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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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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 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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Dohatna Innovative Distribution partners with Samsung to showcase an immersive space at 21 High st, Katara Cultural Village

Further strengthening their long-standing partnership, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution and Samsung Gulf Electronics joined hands to inaugurate an immersive experiential store in Doha’s Katara Cultural Village. Dohatna is the official partner of Samsung Mobile in Qatar.

Located in 21 High st – the ultimate outdoor shopping destination in Qatar, the new store is strategically positioned right opposite the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Doha. It offers an exclusive space for visitors who wish to see all that is new and innovative in Mobiles, TVs, Home Appliances and Monitors.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Adel Ali Bin Ali, Chairman & President of Ali Bin Ali Holding, HE Lee Joon-Ho The ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Qatar, Mr. Doohee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Business Head for Consumer Electronics Retail and Distribution Mr. Ganesh Mithra Parthajee and other top officials from Ali Bin Ali Holding and Samsung Qatar team.

The showroom brings a unique design element to tell Samsung’s product story across a highly immersive customer journey, which intuitively, brings visitors closer to the product depending on individual taste and preferences. The approach was one of seamlessness so that visitors may be guided by their personal needs and even explore opportunities of personalization, from the design to the very software display.

Across the store, customers get to see the latest innovations of Samsung Galaxy Mobiles & Wearables portfolio. Its highly ambitious products offering will exhibit the latest Galaxy S Series, including the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23, marking a new era of Samsung Galaxy’s ultimate premium phone.

Softened by wooden slats, greenery and elegant accessories, The Frame and The Serif, both part of Samsung’s Lifestyle TV line-up, are showcased on a separate wall to help customers re-imagine their living rooms.

A must-see for visitors is the dedicated SmartThings space, featuring multiple day-to-day scenarios of connected device experiences, such as Gaming and Work from Home.  In addition, customers can see up-close and personal Samsung’s latest home appliances, including The Air Dresser, Bespoke Jet, and Bespoke Refrigerators.

 

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With a vision for a greener tomorrow, Monoprix Qatar introduces reusable shopping bags

After becoming the first 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 1 January, 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 can be redeemed in any of the Monoprix stores on the next visit starting the next day.  The voucher is valid for 1 month.

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.

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 towards 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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Governance, Risk and Compliance practice set precedence for the future of Ali Bin Ali Holding

On January 17, 2022 Ali Bin Ali Legal Department announced the launch of its autonomous and reinvigorated Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) unit that will manage risks and ensure compliance of business requirements and government regulations. The evening event, held at W Hotel Doha, was attended by more than 100 ABA executives from across 18 business streams of the conglomerate.

In his maiden speech, ABA Vice President/General Counsel, Mr. Nabil Chamas, pointed to the fundamental significance of the GRC unit within ABA Holding as a support unit that would safeguard the company’s identity, its employees and consumers. Mr. Chamas noted that the world’s risk and compliance landscape is more complex than ever before, hence the need for the ABA Legal Department to introduce new policies and regulations, and modify existing ones so as to protect the company’s interest. “By implementing the GRC component, our company can make better decisions in a risk-aware environment. Our sustainable and yet effective approach towards GRC will help us and our stakeholders set guidelines and comply with requirements both at the national and international level,” Mr. Chamas stated.

It was noted in the meeting that the creation of the GRC unit came at an opportune moment when ABA Holding was rapidly expanding its functions and operations in the Middle East and across the globe. Key topics such as the importance of governance and cybersecurity; data protection; addressing risk and risk environments; and compliance practices were discussed by the notable staff and lawyers of the ABA Legal Department including: Mr. Benjamin Anafi, Ms. Janaina De Queiroz, Ms. Mahassen Al Taki, and Mr. Jean Michel.

The legal department, through Ms. Sarolta Kacso and Ms. Amina El Zein, proposed launching an App – App4Legal – that would help track and manage the entire life cycle of the company’s contracts, litigation, and corporate matters, thereby minimizing the company’s risk posture. The App is set to enhance efficiency in ABA’s workflow where every task can be organized, automated and streamlined.

To conclude the event, a plenary discussion was opened for participants to share their opinions, experiences and how to better implement the GRC program in their daily practices. As a follow-up to the conference, the GRC support unit will conduct trainings to enable employees better understand the GRC and App4Legal.

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ABA Beverages becomes the exclusive soft drink & water partner for Lusail Winter Wonderland

Ali Bin Ali Beverages, the sole manufacturer of Pepsi products in Qatar, has signed an agreement with Estithmar Holding to become the exclusive soft drink and water partner of Lusail Winter Wonderland. The newly realized partnership between the two entities will bridge the gap between supplier and buyer by providing direct access to Pepsi’s quality products, assuring reliability of supplied products, and ensuring a continuous supply of products.

Speaking during the signage, Mr. Marc Karam, the General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Beverages, shared ABA Beverages’ enthusiasm for the new arrangement between the two companies. “We are delighted to partner with Estithmar Holding for Lusail Winter Wonderland, the world-class creator of moments together and memories forever, who are bringing unique magical family experiences to Qatar. There is no better match for us than Lusail Winter Wonderland. We will, together, further contribute to the billion smiles a day PepsiCo puts on the faces of consumers worldwide with our wide range of snacks and beverages, as well as the amazing rides and activities found on Al Maha Island,” Mr. Karam stated.

Mr. Karam pointed that the new development was important in realizing Qatar’s Vision 2030 of promoting sustainability through environmentally responsible choices such as using recycled PET Aquafina water bottles, which ABA Beverages produces.

At the formalization of the contract, Mr. Henrik Christiansen, the Chief Executive Officer of Estithmar Holding, explained that the addition of Pepsi as one of the theme park sponsors further enhances the visitor experience in ensuring that a range of Pepsi products are available across the park for visitors to enjoy during their visit. “We are pleased to welcome Pepsi as our exclusive soft drink partner of Lusail Winter Wonderland. The unique attraction has become a must-visit spot and the place to be for families and communities in Qatar. Ultimately, our aim is to contribute to a lasting legacy in support of the national strategy for tourism in Qatar.”

Lusail Winter Wonderland is the latest entertainment hotspot located on Al Maha Island. The exceptional theme park by Estithmar Ventures, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding, collaborates with international brands to bring unique experience to Qatar. The 100,000-square-metre state-of-the-art theme park features exciting branded amusement rides such as Ooredoo 5G Rollercoaster, a giant 53-meter Ferris Wheel named Ain QNB, the first outdoor Ice Rink in the region – Tazaloj Al Rayan, the Doha Bank View, the Qatar Airways Festive Forest in addition to the Snow Slope, Arctic Splash, Snow Rockets, Octo-Jet and more. Lusail Winter Wonderland offers an array of entertainment concepts and fun-filled activities that are age appropriate for various groups – children, teenagers, adults and families.

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World Cup 2022: 28 out of 32 teams train with Technogym

Thanks to the exceptional work of Technogym Qatar Team, Technogym – the world leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness and wellness, Official Supplier of the last 8 Olympics, and globally recognized as the reference brand for the athletic preparation of champions from all over the world – will train 28 of the 32 teams participating in the Soccer World Cup in Qatar providing the most innovative equipment for their athletic training.

In addition to the +10 years partnership with the Brazilian national team and the most recent collaboration with Uruguay, Technogym will be in Qatar to support the training camps of also France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina, England, United States and many other teams providing them with customized digital products and training solution to meet players’ specific training needs.

In fact, spot-on athletic condition of every player is an essential requirement that can really make the difference in a high-intensity event like the soccer World Cup where all teams must perform at the top of their game.

The tailor-made training solutions that Technogym has made available to champions for their cardiovascular training, strength, flexibility, and rehabilitation, include SKILL LINE – developed by Technogym for the specific needs of athletic training – which consists of SKILLRUN treadmill, the SKILLBIKE, the SKILLROW rowing machine and SKILLMILL, a unique solution for training speed and power at the same time.

In addition to the SKILL LINE, the Technogym bespoke gym will also include EXCITE and SELECTION lines, which encompass all the equipment needed for cardio and resistance training.