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Monoprix Qatar rolls out first-ever sensory-friendly shopping in the country

In a proud endeavor for the entire Group, Ali Bin Ali Holding – Monoprix Qatar has launched ‘Sensory Friendly Hours’ at its Iconic 2022 outlet. This makes Monoprix Qatar the first-ever sensory-friendly hypermarket in the country. The venture, with the slogan ‘Towards a more inclusive community’, was launched on May 14, 2023, in collaboration with Step by Step Centre for Special Needs.

Shopping can be overwhelming for individuals with sensory sensitivities, and Monoprix’s ‘Sensory Hours’ is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all our customers.

The sensory hours, every day from 8am to 10am, include dimming store lights, turning off music and announcements over the PA and mitigating cash register noise. Staff are also encouraged to speak more softly and not perform certain tasks, like gathering grocery carts.

On May 22, the ‘Sensory Friendly Hours’ at Monoprix Iconic 2022 was officially launched at a gathering in the presence of parents and children from Step by Step Centre, Regional General Manager of Monoprix Mr. Sébastien Farhat and Director of Step by Step Centre for Special Needs Mrs. Nasreen Sharif.

The session was headed by the Chair of Psychiatry for Sidra Medicine and Chair of Qatar’s National Autism Plan Working Group, Dr. Waqar Muhammad Waqar Azeem, who provided an overview of sensory processing challenges and their impact. He highlighted the importance of sensory-friendly initiatives and encouraged the community for continued support and participation in sensory-friendly initiatives.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Farhat said: “At Monoprix, we want everyone to feel welcome in our stores. Not all needs are visible and small changes can make a big difference to our customers. We pride ourselves on creating an inclusive environment that reflects our commitment to contribute towards creating an inclusive community in Qatar.”

The Step by Step Centre previously trained the enthusiastic Monoprix staff on how to be sensitive in their approach towards customers with sensory difficulties and how to assist them appropriately when required. Reasonable adjustments were suggested and put in place at the hypermarket for the sensory-friendly hours in order to reduce the sensory overload along with the provision of a quiet corner.

Monoprix Qatar’s inclusive shopping venture in partnership with Step by Step Centre for Special Needs is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to build a more inclusive society by bringing a positive change and fulfilling our social responsibility.

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ABA Group Procurement Department holds awareness workshop

With the goal to raise awareness about the role of procurement in the Group, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Procurement Department organized a special workshop on May 25, 2023, at Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery in Msheireb.

The event was attended by ABA staff members from different divisions who are involved in the process of procurement. A total of 80 people attended the one-day in-depth workshop, which explained procurement policies and procedures in the Group.

The session, headed by Group Procurement Controller Ms. Petra Bais and Procurement Analyst/Buyer Mr. Yousuf Yahyya, elaborated on the importance of the Procurement Department in the sourcing of goods and services that support the daily operations, including sourcing, negotiating terms, purchasing items, receiving and inspecting goods as necessary and keeping records of all the steps in the process.

The participants learnt about the different clusters of procurement processes and what is preferred at the Holding. They were also educated on the different workflow procurement structures that are ideal for their divisions.

In her presentation, Ms. Petra highlighted that as a trusted partner, the Procurement Department is keen to focus on issues that protect the interests of the Holding. “The ABA Group Procurement Department requires a strong understanding of market trends, organizational objectives and supplier capabilities to ensure success. These include strong procurement roles in sourcing, negotiation, contract management and supplier relationship management,” she added.

Key to the discussions was the department’s wide role in cost reduction, profit realization and adding value to the business processes. On his part, Mr. Yousuf explained: “The Ali Bin Ali Procurement Department can actively place the Holding in a more competitive position. Suppliers working with ABA business streams must have the ability to cope with the latest equipment, technology and processes.”

Adding an element of fun and engaging the attendees while testing what they learnt, they were challenged with a group activity to handle procurement situations through a case study. The two teams to recognize the most correct steps were awarded for their prowess in the task.

The event concluded with a survey to gauge their understanding about the workshop and the procurement process. Finally, the guests ended the day with a scrumptious lunch.

 

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ABA Holding celebrates the graduation of employees for The Harvard ManageMentor Program 2022-2023

Ali Bin Ali Holding is proud to congratulate the 86 employees who graduated by successfully completing the Harvard ManageMentor Program 2022-2023. On May 24, 2023, at a special graduation event arranged at the ABA HR training room in ABA Tower, the graduates were ceremoniously handed their course completion certificates.

Apart from the graduating employees, also present at the event were the ABA Group Learning & Development team, COO of ABA ICT Mr. Mohamad A. Ebrik, Group General Manager – Human Resources & Administration Mr. Aldrine Fernandez and other senior managers of the Group.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ebrik highlighted how important ‘People’ are for Ali Bin Ali Holding. The ABA values – SHARP – reflect that “our staff is our biggest resource and the Group cultivates all opportunities for their growth. The Harvard ManageMentor Program is just one of them.”

The enrolled employees had to finish the designated courses through a period of 8 months and prepare a project at the end of the term to reflect the knowledge they have acquired. The top projects were also awarded at the graduation ceremony.

Ivan Carlo Iglesia Jose from Ali Bin Ali Logistics was the winner while Vaishali Jain and Fernando Tungol Tayag from Internal Audit, Soumaya Amri from Galeries Lafayette and Syed Khalid from Qatar Quality Products earned the position of 1st runners-up. Edwin Babasa Ballat from Ali Bin Ali Logistics was awarded the 2nd runner-up trophy.

Warmly congratulating the group of graduates, Mr. Fernandez said, “It is a pleasure to see more and more employees engaging in our training courses. Not just individuals, encouragement from the division’s part is also boosting knowledge transfer and optimization of the trainings that our very efficient Learning & Development team organizes.”

ABA Holding is delighted that the Group’s employees, drawn from different ABA business streams, elevated themselves, their skills and knowledge and capitalized on the learning opportunity provided for them. By graduating from a world-renowned course, not only have the employees taken a step towards their professional and personal growth but also enriched the company by developing their skills and competencies, which will no doubt advance performances at all levels.

As a premier capacity-building and skills development course run by Harvard Business Publishing, under Harvard University, the program ranks as the world’s leading digital learning experience that leverages on-demand, world-class content to develop leaders at all levels.

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Monoprix Qatar rolls out first-ever sensory-friendly shopping in the country

In a proud endeavor for the entire Group, Ali Bin Ali Holding – Monoprix Qatar has launched ‘Sensory Friendly Hours’ at its Iconic 2022 outlet. This makes Monoprix Qatar the first-ever sensory-friendly hypermarket in the country. The venture, with the slogan ‘Towards a more inclusive community’, was launched on May 14, 2023, in collaboration with Step by Step Centre for Special Needs.

Shopping can be overwhelming for individuals with sensory sensitivities, and Monoprix’s ‘Sensory Hours’ is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all our customers.

The sensory hours, every day from 8am to 10am, include dimming store lights, turning off music and announcements over the PA and mitigating cash register noise. Staff are also encouraged to speak more softly and not perform certain tasks, like gathering grocery carts.

On May 22, the ‘Sensory Friendly Hours’ at Monoprix Iconic 2022 was officially launched at a gathering in the presence of parents and children from Step by Step Centre, Regional General Manager of Monoprix Mr. Sébastien Farhat and Director of Step by Step Centre for Special Needs Mrs. Nasreen Sharif.

The session was headed by the Chair of Psychiatry for Sidra Medicine and Chair of Qatar’s National Autism Plan Working Group, Dr. Waqar Muhammad Waqar Azeem, who provided an overview of sensory processing challenges and their impact. He highlighted the importance of sensory-friendly initiatives and encouraged the community for continued support and participation in sensory-friendly initiatives.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Farhat said: “At Monoprix, we want everyone to feel welcome in our stores. Not all needs are visible and small changes can make a big difference to our customers. We pride ourselves on creating an inclusive environment that reflects our commitment to contribute towards creating an inclusive community in Qatar.”

The Step by Step Centre previously trained the enthusiastic Monoprix staff on how to be sensitive in their approach towards customers with sensory difficulties and how to assist them appropriately when required. Reasonable adjustments were suggested and put in place at the hypermarket for the sensory-friendly hours in order to reduce the sensory overload along with the provision of a quiet corner.

Monoprix Qatar’s inclusive shopping venture in partnership with Step by Step Centre for Special Needs is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to build a more inclusive society by bringing a positive change and fulfilling our social responsibility.

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Ali Bin Ali Holding proudly sponsors U.S. Independence Day celebration in Doha

Further cementing its longstanding bond with the United States Embassy in Qatar, Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding once again came forward to sponsor the annual U.S. Independence Day celebration hosted by the U.S. mission in Doha. Making the partnership even more special, Ali Bin Ali Beverages (Pepsi) this year supported the event with its products.

Nearly 1000 people from various walks of life attended the annual U.S. Independence Day celebration on May 18, 2023, at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). Apart from senior members of Ali Bin Ali Holding Management team, the guests included leaders representing the Qatari government, business and civil society sectors, as well as diplomatic missions in Doha.

As a prelude to the main event, Timmy T. Davis, Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Qatar, hosted a special meet-and-greet session for the sponsors to appreciate their support in bringing the event together. Representing Ali Bin Ali Holding, Group Chief Financial Officer Mr. Iftekhar Ahmad and Chief Operating Officer – ICT Mr. Mohamad A. Ebrik were present at the event.

Ambassador Davis thanked Ali Bin Ali Holding for continuing to support the annual celebration, which this year has grown in size and style, with the generosity of sponsors.

The 2023 U.S. Independence Day celebration was a first of its kind. The theme of the event was the city of New Orleans which also happens to be Ambassador Davis’s hometown. The idea was to let the guests experience the city’s vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures.

The US embassy in Qatar transformed the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) into the vibrant streets of New Orleans, Louisiana and Pepsi vending machines were placed strategically throughout the venue space to make it an organic part of the street set-up.  Ambassador Davis sang and danced at the event, joining a number of performers on a huge parade float that entertained the crowd.

For Qatar’s first Mardi Gras, three musicians performed American music throughout the night – the Doha-based “AFCENT Band” of the US Air Force Central Command, and two bands visiting from the US: New Orleans go-go funk and brass band “Brass-A-Holics”, and Minneapolis, Minnesota bluegrass act “Barbaro”.

ABA Holding, one of the market leaders in distributing American products in Qatar, has always made it a priority to support the U.S. Embassy in its endeavors. The 2023 U.S. National Day celebration was the perfect occasion to celebrate this partnership, which has only strengthened over the years.

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Dohatna, PDTC and ABA Beverages sponsor 15th Amir Cup volleyball tournament

Upholding the Group’s long-standing commitment to sporting activities, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution, Prime Distribution Trading Company (PDTC) and Ali Bin Ali Beverages came forward to support the 15th Amir Cup volleyball tournament organized by Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA).

 Leaders in Qatar’s electronics market, Dohatna and PDTC supported QVA with high-tech gadgets, including laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, powerbanks and earbuds from top brands like Motorola, Samsung, iLife, Cellularline and Aukey. Ali Bin Ali Beverages, on the other hand, supplied Aquafina water, Pepsi and Gatorade.

The tournament culminated with a nail-biting final match and Al Rayyan clinched the 15th Amir Cup volleyball tournament title after outclassing Al Arabi in straight games in the final at Ladies Sports Hall, Aspire Zone, on May 6, 2023.   

 Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners, who also received a purse of QR500, 000 as prize money. Al Arabi pocketed QR250, 000 as the runners-up.

 Speaking about being a sponsor for the event, General Manager of ABA Beverages Mr. Marc Karam said: “The Amir Cup volleyball tournament is one of the most important sporting events in the country and we are glad to be a part of such a prestigious event. This partnership also supports our vision of bringing people together through the power of sports.”

 Reiterating the importance of the event, Division Manager of PDTC Mr. Mohamed Anis said: “It’s an honor to partner with QVA, supporting the volleyball community while bolstering the sporting culture in the country.”