Dubai: Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE, has opened its first BIO store. The Carrefour BIO, located in City Centre Me’aisem, houses a variety of organic produce, promoting locally grown products in line with UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051.
The retailer also launched its first organic store and café in the UAE.
Thr store was inaugurated on February 25 in the presence of Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
With over 3,000 items to choose from, the new concept store specialises in organic products spanning from food and beverages to beauty, personal and home care items.
“We at Carrefour BIO support healthier lifestyle choices as UAE consumers call for improved availability, pricing and education when it comes to organic produce,” said Christophe Orcet, Head of Commercial and Operations of Carrefour UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
“At Carrefour BIO you will find an array of locally grown organic produce. Also, for the first time, we have an organic café stationed at the retail store. Seventy per cent of the menu in the café is organic food,” said Orcet.
The concept store also features the brand’s sixth hydroponic farm in the UAE. The instore hydroponic farm provides an array of fresh herbs and leafy greens whilst using 90 per cent less water and less space than traditional farming techniques.
“Carrefour BIO offers a state-of-the-art solution for those looking to make sustainable choices, implementing eco-friendly equipment to reduce energy consumption by up to 15 per cent. It is a destination for health-conscious customers as we cater to a wide range of dietary requirements including gluten-free, keto and plant-based diets,” said Orcet.
Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said: “We are honoured to have gained the support of the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment as we seek to champion healthy living and forge a greener future together with our government. The development of Carrefour BIO is part of our ongoing mission to elevate retail and provide our customers with more choices. Choices that can protect the interests of their health, their wallet and the environment.
“Our research tells us that whilst healthy eating is now a high priority, many consumers limit organic shopping as they perceive it as a more expensive option. This is exactly what Carrefour BIO seeks to solve, offering healthier alternatives at affordable prices to ensure the wellbeing of the entire community. Customers can now find healthy products, make conscious decisions whilst dining out and help save the planet one recyclable bag at a time – all under one roof in Carrefour’s BIO store.”
Sustainable packaging
Orcet said biodegradable packaging is used across all fresh produce lines and the store does not offer single-use plastic bags. “This is keeping in line with Carrefour’s sustainability goals. As for the décor of the store, the shelves and tables have been made using recycled pallets from Carrefour’s Regional Distribution Centre in Dubai Investment Park,” said Orcet.
“In order to eliminate single-use plastic, the store houses two refill stations for water and detergent. A pick by weight section seeks to reduce waste by allowing customers to bring home their desired quantities of nuts, spices and dried fruits in recyclable paper bags. Prices are displayed using digital price tags connected through WiFi, which offer a sustainable substitute to printed paper labels,” he added.
“The locally grown produce come from Emirates BIO Farm which delivers the fruits and vegetables within few hours of harvesting,” said Orcet.
Inside the store, there is a special area dedicated towards small and medium enterprises in the UAE.