ABU DHABI // Gift baskets filled with basic foods and cooking ingredients will be on sale at Lulu supermarkets during Ramadan.
Part of a joint initiative with the Ministry of Economy, the boxes include items such as salt, corn oil, ketchup, oats and pasta. They come in two sizes, priced at Dh90 and Dh130, with the larger boxes also including beans and rice.
“The boxes are specially made for Ramadan with all necessary products included at special prices,” said Saifee Rupawala, chief executive of Lulu International Group. “They are convenient for the consumers.”
Dr Hashem Al Nuaimi, manager of consumer protection at the Ministry of Economy, inaugurated the event on Sunday.
He said half a million baskets were available at 50 Lulu branches, and he hoped consumers would take advantage of the boxes.
“Today, Lulu Hypermarket is one of the most important and leading department stores in the UAE,” he said.
“We are gathered here on the occasion of firstly providing these Ramadan baskets, and secondly to officially launch awareness screens to consumers.”
Each Lulu store will also have between six and eight video screens displaying budgeting and shopping-awareness messages.
“The messages are currently available in Arabic only, but we are translating them to English,” Dr Al Nuaimi said. “We are also working on providing audio.”
The messages will offer advice to consumers about making shopping lists ahead of time and how to set a suitable food budget.
One message reads: “Read the ingredients on the back of the product before buying.”
Another advises consumers to save their receipts in case a product needed to be exchanged.
“This is the first awareness initiative of its kind that we have witnessed in the country,” said Dr Al Nuaimi.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae