Abu Dhabi will not close down groceries

The Abu Dhabi government's new initiatives to streamline the retail or grocery sector will not lead to the closure of smaller groceries, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) said. The rumours about groceries being forced to close down due to the new initiative are baseless, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Communication and Community Service at ADFCA said in a statement. "ADFCA wants to reassure the grocery owners, operators and other stakeholders connected to this part of the retail sector that the new changes will actually bring them many benefits. The groceries are a vital part of the Abu Dhabi community. The focus of the government initiative is to raise the level of services and safety standards provided to customers in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030," he explained. With a view to spread awareness about the new initiatives and to scotch rumours, ADFCA will host a public event Sunday and Monday, at the Theatre Hall at Abu Dhabi Municipality on Salam Street. The event taking place from 10am until 8pm will also exhibit a model of the new grocery store. The event will provide all interested parties grocery owners, suppliers, sponsors, investors and consumers an opportunity to gain a full understanding of the new standards and regulations for the sector. Al Reyaysa told Gulf News that once implemented, the new standards will give the customers improved shopping experience, while the owners and operators will have better and more lucrative business opportunities. A recent Government of Abu Dhabi-assigned study by an agency on the retail sector in the city concluded that Abu Dhabi residents had spent about Dh3.4 billion in the year 2010 on food and beverages and other consumer goods. Out of this number, small groceries accounted for Dh1 billion. The study concluded that this dynamic sector stands to gain much if they uniformly implement global standards in their services. "I assure you that even those who are sceptical of the changes at this point will come out in praise in no time," Al Reyaysa pointed out. A short movie that illustrates the shop refitting concept and the benefits to the groceries operators will be screened at the two- day event. The 1:20 scale model of the new store has been designed in accordance with the best international standards. The planned improvements will help grocery owners face competition from local and international retailers in the short and medium terms more effectively, the statement said. The event will explain the general outline of the technical, visual, operational and safety standards which will be implemented by the end of this year, it said. From / Gulf News