Lulu launches British food fest, 5k items on display

Satyendra Pathak Doha Lulu Hypermarket, the largest hypermarket chain in the region, on Wednesday, launched its annual British food festival entitled ‘Fo...

Satyendra Pathak Doha Lulu Hypermarket, the largest hypermarket chain in the region, on Wednesday, launched its annual British food festival entitled ‘Food is Great Britain & Northern Island’ to promote British products in Qatar. The festival was inaugurated by the British Ambassador to Qatar HE Jonathan Wilks at the Lulu Hypermarket’s Al Messila branch. During the week-long fest, a wide variety of food products imported from the UK will be available at discounts from May 19 to May 25 across all Lulu stores in Qatar.Lulu Group, which has its own food processing plants and sourcing offices in the UK, has flown in more than 5,000 British products for the food festival including cheeses of organic and healthy range, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, sweet delicacies, canned foods, household, health & beauty and much more.The festival that promises to highlight an authentic British shopping experience offers ready-made English classic delights in the hot food section featuring freshly cooked dishes that are perfect for feasting.Talking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony, Lulu Group Director Mohamed Althaf said, “The Lulu Group has exerted massive efforts to introduce as many as 47 new ranges of products featuring organic, low-fat, gluten-free and diet-based food options that are in demand now with health-conscious Qatari shoppers during this festival.”.Well-renowned for highlighting country-based products through food festivals throughout the year, the Lulu Group also aims to showcase the rich culture of the UK through this festival. “Britain has always played a vital role in securing Qatar’s food needs with uninterrupted supplies of food products even during tough times. Through its sourcing offices and food processing units in the UK, the Lulu Group will keep on providing non-stop supply of UK products at the most competitive prices all year round,” Althaf said.Althaf said that food festivals are part of Lulu’s strategy to promote cuisines and food items from various countries in Qatar.“The festival also aims at educating people about the source of foods and its heritage beyond just selling and buying. We want people to know the standard and authenticity of foods,” said Althaf.He said that British Food Festival has been held in coordination with the British Embassy in Qatar and UK Trade and Investment for the last so many years.“Every year we add more products and companies to such festivals. This year the activities of the festival will be limited due to COVID-19 preventive measures,” he said.Addressing the media during the inaugural ceremony, the British envoy said, “The Lulu Group has been promoting British products in Qatar by organising British food festival every year. Last year, we could not do it because of COVID-19 pandemic. I am glad that it is back this year. We have both traditional and some exciting new products this year.”Vegetable-based meat substitute products from the UK can be a major attraction this year, he said.“We have seen a big increase in fruits and vegetables sourced from the UK to Qatar. We are also getting a lot of UK fish, not only Salmon from Scotland, but other types of fish as well,” Wilks said.Highlighting the contribution of Lulu Hypermarket in promoting British products in Qatar, he said, “Lulu is playing a very important role. There are many British products in supermarkets in Qatar but the way Lulu has been developing the market for British products in Qatar and the GCC is exceptional.”“The organisers have made a good attempt to bring typical British touch all along the store with the medley of British flags and pictorial representations of iconic landmarks of Great Britain,” he said. With the extensive collection of outstanding British brands and culinary heritage, the festival received overwhelming response from the local and expatriate communities in the country on the very first day of its launch.Lulu Group has a comprehensive network of Export Distribution Centers in 24 countries including the major state of the art facilities recently opened in New Jersey, USA, and Madrid, Spain. Officials from the British Embassy, Department for International Trade and Invest Northern Ireland and a host of other officials and dignitaries from various sectors were also present on the occasion.