Carrefour UAE onboards start-up The Zola Collective

Carrefour UAE, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim, has introduced the sustainable brand The Zola Collective  to its flagship store in the Mall of the Emirates. 

This move is in keeping with Majid Al Futtaim’s ongoing efforts to nurture the business-friendly ecosystem and strengthen the commercial viability of  SMEs across the region.

This wellness and lifestyle brand was one of 14 start-ups and SMEs to win the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad programme 2022, designed to fuel the growth and productivity of smaller businesses that are from the region and for the region. 

The Zola Collective store in Carrefour will stock a range of handmade products, ranging from healthy superfoods and loose-leaf teas to natural oils and skincare.

CEO of the GCC at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, Bernardo Perloiro, said: “The success of SMEs and start-ups is essential in our retail value chain as we continue to support the local economy. 

“By helping other businesses grow, we can create a positive impact that ripples beyond our own customer base and talent pool. Moreover, identifying new brand partners with innovative and compelling offerings provides our customers with unique products that we know they will love and appreciate. For this reason, we are thrilled to be adding The Zola Collective – one of the first winners of Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad – to our shelves, facilitating its international growth strategy whilst helping our customers access their sustainable wellness range.”

This move aligns with the UAE Government’s focus on supporting SMEs which are considered vital for economic diversification and growth, whilst building national human resources.

Co-founders at The Zola Collective, Anusha Mahtani and Misha Patel, said: “We built The Zola Collective on a core set of values to create demand for ethically sourced African products. Every Zola purchase supports a stable source of income for farmers with the promise of a better future. Majid Al Futtaim has given us the opportunity to accelerate this impact through exposure in Carrefour stores. As interest grows, we will continue building The Zola Collective circle of benefits and are excited to bring more people on this journey.” 

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