As one of the only industries that has been able to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, supermarkets and grocery stores have seen their sales soar.
But so unprecedented has the rapid escalation in grocery shopping been, many retailers in the UAE are struggling to keep up with demand.
In a bid to avoid crowded supermarket aisles and tills, more consumers than before are ordering their groceries online – but the load is proving too much for some e-grocer portals.
We anticipate a new normal in the mind of the consumer, one where online shopping has become familiar and even expected
For instance, if you were to attempt to shop online at Carrefour right now, you can expect a two-week wait time, Choithrams will take one week, and Lulu Hypermarket will take one month to deliver you your groceries.
Some products have also become harder to come by, both in-store and online, bolstered by much of the general public putting their newfound free time towards becoming master bakers, with flour and baking powder becoming hot commodities across the country, and around the world.
Instore, it's a lot less manic, but perhaps therein lies a clue about the seismic shift in the way the grocery industry will come out of the pandemic: could the frenzied Saturday afternoon showdown at your local hypermarket become a thing of the past?
Well, maybe not, but one thing seems to be for certain: the shift in consumer habits we thought of as temporary before the pandemic, could in fact become permanent.
Things such as heightened awareness of hygiene standards and practises, less trips to bricks and mortar stores for consumers and a newfound focus on online shopping for fresh produce could become the new normal.
Here, we hear from those at the helm of two of the country's biggest grocery retailers, on what they expect shopping in a post-Covid world might look like.
Online grocery shopping will become a new staple for residents
This isn't a new concept, but it is one that has not yet fully been ingrained in daily life for many people. While many people made the switch to online shopping for the wider retail sector, such as beauty products, clothing and electronics, online grocery shopping has taken a bit longer to get off the ground. But the last few months could have changed all that.
At Carrefour, online sales have seen triple-digit growth, since the pandemic forced the closure of restaurants and kept residents confined to their homes. This was on top of the 300 per cent year-on-year growth they were already experiencing.
And according to Hani Weiss, Majid Al Futtaim Retail's chief executive officer, that trajectory could continue, to a lesser extent, well after the pandemic dies down.
"During March we saw a 50 per cent increase in online transactions at Carrefour compared to February, which in itself was significantly higher than pre Covid-19 levels," Weiss says.
"Looking ahead to a post Covid-19 world, we anticipate a new normal in the mind of the consumer, one where online shopping has become familiar and even expected."
To cope with the influx of business, 1,000 Majid Al Futtaim employees had been reskilled to temporarily help out at Carrefour restocking shelves and supporting staff.
Six new "fulfilment centres" for online orders had opened across the region, as well as their largest "darkstore".
Waitrose also expected their customers to now primarily look to shop online, marketing manager for brand and commercial Warwick Gird says.
"Online was important pre Covid-19, and will continue to be afterwards. We do expect a rapid acceleration during and post Covid-19 in terms of businesses offering their goods and services online," Gird says.
He added that customers would likely see an increase of products and online shopping options as a result of the pandemic.
Customers will be visiting supermarkets less and buying more
Though people will be looking to purchase more products online, that doesn't mean instore shopping will disappear completely. But trips in to the hypermarket may evolve into a more planned out affair.
Weiss says that whereas shoppers in the Middle East tend to shop more sporadically, with daily ad hoc visits the the store to pick up smaller amounts of groceries, shoppers may now be more inclined to plan out their weekly needs more carefully, so they require less trips to the store.
Gird agrees, as Waitrose customers have done the same.
"We are seeing a decrease in the frequency of shopping, and an increase in the amount of supplies people buy when they shop," he says.
Social distancing could continue
To ensure social distancing takes place across their stores, Waitrose has introduced several measures to encourage shoppers to keep their distance from one another, perhaps most notably, the stickers on the floor near the check-outs. This ensures people stand a safe distance apart as they queue to pay for their items.
While these won't necessarily still be in place once the pandemic is over, Gird believes shoppers may look to enforce their own social distancing in future anyway.
"We think the world may be a different place in terms of social etiquette after Covid-19, with more people being wary of the space they keep between each other and their interactions with other people. We expect this to play out in shopping behaviour as well," he says.
Instore hygiene and cleaning procedures will need to reach new standards
At Waitrose, new and improved "rigorous cleaning routines" will continue post-pandemic. This means all equipment in store, such as self-service scanners, payment terminals, trolley handles and tills, are cleaned daily and "at every available opportunity," Gird says.
But that doesn't just go for what stores are doing, but what they are selling as well.
Carrefour has reported a 490 per cent increase in sales of multi-purpose home cleaning products across the region, since the outbreak began. Sales of liquid soap have gone up by close to 1,000 per cent.
People will look to support local as a long-term ethical choice
Since the pandemic began, a community-wide call has gone out to drive consumers towards buying and supporting local, or smaller, businesses – simply to ensure their survival. But this could become a prolonged, ethical choice for many people.
Businesses had also joined the fray, turning to local producers to ensure they can supply what can't be sourced from overseas right now, but also as a way of stimulating the economy.
This shift had already begun prior to the pandemic, Weiss says, but it has been somewhat amplified and accelerated.
"We will see a more conscientious consumer in the post Covid-19 world," Weiss says.
"The current challenges have revealed some great initiatives by big and small businesses geared towards helping people within both their own ecosystem and the wider community. Going forward, the consumer will likely want to see such thoughtful initiatives continued, and they will vote with their wallets in favour of businesses that meet their principles."
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Byblos iftar in numbers
29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month
50 staff members required to prepare an iftar
200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly
160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total
500 litres of soup is served during the holy month
200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes
350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes
5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
SPECS
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Oppenheimer
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo