Carrefour, Europe's biggest supermarket chain, has signed a deal with an electronics and IT retailer based in the UAE to provide concessions in its Carrefour Express convenience outlets.
More Business news: Editor's pick of today's headlines
Last Updated: May 19, 2011
Dubai Holding unit battles to restore Tunisie Telecom IPO Emirates International Telecommunications is calling for an IPO of Tunisie Telecom to be put back on track, as it faces strike action and opposition from the government. Read article
600 pilots needed in budget carrier flydubai's expansion The budget carrier flydubai plans to hire 600 pilots over the next four years as it plans for an eventual fleet of 54 short-haul Boeing 737s. Read article
Hakkasan turns up heat on The Ivy Hakkasan, owned by Abu Dhabi Tasameem, plans to launch a Dubai restaurant under the trendy Chinese restaurant brand in November. Read article
Central Bank to curb property speculators New loan regulations will mean better deals for first-time buyers. Read article
Mud-slinging over rare earth Industry Insights // China could soon face stiff competition in the lucrative rare earth metals market. Read article
CompuMe i2, which has a flagship store in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and already provides small concession shops in Virgin Megastores across the UAE, will open in eight of the 15 Carrefour Express stores in the Emirates.
Carrefour Express will open its first store in Qatar in July and expects to open outlets in Al Ain, Umm al Qaiwain and Sharjah by the end of the year, with CompuMe i2 expanding alongside the supermarket.
"It is important to continue to consolidate our presence in key markets by establishing strategic partnerships and expanding to high-growth markets," said Dikran Tchablakian, the chief executive of CompuMe i2, on the sidelines of the Digital Consumer Channel conference yesterday in Fujairah.
CompuMe i2 will offer Carrefour Express customers IT and technology products including mobile phones, computer tablets, laptops and accessories.
Hakim Amar, the regional operations manager for CompuMe i2, said the partnership meant the electronics retailer could penetrate both the lower-spending segment through the Carrefour Express stores, as well as the high-end sector through its Virgin partnership.
"The idea is to have everything under one roof so we can attract both a premium and value customer in the local community," Mr Amar said.
The first Carrefour Express will open in Doha in Lagoona Mall, with another store opening in Qatar before the end of the year, he said.
Carrefour's hypermarkets already have areas dedicated to electronic, IT and digital products, but the Express outlets will use CompuMe i2 to provide this service.
In Dubai, CompuMe i2's first Carrefour Express launches will be in the Marina, Oasis Centre, Wafi Mall and Sahara Centre.
"We are pleased to partner with Carrefour Express, after our successful business association with Virgin to offer great-value and services to our customers," said Mr Tchablakian.
