Ali Bin Ali Beverages and PepsiCo launch 100% recycled Aquafina plastic bottles

In an exclusive event launch on 27th October 2022, PepsiCo and Ali Bin Ali Beverages, with the support of the Government of the State of Qatar, launched the new Aquafina 100% recycled plastic bottles for the first time in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The launch, held at the Ali Bin Ali Beverages production plant in Doha, Qatar, was graced by the attendance of Eng. Youssef Al Emadi representing the Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Eng. Hussain Saad Al Kubaisi representing the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Special attendance was made by the Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of Ali Bin Ali Holding, Mr. Nabeel Ali Bin Ali; CEO Africa, Middle East and South Asia at PepsiCo, Mr. Eugene Willemsen; and PepsiCo CEO for the Middle East, Mr. Aamer Sheikh. In addition, other key personnel from PepsiCo and Ali Bin Ali Beverages, as well as other stakeholders from across the region including the media, attended the event.

The launch of the Aquafina 100% recycled bottles came at a momentous time when PepsiCo. and Ali Bin Ali Holding were marking their 60th anniversary of partnership.

In an interview session with the media, Mr. Sheikh pointed that PepsiCo’s vision aims to make the world a place where packaging never becomes a waste. “To achieve its vision, last year, PepsiCo launched pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) a strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how the company creates value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people,” he stated.

The launch is also an important milestone that sees the private sector contribute to Qatar’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals of a sustainable and greener planet. In his speech, the General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Beverages, Mr. Marc Karam, pointed that, “Anything we do to protect our environment is a move towards a more sustainable model, thereby contributing to the Qatar 2030 Vision which is all about sustainability, recyclability, living a better life in our footprint, whether its carbon footprint, plastic, and so forth. This is only a small step with big impact; there are so many other things that we can do more in terms of sustainability. But for us as a leading industry, it is important that we contribute to a more sustainable future in our own field. In fact, we reuse, recycle, and we reduce, that’s how we do it.”

At the end of the meeting, guests were invited to a plant tour where they saw the first run of the product, ahead of the in-market launch. The launch is also a key move in addressing one of the challenges affecting humanity today – environmental degradation. Through it, the brand embraces greener means of manufacturing its products thereby acting on climate change.

The new packaging will launch with the 330ml and 500ml Aquafina bottles.

Qatar Cancer Society recognizes Monoprix Qatar for support to Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Recognizing Monoprix Qatar’s support to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Qatar Cancer Society presented the French Hypermarket with a special appreciation trophy. The trophy was officially handed over to Mr. Alice Kumpraewpan, Customer Service Manager of Monoprix Qatar, on October 26, 2022.

True to their vision of supporting the community, Monoprix stores all over Qatar honored October as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and made sure to pass the message on to their employees as well as customers.

Pink was the flavor of the month at Monoprix Qatar. Female staff in all Monoprix stores and the head office were seen in pink polo shirts along with pink ribbons to show support to the cause and raise awareness. The Monoprix paper shopping bag was also updated with a special design to reflect the campaign.

Monoprix Qatar also used its official social media platform to maximize the campaign’s reach and posted a video about the importance of breast cancer awareness. Monoprix outlets all over Qatar were branded with information about the campaign, including a QR code donation sticker for customers who would like to donate for the noble cause. Furthermore, a total of 1,000 gift boxes were given out to female customers who came to shop in the Monoprix stores.

Speaking about supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, General Manager of Monoprix Qatar Mr. Sébastien Farhat said: “Monoprix is not just a Hypermarket, we are a community and we believe in supporting our people and society. While breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women, it can also be treated if detected early. It is all about awareness and Monoprix wanted to support Qatar Cancer Society in this noble cause. We took every step possible to reach out to our staff and customers and make this campaign successful.”

 

Ali Bin Ali Holding celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding once again stepped forward to raise awareness and honor October as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The ‘SHOW YOU CARE. BE AWARE’ campaign, which is a part of the Group’s CSR endeavor, was aimed at informing the staff about the disease, its prevention, detection and treatment.

Such initiatives are of great importance as, according to statistics, breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in Qatar, accounting for 31 percent of cancer cases in women. It is also the second leading cause of death in women worldwide.

Encouraging wider involvement in the campaign, Ali Bin Ali Holding joined hands with Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to host a special Zumba session for the public on October 22. The proceeds from the initiative were donated to Qatar Cancer Society.

The goal of the charity campaign was to help raise awareness of breast cancer and to depict life, fun and energy through Zumbathon. All ABA employees were invited to join the event and their participation was sponsored by Ali Bin Ali Holding.

Organized at the Fitness Center of the hotel, the area was all dressed up in pink to commemorate the occasion. The event received an overwhelming response and was a great success. More than 100 people, including ABA employees, joined the session.

The evening was wrapped-up with an exciting raffle draw where the participants got a chance to win attractive prizes from Sheraton Fitness, Monoprix and Beauty Hive Salon.

 

Galeries Lafayette Doha inaugurates first-ever Ritz Paris boutique

In yet another milestone for the brand, Galeries Lafayette Doha inaugurated the first-ever Ritz Paris international boutique on October 9, 2022. It was an ideal occasion to reveal iconic objects and star products from the legendary Place Vendôme hotel, such as collectible porcelain tableware designed for the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant, emblematic tulip lamps and celebrated peach-hued peignoirs.

The official inauguration was followed by a VIP event on October 18 to celebrate the launch of the boutique. The exclusive reception was hosted at the Galeries Lafayette La Suite Penthouse where the décor was enhanced with merchandise and decorative elements from Ritz Paris. Live jazz music and Ritz Paris’ signature mocktail drinks set the perfect tone for the occasion.

Present at the event were Ambassador of France to Qatar H E Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Board Member of Ritz Paris Ms. Natalie Bader, who spearheaded this project, and Head of Strategy & Operations of Galeries Lafayette Doha Ms. Al Ghalia Ali Bin Ali.

Located on the ground floor of the French Department Store, the Ritz corner shop offers a complete universe of different categories of products, expressing the style of the Ritz, its magnificence, its soul, and the symbol of the French art of living.

Complementing the boutique, a pop-up corner right at the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Doha has also been set up to mark the launch. Enchanting and playful, the entrance with hot air balloon baskets symbolizes the joy of travel. The pop-up will be stationed at Galeries Lafayette till October 31.

The boutique expresses all the spirit of the Ritz Paris through its architecture, colors and ambiance. It reprises the essence of the hotel’s illuminations, arcades, moldings, play of mirrors and incomparable 18th-century style with a fresh energy.

Customers are greeted in a retail environment conceived like a dining room and a dressing area, comprising six dedicated spaces: the art of entertaining, home and bath linens, fragrances, gifts and decorative objects, games and accessories, and the brand-new Frame x Ritz Paris fashion capsule collection. The boutique also offers several custom services, such as personalized embroidery — an excellent opportunity to treat others, or oneself, to a little magic of the Ritz Paris.

“More than a hotel, the Ritz Paris today is an iconic, brilliant, vibrant lifestyle that intends to shine all around the world through its products and services. This Doha boutique was designed for all those who love the Ritz Paris, but also and above all for those who dream of discovering it and sharing in a little piece of the legend and French art de vivre,” said Ms. Natalie Bader.

Speaking about the latest partnership, Ms. AlGhalia Nabeel Ali Bin Ali said, “At Galeries Lafayette Doha, we always look to collaborate with iconic and international brands to bring an exclusive experience for the people in Qatar. With the new Ritz Paris Boutique, our clients can enjoy the brand’s exclusive range of products which truly captures the essence of French ‘Art de vivre’, allowing them to experience the refinement of one of the most luxurious hotels in the world.”

Café Pouchkine hosts Breast Cancer awareness workshop

On the occasion of the breast cancer awareness month on October 2022, Café Pouchkine at Galeries Lafayette, Doha, in partnership with the Qatar Cancer Society, hosted a 2-hour breast cancer awareness workshop on October 16, 2022. The invite-only workshop, attended by forty women from different sectors, educated participants about the disease, how best to tackle it and how to support cancer victims.

The all-pink event was graced by two breast cancer survivors, who gracefully shared their journey towards recovery. In the discussions, it was mentioned that everyone in the society has a role in fighting cancer. The survivors pointed that due to their relapse and experience, they have taken an active role in educating humanity on breast cancer.

In her presentation, the speaker of the event, Ms. Heba Nassar, emphasized the need to be proactive in order to detect the disease early and effectively treat it. “Information and early detection saves lives,” Ms. Nassar added. She continued that breast cancer, just like and cancer and disease should not be outlawed, instead the community should look for a way to curb the spread of the disease. She informed participants that currently there are support groups across the world that counsel the infected.

During the event, participants enjoyed pink afternoon tea prepared by Café Pouchkine. Similarly, giveaways of macaron boxes, coupled with pink beauty products from Galeries Lafayette, and complimentary breast cancer screening vouchers were handed out to all the participants.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type, accounting for 1 in 8 cancer diagnoses worldwide. Thus, October is the month designated for Breast Cancer Awareness globally. Café Pouchkine takes this opportunity as a social responsibility to educate its audience and customers on the importance of health mindfulness. In this era, technology and advancement in medicine has enabled humanity to address cancer. As with all cancers, the chances of successful treatment are vastly improved the earlier it is caught. We must play our role in accessing information, tools such as screening services and medication that can help us live a better and dignified life.

Popular global brand Wagamama opens third restaurant in Doha

In a memorable opening on October 16, 2022 at Doha’s Place Vendôme, Ali Bin Ali Hospitality opened its third outlet for Wagamama restaurant, one of the global brands it stewards in Qatar.

In his statement during the launch, Ali Bin Ali Hospitality Group General Manager, Mr. Bassel Salim Ammar, noted that he was thrilled about the opening of the new eatery. “Vendôme is one of Qatar’s best-known and luxurious shopping centers, and therefore a perfect choice for opening the new outlet,” he said. He added that the ambiance of the new location only adds to the allure of the restaurant and it is expected for more customers to visit.

The story of Wagamama began in early 1992 with the opening of the very first restaurant in London’s Bloomsbury, which was inspired by traditional Japanese noodle bars and Asian inspired flavors. In Qatar, the brand has captured the attention of its guests with its exciting and inclusive casual dining experience with a stylish and contemporary setting.

The new Wagamama restaurant promises unique experiences for diners as it offers exclusive menus, set-up, and ambiance, among other exquisite features that resonate with the Place Vendôme. The Place Vendôme is one of Qatar’s lavish malls that exudes grandeur and style.

The new branch reaffirms the restaurant’s continued dominance and popularity among food enthusiasts, who seek memorable experience with their most desired cuisines. The new joint will continue to reinforce Wagamama’s philosophy of a “positive eating and positing living” for all.