UAE retailer Majid Al Futtaim launches online marketplace through Carrefour

UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) has launched an online marketplace through carrefouruae.com lending the company’s shopping mall tenants and other UAE-based businesses a new e-commerce channel to reach out to their customers.

The platform has been successfully piloted for six months with third-party sellers, and is now available on the Carrefour mobile app and website.

Several MAF shopping mall tenants have already joined the platform, including Borders, LUSH, Tavola, Arabian Oud and Jacky’s.

While the portal offers businesses a medium to connect with their customers, it also highlights opportunities for significant growth prospects.

The marketplace on carrefouruae.com currently lists more than 250,000 products, while sales have grown more than ten times in the last ten weeks, crossing 1,300 average daily orders.

“The new business environment that we are operating in is challenging us all to find solutions that benefit our partners, communities and society-at-large. At Majid Al Futtaim, we are working hard to support our stakeholders’ needs today, while putting in place initiatives that keep the economy moving and prepare us for tomorrow’s world,” Alain Bejjani, chief executive officer at Majid Al Futtaim noted.

“In preparation for the future of retail, we are accelerating our digital transformation and ensuring that a digitally integrated model is delivering innovative customer-centric solutions. Through this Carrefour-enabled marketplace, we are ‘going back to the future’ and replicating our traditional shopping model, where grocery retail and lifestyle brands are brought together in one location and customers can access everything they need.”

“While this new destination is digital and is here to stay, the current situation highlights the true value of shared experiences in the physical world and we look forward to welcoming customers back to our assets soon.”

Tenants who signed up have benefited from commission free transactions during April and thirty-days free last mile delivery. Meanwhile, commission free transactions will continue throughout the month of May.

Non-tenant sellers can benefit from competitive rates by selling on the marketplace.

A dedicated account management team will support businesses in establishing their digital presence on the platform.

Within three to five days of signing up, brands will be able to list their products on carrefouruae.com.

Meanwhile, Aramex will be the official logistics provider for marketplace sellers.

Also read: UAE retailer Majid Al Futtaim to reassign over 1,000 employees to Carrefour