Local News

Alosra opens to eager Amwaj residents

February 23 - March 1, 2011
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The Alosra supermarket has opened its second outlet at the Amwaj Islands to cater to the increasing demand from residents and visitors.

Customers flocked to Saturday's soft opening of the store, which spans 1,490 sq/ms, attracted by a host of first-day offers.

Alosra, a subsidiary of BMMI, has already built a loyal customer following in the Amwaj community after opening a smaller convenience store two years ago.

Jaffar Al Asfoor, general manager of Alosra, said: "The initial outlet was set-up in 2008 as a convenience store to service the Amwaj community.

"Over the years as more housing projects have been completed we have witnessed a significant increase.

"This has resulted in the move to secure a larger location to accommodate the growing needs of our clientele."

The supermarket, which will officially open on March 10, offers a stunning shopping experience by the sea with ample parking spaces ... and once inside spacious and well-lit aisles.

It features a wide selection of fresh produce, meat, fish and poultry, delicatessen, baked treats and household goods as well as a line of ready-to-eat salads, sandwiches and sushi.

Cering M Baring, store manager, said: "We carry a wide range of products from several countries including the UK, the US, South Africa and Australia to meet all of our customers' needs.

"We have enhanced our dairy section too. We have seen a great demand for continental cheeses and we have added Italian goat cheese which is increasing in popularity."

Other facilities at the outlet include BMMI's Great Deli CafŽ, which offers customers an array of home-style breakfasts, soups, salads, baguettes, cakes and fresh juices, teas and coffee as well as a flower shop, laundry service, pharmacy, bank, and a DVD store.

Mr Al Asfoor said: "With the opening of Alosra Amwaj, our aim is to enhance the way the Alosra brand looks, feels and operates.

"We have created a contemporary store design based on global trends and customer preferences, sourced world-class equipment and benchmarked our creative concept against internationally-acclaimed supermarkets in Europe.

"We have gone to great lengths to ensure we provide our customers with a wholesome shopping experience. While this is our flagship store for innovation, going forward we intend to refine the look and feel of all our outlets."

The supermarket chain will soon introduce a 'think local' campaign through which it will source fresh produce from local farmers.

Mr Al Asfoor added: "Our commitment to training and developing a competent local workforce is a campaign that will bear fruit in the years to come.

"Alosra is now in a position to go out into the market and offer Bahrainis an actual career in retail. Not only are we investing in the future of Bahrain, but also in the future of Alosra and that of the local youth."

Other future programmes include a 'cheese tasting' event for customers.

Company officials are also confident that their established reputation on the island will be further enhanced by the new facility and have no fears of competition from the newly-opened Waitrose at The Lagoon.

Mr Al Asfoor said: "We are confident our range is strong. We have a very good team as well as a sound understanding of the market and our customer's needs.

"We are a local brand and have established a customer platform already. Our clientele come back to us because of our products. The smaller store was promising and that is why we decided to set up this new operation."

The store is open daily from 7am to 11pm.







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