Al-Futtaim opens the largest Marks & Spencer store in Abu Dhabi
20 November 2014, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Al-Futtaim Group yesterday opened the largest Marks & Spencer store in Abu Dhabi, located in the brand new Yas Mall on Yas Island.
The new 4,000 square metre flagship store is in line with the retailer’s strategy to build a strong presence in the Middle East, as one of its priority international markets. Al-Futtaim, Marks & Spencer’s long standing franchise partner, now operates 28 Marks & Spencer stores across eight territories in the region – M&S Yas Mall is the retailer’s 13th in the United Arab Emirates.
Located at the heart of the dynamic Yas Island, Yas Mall is the city’s highly anticipated new shopping destination which promises to offer an unparalleled retail experience to local residents and tourists alike. Here customers will be able to shop Marks & Spencer’s largest offer of stylish, exceptional quality fashions across womenswear, menswear, lingerie, kidswear and beauty in Abu Dhabi. The store also features Marks & Spencer’s outstanding quality Food including freshly baked goods from its in-store bakery and the renowned M&S Café.
Sapna Kumbhani, Managing Director of Marks & Spencer Al-Futtaim MENA, said: “Our new flagship store in at Yas Mall offers customers an inspiring international shopping experience, combined with our most extensive offer of quality fashion and food products in the city. With the upcoming Grand Prix finale and the city’s brand new shopping mall, it’s a really exciting time for us to open the largest Marks & Spencer store in Abu Dhabi and we’re looking forward to welcoming customers to the store.”
Mark Koprowski, Marks & Spencer’s Regional Director, Middle East, said: “We’re delighted to be opening our largest store at Abu Dhabi’s brand new retail and leisure destination. Securing prime flagship shopping locations like Yas Mall with our franchise partners is an important part of our international growth strategy. As one of the world’s leading retail operators, we are pleased to be continuing to build our presence in the Gulf with our long-standing partners Al-Futtaim.”
Exceptional quality, confident style clothing collections
Exceptional quality and confident style are at the heart of the M&S clothing offer. At the new store customers will be able to shop the latest Marks & Spencer collections which take inspiration from the key worldwide runway trends, interpreting them into a chic, wearable and high quality collection of wardrobe staples. The Womenswear collection is characterised by a depth of texture; contrasting layers of sultry leather, silks, knits and colourful faux furs create a tactile and refined range which is rich in embellishment and vivid print. Whilst the Menswear collection is based on classic, masculine elegance with a focus on bold tailoring, fine fabrics, contrasting textures and iconic pieces.
To guide customers through the extensive product offer, Marks & Spencer has a range of exclusive own clothing brands, each with its own distinct look and identity, which allows customers to see which brand best meets their personal style preferences. For example, in womenswear, Autograph emulates affordable designer quality with exquisite, understated elegance and luxury fabrics, Indigo offers go to staples every casual wardrobe needs and Limited Edition includes wearable trends, straight from the runway. In menswear Blue Harbour is a British sports-inspired collection and includes preppy polo shirts whilst Collezione is inspired by all things Italian with attention to detail in every suave, stylish piece. Across womenswear and menswear, M&S Collection offers the season’s key trends, perfectly edited to offer stylish and innovative outfit solutions for your everyday wardrobe.
Each clothing brand will be highlighted for customers through unique branding, visual merchandising kit and propping – with more outfit suggestions displayed throughout the store to inspire and delight customers.
Unrivalled quality food
The new Food hall will highlight the outstanding quality and taste of M&S food. Over 1000 food product options in ambient, frozen and café will be available including:
- Best of British – traditional British tea time favourites such as shortbread, jams, marmalade and English Breakfast tea.
- Confectionary and celebration gifts – the sweet treats include, soft caramels, Swiss chocolate bars, Belgian chocolate truffles and fruit gums for everyday eating, special occasions and gifting.
- Luxury and everyday biscuits –a wide selection of cookies, Viennese and extra chocolaty biscuits, ginger snaps and blueberry puffs, perfect for celebrating special occasions or everyday eating.
- Savoury snacks – tasty snacks that are ideal for sharing such as nuts, hand cooked crisps and tortillas.
- Groceries – these innovative kitchen cupboard staples make it even easier to impress your guests, including a wide range of marinades and sauces, canned goods, soups, cereals, cake mixes and dessert toppings
The store also features M&S’s popular in-store bakery with breads baked on-site every day, as well as a choice of pastries, shortbreads, scones, pies and cookies.
M&S Café
Customers will be able to enjoy M&S’s popular hospitality offer at the new store. Serving delicious, freshly-made dishes using the finest M&S ingredients, the 70 seater M&S Café is a destination for customers looking to have a break during their shop. Here they can enjoy hot snacks and traditional cream teas and English pastries as well as a wide range of Fairtrade teas and coffees served by specially trained baristas.
