. ft furniture & home decor store, 30,000 sq. ft. sarees , churidars and ethnic wear souk , 12 screen multiplex, a food court with more than 18 outlets, coffee shops, restaurants and 40,000 sq. ft. hi-tech indoor amusement centre; all set in a breathtaking architecture and ambience.

Commenting on his maiden retail project in India , Yusuffali MA, managing director of EMKE Group told IMAGES Retail: "We were looking at spreading our operations to India and now is the right time to enter this market with its booming economy and positive government policies. Apart from Cochin we are also starting similar projects in other major cities of South India like Chennai, Bangalore , Hyderabad , etc."

"With majority of our present customers in the Gulf also being Indians, we already know a great about the Indian consumer's mind set and have done extensive research to provide them with a world class shopping and entertainment facility coupled with international standard services at affordable prices. We will be starting our full fledged leasing process very soon," added Yusuffali .

Dubai based design firm W J ATKINS is executing the project through their Bangalore office. The group plans to complete the project by the third quarter of 2007.