The introduction of Western-style shopping malls, supermarkets and restaurants in the 1970s have vastly changed the buying and eating habits of Saudis and expatriates. Initially built to cater to Western expatriates, modern Western-style class-A supermarkets have now become popular. More and more such shopping and dining centers keep popping up in the major urban areas of the Kingdom. The introduction of French hypermarket chains Géant and Carrefour launched a new era of retail sales in the Kingdom with the state-of-the-art shopping experience. This has influenced national companies to follow suit, resulting in fierce head-on competition in the country's booming retail business. Among the national pioneers that have challenged Western-style high-end supermarket chains is the Al-Azizia-Panda Group, which now has the largest national supermarket chain, with 47 outlets in major cities of the Kingdom. In the Eastern Province, the first Hyper Panda in the region opened its doors this weekend to eager consumers in the still- to-be-completed Jarir Plaza in Khobar. Located opposite the Mall of Dhahran, which houses the French retail chain Géant, it is the 10th Hyper Panda in the Kingdom. Build over a space of 11,955 square meters, with 40 cash counters and employing more than 400 employees, Hyper Panda aims to attract customers looking for a wide range of products ranging from fresh foods, grocery, and textiles, to electronics and general merchandise. “The variety of goods we offer at Hyper Panda is huge,” said Abdulaziz Abdul Wahed, General Manager at Hyper Panda, Khobar. “The sheer size of the supermarket is what sets it apart from the others. “Panda remains as the top food retailer and the only operator in Saudi Arabia to have stores located throughout the Kingdom – in Riyadh, Jeddah, Qassim and the Eastern Province,” he said. __
