LuLu Group has launched a “Let’s Eatalian” festival at LuLu Hypermarkets across Qatar.
The festival, which is being held until March 5, will showcase Italian cuisine, with support from the Italian Trade Agency and in cooperation with the Italian embassy in Qatar.
The festival was inaugurated by Italian ambassador Paolo Toschi and his wife, in the presence of ITA commissioner Paola Lisi, Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed M A al-Thani, businessman Nabeel Abu Issa, Italian Chamber of Commerce president Palma Libotte, and Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International.
Also attending the event were dignitaries from different ministries, the Qatar Chamber, ICC Qatar, and representatives of the retail and fast-moving consumer goods sectors.
Ambassador Toschi said: “We are proud of LuLu Group and we are working on putting more focus on quality products and sustainable brands, especially those which Italy is known for.”
According to Toschi, the“Let’s Eatalian Festival” has been highly successful in providing a platform to showcase a wide variety of Italian food products and cuisines, as well as the country’s traditions and culture.
“Food is one of the best ways to bring people together; it also helps people explore new cultures and allows anyone to experience the best ingredients of the world,” he said.
According to Dr Althaf, LuLu Group is planning to organise a series of events in the coming weeks across its hypermarkets in Qatar.
He also said that LuLu has forged partnerships with different Italian companies.
By May this year, he said, several new exclusive brands are expected to be added to LuLu outlets in Qatar.
He said the initiative will help expand the range of Italian foods, including more organic and healthy foods.
On LuLu Group’s export centre in Milan, Italy, Dr Althaf said the facility has started operating at full capacity.
“The centre, which facilitates the export of food products from Italy to Qatar, has started sending shipments,” he added.“It is expected to be inaugurated officially in May this year.”
Dr Althaf noted that Italian food exports to Qatar “witnessed a 100 per cent growth” since the establishment of a partnership between LuLu Group and the ITA with the support of the embassy of Italy in Qatar.
“The expansion of LuLu outlets and the growing food supply contributed greatly in raising imports from Italy,” Dr Althaf said.
