Festival an ‘opportunity to experience richness’ of Qatari products, says LuLu

LuLu Hypermarket Qatar has stressed that it is creating, through the ‘Festival of Qatari Farm Products’, an opportunity for customers to identify and experience the richness of Qatari food and non-food items and agricultural produce. The festival, organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and LuLu Hypermarket Qatar, got under way yesterday and continues until November 17 at all LuLu Hypermarket stores.“Since 2010, LuLu Hypermarket has been organising the ‘Festival of Qatari Farm Products’ every year regularly. This year, it has been organised in a big way,” LuLu said in a statement yesterday. Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at the MME, inaugurated the festival by cutting the ribbon yesterday at LuLu Hypermarket - Al Gharrafa in the presence of Yousuf al-Khulaifi, director of the MME’s Agriculture Affairs Department; Dr Mohamed al-Aseer, adviser to the department; Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Hypermarket Qatar, a number of distinguished Qatari nationals and dignitaries from various public and private sector organisations and other senior officials from the LuLu management. Ahmed Aziz T T al-Shamari, head of Business Relations representing Mahaseel, and officials from 21 farms were also present at the inaugural ceremony. “LuLu Hypermarket has always been an ardent promoter of Qatari food and non-food products and agricultural produce, and almost all prominent Qatari brands — namely Dandy, Al Maha, Baladna, Ghadeer, Qbake, Athba, Rawa, qfm, Rayyan, Qatarat, Qatar Pafki, Pearl, Jawharah, Flora, Gourmet, Jerry Smith, Agrico Qatar, Paramount Agricole, Ocean Fish, Napoli Bakeries, Al Waha, Korean Bakeries, Parline, Ghazlan, Al Manhal, Dana, Aqua Gulf, Safa, Sidra, Lusail, Doha and Napico, etc, are on regular display,” the statement noted.LuLu Hypermarket “has a long-standing close tie-up with local farmers and has been the focal point in marketing local agricultural produce for many years”. While LuLu Hypermarket has been promoting Qatari products and farm produce for many years, it has been concentrating more in this regard since June 2017 as a social and economic commitment to the nation, the statement stressed.Speaking on the initiative, an official spokesman of LuLu Hypermarket said: “We strongly believe this would be the best tribute that we can ever offer to this great nation. Our history and reputation are intimately linked to the support of local farmers and companies. We sincerely hope the festival will shed light on the rich heritage of the country. “We take this opportunity to thank our customers and well-wishers who have been our source of strength during these years. We would also like to thank all ministry and municipal authorities for being the guiding force in our success.“We are permanently committed to buying from local producers whose fruits and vegetables meet our high-quality standards, particularly those who farm scientifically and are themselves dedicated to environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture. We continue to help them make advancements in a big way by increasing our procurement of locally grown produce and food items.”Supporting local companies and farms has manifold benefits for consumers. “It provides a fresh connection to the foods that are offered to shoppers, which keeps them connected to the seasons as well as the unique flavour and diversity of crops. “Also, buying produce from local growers minimises the environmental impact and costs of transporting,” the statement noted. “Many farmers are growing a variety of crops instead of just one, which is a boon for biodiversity as well as the palate of consumers. “It also minimises handling and transportation costs, which gives farmers maximum returns on their investment. Most of the money spent on location and production stays in the community, thereby ‘greening up’ the local economy.”