Lulu Group launches operations in USA
Opens food processing and logistics center in New Jersey
Lulu Group International, the Abu Dhabi headquartered retail and hospitality group further expanded their operations by inaugurating their food processing and logistics bases in USA. Y International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the group launched its operation in Lyndhurst, New Jersey this morning.
The world -class export center will purchase, process, re-label and export food, non-food, chilled and frozen products made in the US. In the first phase there are 75 employees which is expected to eventually grow to 200 to 250 employees within I year.
The facility was formally inaugurated jointly by Mayor Robert B Giangeruso, Mayor Michael J McPartland and Vinai Thummalapally, the Executive Director of Select USA in the presence of Yusuffali MAChairman, Saifee Rupawala, CEO, Ashraf Ali MA Executive Director and Mohd. Althaf - Director of LULU Group. Attendees at the ribbon cutting, including local and foreign officials as well as members of the IndianAmerican business community from around the country, were thrilled by the impact the company can have throughout the state.
In his remarks Yusuffali MA thanked the officials of Select USA, Choose New Jersey and state and county officials for their great support in helping LULU launch their maiden venture in USA. “Our group has been importing US products for a long time to cater to more than 700,000 shoppers who come to our 131 hypermarkets daily,” Yusufali added highlighting the longstanding relationships between Lulu and farmers and manufacturers in the country, with a special emphasis on California. “There has been growing demand for US products throughout our retail chain stores, across the GCC, India and Far East” he concluded.
Speaking to media during the ceremony Choose New Jersey CEO and President Michele Brown said “In addition to bringing new jobs to our state, Y International’s export center will give New Jersey and US manufacturers the opportunity to reach new markets in the Middle East and beyond.”
“Y International USA’s decision to establish their first export distribution center in the United States offers the company exciting new opportunities in the world’s largest consumer market, as well as enhanced access to hundreds of millions of global consumers,” said Vinai Thummalapally, executive director, SelectUSA. “We look forward to working closely with all parties as the investment progresses - and extend our warmest congratulations to Lulu Group International, Choose New Jersey, and the community of Lyndhurst.”
The US$ 6.6 billion turnover Lulu Group operates hypermarkets, supermarkets and shopping malls, in addition to wholesale distribution, food processing and hospitality with operations in 37 countries, including the GCC, India and Far East. The company has a 32 percent market share in the Middle East.
Brown said New Jersey is a perfect fit “Our state is so diverse; we have populations from so many different countries,” she said. “We felt they would feel both welcome and at home. The business they will be conducting out of this site is meeting American companies to buy goods and products to then export to their own consumer base,” she said. “We have literally thousands of companies in food in New Jersey.”
New Jersey, Brown said, is also home to companies in the apparel and consumer goods industries, which could serve the needs of the company’s Hypermarkets. As per the latest report by Deloitte International, LULU is ranked among the Top 10 fastest-growing retailers in the world.