IMAGES RetailME

At IMAGES RetailME we’ve always been storytellers of the retail world. Through our magazines, books and reports, we’ve captured the heart of the industry – its challenges, triumphs and endless drive to innovate. In 2024, we didn’t just observe, we created. Through our platforms, we built bridges between knowledge and networking. Our awards created spaces to celebrate retail excellence. And what a year it was for the Middle East and its retail! LuLu Group International Retail Holdings’ $1.72 billion IPO showcased the region’s strength. Landmark Group’s 50 years reminded us of the power of perseverance. Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its doors in Kuwait, while #SaudiArabia secured the hosting rights for Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034™️elevating the Kingdom’s global ambitions. Every milestone told a story of resilience, innovation and heart. As we turn the page to 2025, we carry forward the same spirit – to inspire, connect and celebrate. Here’s to a year of new opportunities, bold beginnings and brighter horizons for retail. Together, let’s make it unforgettable. *Dive into our coverage for in-depth insights on MENA retail's key milestones in 2024.* LuLu Group International https://lnkd.in/dgxutUxR Landmark Group https://lnkd.in/gDyqaiaF Chiptole Mexican Grill https://lnkd.in/dCzmMKSa Alshaya Group https://lnkd.in/garDTNj3 Primark https://lnkd.in/ghsSHwcx #GCCRetail 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦: https://lnkd.in/g35n_ZXD Dhananjay Datar | Naresh Kumar Bhawnani | Mohammad Iqbal Alawi | Neeraj Teckchandani | Toufic Kreidieh | Dr. Hesham Almekkawi | Frederic Levy-Perrault ✅| Ali Shareif | Halima Jumani | Sebastian Shi | Sédat Firat | Vikram Manjeshwar | VISHAL KAPIL | Rajat Asthana | Nader Amiri | George Kunnappally | Mohamed Alabbar | Tapan Vaidya | Panchali Mahendra | Marcus Sutton | Manish Sabnis | Mark Tesseyman | Vikas Chadha | Leena Khalil | Sunil Kumar Sekharan | Joerg Meiser | Gaurav Mahajan | Debashish Mukherjee | Stephen Vickerstaff | Tim Harrison-Jones | Prince Waleed AlSaud #MiddleEastRetail #IMAGESRetailME #RetailStories #Welcome2025 #RetailKnowledge #RetailMomentum #RetailIntelligence

🐾 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞: Pet Corner UAE 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 🐾 Pet ownership in the UAE has come a long way, evolving from a trend to a way of life where pets are cherished as family members. Leading this incredible transformation is Pet Corner, a family-run business that started with a single store and has grown into a network of 21 outlets across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah. 💬 In an Exclusive Interview with Sidarth Mahindra, Chief Pet Officer (CPO), and Gaurav Mahindra The REAL BIG G (Founder), to uncover the remarkable journey of Pet Corner and their vision for revolutionizing the pet care industry in the UAE. ✨ A Vision Beyond Retail ✨ Driving Community Engagement ✨ Innovation at Scale With plans to hit the 30-store milestone by 2025 and expand both B2B and B2C channels, Pet Corner is more than a brand—it’s a movement reshaping the UAE’s pet care ecosystem with innovation, quality, and heart. 🐶 🐱 🐾 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dEv3p_89 #PetCareUAE #PetCornerJourney #UAEEntrepreneurs #RetailInnovation #PetLovers

Kartell’s 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🌟 IMAGES RetailME dives deep into Kartell’s strategic UAE growth in an exclusive interview with Lorenza Luti, Marketing & Retail Director of Kartell Dubai. 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬: ✨ Sustainability & Innovation ✨ Omnichannel Excellence ✨ Diverse Offerings for Cosmopolitan Audiences 🚀 With Dubai as its Gulf hub, Kartell is now setting its sights on Saudi Arabia, bringing its heritage-rich, future-forward approach to the Middle East retail landscape. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dV-AVaB5 #KartellDubai #RetailInnovation #DesignExcellence #MiddleEastRetail #Sustainability

Azad Properties is an asset and property management company based in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2017, Azad specializes in the development and management of lifestyle retail, logistics, and other commercial properties. Managing a portfolio of 12 properties, Azad focuses on designing, developing, and managing innovative commercial, lifestyle, and logistics projects. By integrating cutting-edge solutions, Azad effectively serves and anticipates the needs of stakeholders, building a resilient, future-focused portfolio that delivers long-term profitability and value. In alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, Azad is dedicated to driving real estate development through the integration of local and international expertise. We were honoured to have Azad Properties Partner us for #SaudiRetailForum2024 as our Platinum Sponsor. Looking forward to continuing the partnership and collaboration in the time to come! Ahmed Sawad | Ayman Al Burti | Mohammad Iqbal Alawi #SRF2024 #KSA #RetailTransformation #FutureOfRetail #RetailRealEstate #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #Partner #IMAGESRetailME #SaudiVision2030

🎙️ 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 IMAGES RetailME 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤. The Journey of Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe with Rania Saied Shares Her Passion for Emirati Food Culture. 🌍 Discover how Arabian Tea House is evolving, from 7 branches in the UAE to an international success story that brought Emirati cuisine to Europe just three years ago. From humble beginnings with seven branches in the UAE, Arabian Tea House has flourished into a global ambassador of Emirati cuisine. Three years ago, the journey went international, bringing traditional flavors to Europe and receiving a heartwarming embrace from food enthusiasts. But the story doesn’t stop there. Rania’s family-owned hospitality group has expanded to include seven restaurants, Arabian Boutique Hotels, and now, Arabian Farm House in Dubai. This farm closes the loop of sustainability, supplying fresh produce for salads and fruits for juices, ensuring every meal is as authentic as it is wholesome. 🎙️ In this exclusive interview, Rania Saied shares: 🌱 The family’s commitment to organic, healthy, and sustainable food culture. 🏡 The launch of Arabian Boutique Hotels and Arabian Farm House in Dubai. 🐟 The debut of Arabian Fish House—the newest addition to their hospitality journey. 🎥 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/dSpe2e-X Explore the blend of tradition, innovation, and sustainability driving the Arabian Tea House’s remarkable journey. #ArabianTeaHouse #EmiratiCuisine #Foodpreneur #SustainableDining #HospitalityInnovation

🏀 𝐉𝐃 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀 From global icons like Nike, adidas, and The North Face to private labels like #PinkSoda and Supply + Demand, JD Sports Fashion continues to redefine sports fashion in the region! 🏋️♂️👟 🎙️ In an exclusive conversation with IMAGES RetailME - Pavol Bielik, General Manager of JD Sports Fashion #MiddleEast, shares: 💡 The secret behind the brand’s phenomenal growth 📊 Insights into evolving consumer trends in the Middle East 🎯 JD’s unique strategies and vision for the future 👉 Dive into the full story and uncover how JD Sports is shaping the sports retail landscape in #MENA 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/dmaqEJKA #JDSports #SportsFashion #MENAExpansion #RetailInnovation #BrandStory #GMG #Dubai #UAE

 ‘𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞’: 𝐀 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐀𝐄’𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 Landmark Group’s Circulife is setting the stage for a sustainable future as the region’s first textile circularity facility, aligning with its mission to become circular and climate-positive by 2050. This groundbreaking initiative doesn’t just aim to close the loop on textile waste—it has the potential to position the #UAE as a global hub for recycled textile fibre production. 🏷 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: A year ago, Tadweer Waste Management (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company) launched the ‘Integrated Textile Circularity Initiative,’ calling for collective public-private efforts. Landmark Group answered the call with its unwavering commitment. 🔍 In an exclusive with IMAGES RetailME, Rajesh Garg CFO of Landmark Group, shared a vision of responsible production: "𝐈𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦." 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. 🌱 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/dhyT5SbF #LandmarkCirculife #TextileCircularity #SustainabilityGoals #UAE2030 #ClimateAction

At 𝐒𝐑𝐅 2024, we explored the 6 key pillars that shape the future of retail, delving deeper into the dimensions that drive this ever-evolving industry. Each panel and discussion was meticulously designed to focus on one core pillar. In this insightful #keynote, Prince Waleed AlSaud, 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐄𝐎 of Mukatafa - مكاتفة Consulting Company, shared his perspective on 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, highlighting the overarching pillar of 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐄 and sharing his powerful perspective: “𝑴𝒖𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒇𝒂 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓—𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆.” Explore the vision that connects public policy and retail’s future. 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: https://lnkd.in/gKtqTz9z #SRF2024 #RetailInsights #IndustryLeadership #ValueInRetail

🍫 Knoops: 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 🌍 From a charming shop in Rye, East Sussex, to becoming a global sensation, KNOOPS’ is crafting the ultimate chocolate drink journey for taste buds everywhere. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 ✔️ Founded in 2013 by Jens Knoop: A single-store concept evolved into a world-renowned brand. ✔️ Dubai Calling: The launch of our first store in Dubai has set the stage for our international expansion into the Middle East, the US, and China. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ✔️ Bespoke chocolate experiences tailored to every palate. ✔️ A relentless focus on quality and creativity in every cup. 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 2025: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 ✔️ Strategic expansion into key global markets. ✔️ Establishing KNOOPS as the definitive leader in premium chocolate beverages. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 ✔️ Strengthening our presence in the region through innovation and unparalleled customer experiences. ✔️ Making our mark as the go-to destination for chocolate enthusiasts in the Middle East and beyond. At the helm of this rapid ascent is William Gordon-Harris, CEO of KNOOPS, who shares insights into the brand’s journey, challenges, innovations, and vision for the future. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dhWyf4em #KNOOPS #ChocolateLuxury #DubaiLaunch #TasteInnovation #GlobalExpansion

💡𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 CION Lighting Technologies is at the forefront of energy-efficient solutions, blending cutting-edge technology with a commitment to sustainability. 🔹𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭: Their latest innovation sets a new standard in energy efficiency for retail lighting! 🔹𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡: A dedicated team listens, adapts, and delivers on client needs. 🔹Global Growth: With targeted market research and strategic partnerships, CION is set to illuminate international markets. Dive deeper into CION Lighting Technologies’ journey and their vision for a brighter future. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dhugS-8a #LightingInnovation #SustainableTech #RetailSolutions #CIONLighting