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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.”

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Monoprix Qatar’s reusable bags set to contribute to charity efforts

After becoming the first and only supermarket in Qatar to start using paper bags, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Monoprix Qatar introduced a more sustainable way of shopping with reusable bags. Making the right start to the New Year, on January 1, 2023, Monoprix Qatar launched the permanent campaign, ‘Let’s be the change – reduce, reuse, recycle’. Leading the way in reducing the one-time use of shopping bags, Monoprix Qatar looks forward to saving trees and creating a greener environment.

Customers at any Monoprix store in Qatar can now purchase one re-usable bag for QR 1 and also get a voucher worth QR 1 in return, in effect getting the bag free of cost. This QR 1 voucher, which is valid for 1 month, can be redeemed at any of the Monoprix stores on the next visit.

The QR 1 cost of the reusable bag is just to make customers conscious about the number of bags they use and use them only when it’s necessary. Making the use of these bags even more sustainable, the supermarket will exchange any used or damaged Monoprix reusable bags for free, for life.

Customers can also choose to donate their vouchers to charity efforts. In partnership with Qatar Charity, the hypermarket has placed voucher donation boxes on each of its cash counters for customers to make a contribution. Monoprix will then pay Qatar Charity the equivalent amount of the number of vouchers collected. The donation process is part of Monoprix Qatar’s vision of elevating underprivileged communities and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Monoprix as a brand has always committed itself to a sustainable development approach with organic products, local produce, recycling waste and using environment-friendly packaging options. With a proactive vision to save the environment and raise awareness about it, Monoprix takes innovative steps to preserve the nature for a greener future.

Speaking about this noble initiative, Regional General Manager of Monoprix Mr. Sébastien Farhat said: “Monoprix supermarket uses a large number of bags every year and this is not good news for the environment. We are always looking to more sustainable, environment-friendly solutions and the reusable shopping bags seemed to be the perfect answer to this situation. Monoprix is much more than just a supermarket, we want to give back and do our humble bit for the community. I am sure this campaign will help raise awareness and the eco-friendly shopping option will be well-received and contribute substantially to a greener future for our planet.”

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ABA Legal Department goes digital, launches App4Legal

In a formal launch event  in January 2023 by the ABA Legal Department, senior executives from Ali Bin Ali Holding and its subsidiaries came together to attend the presentation of the Governance, Risk and Compliance program that has been established under a GRC unit by the legal department. During this event, a vital system, the App4Legal, was launched by the ABA Legal Department. Fast forward, the App is now set to debut on March 28, 2023.

The web-based, Law Practice Management App is designed to support the Legal Department track and manage the entire life cycle of the Holding’s contracts, litigation, and corporate matters, thereby providing efficiency in day to day workflow.

App4Legal is compliant with the new European Union’s Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and provides a secure workspace with business-grade security and controls. The App organizes, and automates every legal process through a single integrated solution where any staff with clearance can access the information from anywhere at any time. The system is highly flexible and configurable to fit the Holding and subsidiaries’ needs.

As a build-up to the App’s debut, the Legal Department has been meticulously training ABA staff mandated to access and request legal processes including: general managers, division coordinators, and human resources business partners (HRBPs).

In a statement by Mr. Nabil Chamas, ABA Vice President/General Counsel, he extolled the App’s ability   to streamline the department’s requests and competence. “App4Legal is transforming how the Legal Department runs its activities since it is an all-in-one solution. It is equipped with modular reporting tools that provide a 360-degree view of legal activities. Decision makers have absolute control in making operational and strategic business choices now. I recommend our personnel to familiarize themselves with the system as it is the next phase of legal efficiency,” noted Mr. Chamas.

App4Legal will be the primary tool for all communication between the Legal Department and other ABA divisions. Thus, the more relevance for users to be acquitted with it.

Scan to watch the GRC Event Launch when the App4Legal was introduced

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Ali Bin Ali Holding employees gather to clean up Zubarah Beach

Adding to the Group’s efforts to give back to the community, Ali Bin Ali Holding organized a beach clean-up drive at Zubarah Beach on March 18, 2023 to celebrate Global Recycling Day. The campaign, held with the slogan ‘Let’s team up to clean up’, was joined by ABA employees from the Head Office support functions of the Group.

The clean-up drive, organized in partnership with Seashore Recycling and Sustainability, saw the enthusiastic participation of more than 50 employees from across the different departments. The participants started their journey from the ABA Head Office early and reached Zubarah Beach by 8am.

All cleaning equipment, including reusable waste bags, hand gloves and pickers, was provided to the participants who efficiently fanned out across the entire beach to remove plastics and trash. The drive did not only help in achieving a clean beach but also encouraged team-building and cooperation among ABA employees. Overall, it was a very productive Saturday.

Speaking about the ‘Let’s team up to clean up’ campaign, ABA Group Corporate Communications Manager Mr. Imad Hashim said: “On this Global Recycling Day, let us strive to raise awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and educating others on the significance of proper waste management. It starts with you and I by how we control waste in our everyday lives – at home, in our neighborhoods, and in our work places. This campaign is also part of ABA Holding’s effort to support Qatar’s National Vision 2030 of Environmental Development that values the preservation of the natural heritage of Qatar. I thank Seashore Recycling and Sustainability center team and all ABA employees who wholeheartedly joined the drive to make it successful.”

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ABA Holding Group Learning and Development launches new digital platform

Revolutionizing the way our team members gain access to training at Ali Bin Ali Holding, the Group Learning and Development Department has introduced a digital learning platform – The ABA Learning Hub.

The platform was ceremoniously launched on February 26, 2023, at a small gathering held at the ABA Head Office in the presence of Senior Managers, the Learning and Development team and the users. There was also a significant online participation by ABA staff members in Kuwait, K.S.A and also Qatar.

The ABA Learning Hub is a storehouse of a wide range of courses and study modules that ABA employees can avail of at their own pace and in their own time. The easily navigable portal is user friendly and allows the user to check the modules available, select courses that suits her/his business need and even form groups to discuss topics. The e-learning platform is accessible from different gadgets beyond a desktop and laptop and can be accessed via an app on tablets or the mobile phones, whether they are in the workplace or at home.

500 ABA staff members from different divisions and departments of the Holding have been selected by their Managers to pilot the new e-learning platform. All users are being added in the backend by the Learning and Development Team and can set up a profile with the ABA email address.

The ABA Learning Hub is a part of the Group Learning and Development Department’s vision strategy to achieve learning autonomy, learning agility and to repurpose talent. The platform encourages ABA staff to consistently be curious to gain new knowledge and skills. The new platform is a breakthrough for the whole organization as we step into the future with the digitally advanced Learning and Development Department, which allows our staff the flexibility to keep learning as per their availability.

Speaking at the launch, Guest speaker Mr. Sébastien Farhat, emphasized the importance of Learning and investing in one’s own growth, while Ms. Gizelle Lacson – ABA Learning and Development Lead said: “Digitization is the future and it’s a proud moment for all of us to be able to offer this platform to our teams. The core of all these is learning – as it facilitates the resilience of the workforce. It is essential that we keep learning to advance in our professional as well as our personal lives. Learning can happen anytime, anywhere and we want to make it flexible, convenient and fun. The ABA Learning Hub is all of that and I am sure it will be an asset for the employees and the Group.”

 

 

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QQP recognized for exceptional performance during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Once again making Ali Bin Ali Holding proud, Qatar Quality Products’ (QQP) Consumer division – has been recognized for its exceptional sales during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

QQP’s long-standing partner, Perfetti Van Melle, awarded the former for the “Exceptional Action in Execution with Massive Impact” during the World Cup in Qatar.

At a special event held on February 23, 2023, at One&Only Royal Mirage, Luxury Beach Resort in Dubai, the award was ceremoniously handed over to the QQP team. COO of ABA FMCG Mr. Wadih Antoine Kazan, Market Manager of QQP Mr. Cesar Touma and Senior Trade Marketing Executive of QQP Ms. Anuja Jyoti were present at the event.

The award recognized the exceptional sales record QQP achieved for the year 2022 and product display during the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking about the award, Mr. Wadih Antoine Kazan said: “It is always a great feeling to be recognized for your efforts, it validates the hard work you put in. Team QQP had strategized and extensively planned to make sure all its brands received maximum exposure and visibility. The plan was foolproof and this clearly reflected on our market reports. I am extremely proud of the team and also thank Petretti for bestowing us with this honor.”

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Turkish superstar Burak Özçivit becomes the face of Ali Bin Ali Luxury and Ali Bin Ai Fashion

Elevating the glamour level of the brands, Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Luxury and Fashion have introduced famous Turkish model and actor Burak Özçivit as their brand ambassador. The big announcement was made by the Vice-Chairman & EVP of Ali Bin Ali Holding Mr. Nabeel Ali Bin Ali on February 21 at the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2023. Also present at the event was CEO of Swiss luxury watch brand Purnell, Mr. Maurizio Mazzocchi.

The flamboyant actor has signed the agreement with ABA Luxury and Fashion making him the face of the brands for the entire Gulf region, for the next four years. During this period, Purnell will be the official watch brand worn by Burak. The Swiss watchmaking maison is one of the most popular brands under ABA Luxury’s portfolio.

Burak Özçivit, who has a large fanbase across the region and even globally, is also a supermodel and the face of many European brands. He was chosen the ‘Top Model of Turkey’ and later picked as the second ‘Best Model of The World’. Since his debut in the acting industry in 2003, he has featured in multiple TV shows and films, gaining international fame.

The superstar will now be the brand ambassador of ABA Luxury and Fashion, exclusively participating in various campaign activities. This partnership will unfold a new burst of positive synergies for the ABA Brands who have always carved innovative ways of appealing to the heart of clients.

Speaking about the exclusive agreement, Mr. Nabeel Ali Bin Ali said: “We are happy and proud to welcome Burak Özçivit into the Ali Bin Ali family. Just like our brand, the actor has a strong sense of individuality, which is enough to make this collaboration exceptional. Wishing him all the best for the coming four years and looking forward to seeing him represent Ali Bin Ali Luxury and Fashion.”

Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Burak said: “I am very happy to become the ambassador for ABA Luxury and ABA Fashion. I hope our collaboration helps us reach the entire Middle East and the entire world.”

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Ali Bin Ali Holding supports victims of the earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey

In partnership with Qatar Red Crescent, Ali Bin Ali Holding joined hands to offer urgent humanitarian aid to the survivors of the recent earthquake crisis in Syria and Turkey. The move was necessitated by a global call to action to support the two countries that were hit the most by the 7.8 earthquake magnitude, especially as the death toll increased in the thousands.

In a private meeting at Dohatna Logistics Park (DLP) on February 16, 2023, ABA Holding representatives, Mr. Imad Hashim, Group Communications Manager; Ms. Christine El Salim, Supply Chain Manager of ABA Medical; and Ms. Sona Ghazaryan, Business Development Manager of ABA Logistics, came forward to present the donation items from ABA Medical and ABA Hospitality for the disaster appeal.

For this exercise, ABA Medical provided 5 tons of essential items including: surgery and diagnostics solutions, bandages, dispensers, wheelchairs, depressors, and diagnostic equipment.

ABA Hospitality further contributed 1,200 medical mattresses, designed for users with reduced mobility, chronic illness, disabilities, aging, or injuries, and 1,200 2-ply single color blankets ideal for cushioning the victims in the harsh Middle East winter.

Receiving the donations, Mr. Magid Yousef Eltater, Qatar Red Crescent’s Head of Public Donations, accompanied by Mr. Saif Saad Alajeeli, In Kind Donation Coordinator, was gratified by the generosity shown by ABA divisions. “We are working round the clock in the affected areas to ensure that they are supported. In Syria for example, we are emphasizing on blankets, mattresses, warm clothing and medication as temperatures are below freezing,” said Mr. Eltater.

In a side statement, Mr. Hashim commended the gracious gesture the whole world had demonstrated for the victims. “Such unique acts of kindness go a long way in enhancing unity, coexistence and cooperation among people from different faiths, ethnic backgrounds, race or social status,” he shared.

The donation by ABA Medical and ABA Hospitality is part of the Holding’s all-inclusive responsibility to respond to and integrate social and environmental concerns that affect humanity, while building on its business operations and interactions.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and families affected by the devastating earthquake.