LuLu food festival celebrates flavors of the world

LuLu food festival celebrates flavors of the world
LuLu Hypermarket is offering exclusive deals across all product categories, including fresh produce and grocery items.
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Updated 02 October 2024
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LuLu food festival celebrates flavors of the world

LuLu food festival celebrates flavors of the world

LuLu Hypermarket is currently hosting its “World Food Festival” across the Kingdom. Running from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8 and spanning several key regions, this festival features special displays, diverse activities, and the participation of international celebrity chefs, offering live cooking experiences and a world of flavors for visitors to enjoy.
Influencer Abdulaziz Al-Shahri participated in a live cooking challenge between Chef Khalid and Chef Raed. At the Malaz branch in Riyadh, Egyptian influencer Baig Alam served as the judge for the cooking challenge, evaluating dishes brought by participants. Renowned Indian YouTuber Firoz Chuttipara flew in from India, adding his culinary expertise to the festival.
In the Eastern Province, Chef Mohammed Wafi Al-Asli led the festival’s launch at the Hafr Al-Batin branch with a live cooking demonstration and competition. Participants showcased their culinary skills for a panel, including Chef Mohammed, with a focus on presentation and taste. Similarly, the Al-Ahsa branch featured Chef Fahd Al-Shaibi, who led a cooking competition judged on the same criteria.
Meanwhile in Jeddah, notable chefs like Chef Abu Aziz, Chef Raghad, Chef Shoug, and Chef Firoz energized the festival. A culinary showdown took place between Chef Areej and Chef Lina at the Al-Marwa branch. There were also comedic cooking challenges between bloggers You Can and Big Man. The audience enjoyed numerous challenges and activities.
In addition to the live cooking experiences in all stores, LuLu Hypermarket is offering exclusive deals across all product categories, including fresh produce, grocery items, frozen foods, health and beauty products, household items, electrical appliances, and more. 
“The World Food Festival is a true celebration of global flavors and an incredible opportunity for visitors to learn from celebrity chefs, participate in interactive cooking challenges, including a kids’ cooking challenge, and enjoy exclusive discounts on a wide range of products,” a press statement said. “Whether you’re there for the live cooking demonstrations, the unique culinary experiences, or the amazing shopping offers, this festival promises an unforgettable time for all.”
Speaking about the event, LuLu Saudi Hypermarkets Director Shehim Mohammed said: “The World Food Festival is a landmark event for both the retail and food industries, connecting consumers and producers in a unique culinary experience. The festival boosts awareness of food products and supports both local and international brands while enriching the overall shopping experience.”
This ongoing festival offers an opportunity to explore global cuisines, learn from culinary experts, and create memories with family and friends.


HORECA Riyadh, Salon du Chocolat bring the best of hospitality and F & B to Kingdom

HORECA Riyadh, Salon du Chocolat bring the best of hospitality and F & B to Kingdom
Updated 27 November 2024
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HORECA Riyadh, Salon du Chocolat bring the best of hospitality and F & B to Kingdom

HORECA Riyadh, Salon du Chocolat bring the best of hospitality and F & B to Kingdom

The 13th edition of HORECA Riyadh opened on Nov. 25 at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The opening ceremony was attended by Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission, and Prince Waleed bin Nasser Al-Saud, founder and CEO of Mukatafa, along with several diplomats and top business leaders from across the Kingdom. 

Concurrently, the second edition of Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie also commenced, featuring a unique blend of chocolate and pastry arts, as well as the Saudi Elite Chefs competition. Strategically partnered with the Culinary Arts Commission, the event promises an assembly of elite professionals and international brands through Nov. 27.

This year’s HORECA, the most expansive in its history, extends over 29,000 square meters and hosts more than 400 exhibitors representing 20,000 brands from 48 countries. These are displayed across eight international pavilions, each a showcase of cultural diversity and innovation that defines the modern hospitality landscape.

The inaugural ceremony featured a special tribute to Badr, whose visionary leadership in the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Culinary Arts Commission has significantly elevated the national culinary arts scene.

The opening day’s events included a range of competitions and demonstrations, including cooking, barista and mocktail competitions, drawing more than 100 skilled participants from around the globe, each eager to impress a panel of international judges.

Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie comprises more than 40 distinctive events, which include celebrated pastry chefs unveiling their latest creations and sharing insights into emerging trends in the world of chocolate and pastries. Additionally, the exhibition provides an arena for chefs to engage in competitions adjudicated by globally acclaimed chefs.

Adding an intellectual flavor, this year’s event introduced “The Talks,” an engaging series of panel discussions tackling a variety of contemporary issues, led by a cadre of industry leaders.

The Saudi Elite Chefs competition offers a face off between chefs facing novel challenges in Saudi cuisine, judged by a panel comprising Meilleurs Ouvriers de France laureates Philippe Bertrand, Jonathan Mougel, Joseph Viola and Jacques Rolancy.

The two exhibitions provide an ideal platform for expert networking and the forging of strategic partnerships. These events not only reinforce Riyadh’s eminent status as a global and regional hub for the hospitality, and food and beverage industries but also spotlight its dynamic role on the world stage.

Established almost 30 years ago, HORECA, an annual business meeting place, brings together an array of distinguished brands, experts and international personalities from the vibrant worlds of hospitality and food service. Over recent years, HORECA has cemented its strong presence in the GCC, particularly within Saudi Arabia.  

Besides Riyadh, HORECA also takes place annually in Jeddah, as well as in Beirut, Kuwait, Amman and Muscat.  


SAMINavantia launches new combat system ‘HAZEM Lite’

SAMINavantia launches new combat system ‘HAZEM Lite’
Updated 26 November 2024
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SAMINavantia launches new combat system ‘HAZEM Lite’

SAMINavantia launches new combat system ‘HAZEM Lite’

SAMINavantia, the joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries and the Spanish company Navantia, announced the development of a new combat management system, “HAZEM Lite.” This solution is designed for low and medium warfare vessels, as well as vessels with space restrictions.

This achievement is the result of the efforts of Saudi engineers who worked on developing the new system at SAMINavantia’s Naval Systems Integration and Development Center of Excellence in Saudi Arabia.

The new “HAZEM Lite” system can be used and installed on new ships or integrated into the existing systems of modern vessels. The new system is one of the latest technologies in combat systems, derived from the HAZEM CMS, but specifically tailored for smaller vessels, while maintaining the key features of the original HAZEM system. These include providing an open, scalable, customizable, and interoperable solution that is proven effective and robust.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, chairman of SAMINavantia, said: “The new ‘HAZEM Lite’ system is the result of intensive development efforts by Saudi engineers, aimed at designing a simplified version of the advanced combat management solution previously used in the Sarawat-class vessels, by creating smaller platforms with different missions and capabilities. Additionally, ‘HAZEM Lite’ is the first product developed in the Kingdom, addressing the need to enhance the small vessel category. This achievement is part of SAMINavantia’s contribution to localizing over 50 percent of military spending by 2030, one of the key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, as well as actively participating in the development of skilled technical workforce capabilities in Saudi Arabia and providing world-class combat system solutions.”

The achievement also aligns with the efforts of the General Authority for Military Industries to localize military spending in the Kingdom.

SAMINavantia’s efforts contribute to enhancing the readiness of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the Border Guard, and other local or regional clients, in line with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. This is achieved by launching a new era of advanced and effective defense capabilities to meet current and future challenges, while strengthening the national military industrial base.


Najm wins ‘Best Call Center’ award at Saudi CX Awards

Najm wins ‘Best Call Center’ award at Saudi CX Awards
Updated 26 November 2024
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Najm wins ‘Best Call Center’ award at Saudi CX Awards

Najm wins ‘Best Call Center’ award at Saudi CX Awards

Najm for Insurance Services has been awarded the prestigious “Best Call Center” award in the category of companies with more than 1,000 employees, at the Saudi Customer Experience Awards ceremony, held on Nov. 13 in Riyadh. The event was attended by a group of business leaders, prominent figures, and professionals from across the Kingdom’s government, private, and nonprofit sectors.

This recognition is a testament to Najm’s ongoing efforts in enhancing its call center and elevating the level of service it provides for vehicle insurance beneficiaries across the Kingdom. Handling more than 3 million calls annually, Najm’s call center achieves record response times through a range of electronic channels, contributing to a high customer satisfaction rate of 85 percent. Overall, Najm provides more than 35 million services annually across all its channels with a service level of 99 percent.

Mohammed Y. Al-Shehri, CEO of Najm, said: “Winning the gold award and achieving first place for Best Call Center in the Kingdom not only validates our efforts but also motivates us to continue innovating and striving to enhance customer satisfaction.”

Al-Shehri highlighted Najm’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and the adoption of modern technologies to enrich the customer experience, streamline processes, and drive digital transformation across its operational processes and technical systems, ensuring fast response times and high-quality services for its customers.

“This accomplishment reflects the company’s strategic digital transformation, with all operations now managed through advanced AI-supported systems. Our automation rate for accident procedures has reached 95 percent, marking a qualitative leap in service efficiency,” he added.

At the Saudi Customer Experience Awards ceremony, organized by the Saudi Customer Experience Association and its partners, Ajil Al-Jarba, vice president of marketing and sales at Najm, made a presentation on digital transformation and customer experience.

Al-Jarba highlighted the growing importance of exceptional customer experiences, saying: “In today’s world, data-driven insights enable companies to create personalized, engaging experiences, making customer experience fundamental to economic and social development. Digital transformation is essential for companies seeking excellence and aiming to improve customer experiences by offering innovative and digital services.”

He added: “Digital transformation is a key element of Najm’s strategy, which has led to a significant advancement in how services are delivered, and customer experiences are improved on various levels, whether for individuals or partners. Our transformation aligns with Vision 2030 objectives, including the Quality of Life Program and the Financial Sector Development Program. Therefore, Najm has restructured its strategy, adopting the best-in-class professional and marketing standards, which have contributed to empowering the insurance sector and improving service quality for policyholders and beneficiaries, especially vehicle owners.”

The Saudi Customer Experience Awards is a platform that celebrates excellence in customer service across the Kingdom. This year, Najm competed in 27 different categories.


Rheem Middle East wins awards for sustainability

Rheem Middle East wins awards for sustainability
Updated 25 November 2024
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Rheem Middle East wins awards for sustainability

Rheem Middle East wins awards for sustainability

Rheem Middle East, a sustainable industry leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water heating solutions, has garnered significant attention at the Climate Control Saudi Awards 2024 — the inaugural edition of CPI Industry’s awards in Saudi Arabia. The company secured multiple accolades in recognition for its commitment to fulfilling its social responsibilities and playing a pivotal role in promoting sustainable, energy-efficient solutions, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it prioritizes environmental and social impact.

Rheem’s award-winning solutions, also sold under the brands Ruud, Friedrich and Richmond, include their ducted inverter products, which earned the “Manufacturer Supplier of the Year” award and their commercial heat pump, which won the “Supplier of the Year for Water Heaters” award. Additionally, Rheem was honored with the “Dominique de Souza Award for Innovation,” celebrating the groundbreaking ProTerra Hybrid Heat Pump, a truly sustainable solution that is four times more efficient than standard water heaters, contributing to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Beyond technological leadership, Rheem remains steadfast in its zero-waste commitment, coinciding with its 100-year anniversary in 2025. Rheem’s initiatives will see them reduce produced greenhouse gases by 50 percent, eliminate landfill waste completely and promote energy-efficient solutions globally. Since 2019, Rheem has already diverted more than 80 million tonnes of waste from landfills annually through their eco-friendly manufacturing plants, such as the one in the GCC.

“As our teams work toward achieving zero waste by 2025, we are happy to see our efforts being recognized here in the Kingdom. As the Kingdom leads the way with its sustainability goals under Vision 2030, Rheem also leads by developing environmentally conscious solutions with a sustainability-first approach and bringing them to key markets such as Saudi Arabia,” said Brian Hempenstall, vice president and general manager at Rheem Middle East. “We are on track to meet the sustainability goals we’ve set for our 100-year-anniversary coming up in 2025,” he added.

As a leader in environmental consciousness, Rheem aligns fully with the Kingdom’s vision of a cleaner future. The company has been recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for four consecutive years with the Energy Star Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence Award, due to its steadfast commitment to environmental protection through energy efficiency measures, organization-wide energy savings and continuous improvements from previous years.


New Murabba showcases future of urban living

New Murabba showcases future of urban living
Updated 25 November 2024
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New Murabba showcases future of urban living

New Murabba showcases future of urban living

New Murabba, a PIF company, highlighted its transformative vision for urban living at Cityscape Global 2024, one of the world’s largest real estate and urban development exhibitions, where it was the foundation sponsor. Inaugurated by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the event was held from Nov. 11 to 14 under the theme “The Future of Living.” Held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Conference Center in Malham, Cityscape Global 2024 brought together more than 400 attendees, including global industry leaders, investors, and experts in urban development — all with the focus on shaping the future of real estate and architecture.

The event provided an unparalleled platform for New Murabba to connect with key stakeholders and investors and showcased the Kingdom’s rapid economic growth. The event’s emphasis on the future of living, asset horizons, and proptech aligns perfectly with New Murabba’s mission to create a vibrant, sustainable downtown that harnesses renewable energy, smart city technologies, and efficient resource management.

New Murabba welcomed Prince Turki bin Hathloul bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Najran region, along with several dignitaries and guests at its pavilion. 

They were received by CEO Michael Dyke and the company’s team, who provided an informative presentation on the destination’s latest advancements.

Dyke participated in a panel discussion exploring how sustainable investments can drive urban growth and improve quality of life. 

“Cityscape Global 2024 is a remarkable opportunity to engage with visionary leaders, investors, and partners who share our commitment to creating a sustainable and dynamic urban future,” said Dyke. “New Murabba is proud to contribute to Riyadh’s evolution as a global city, offering an innovative approach to urban living that integrates advanced technology, sustainability, and community-centric experiences to create a vibrant, livable city.”

“By participating in this prestigious event, New Murabba will serve as a model for other developments across the globe, encouraging them to place sustainability and quality of life at the forefront of their development strategies,” Dyke added.

As Saudi Arabia seeks to position Riyadh among the world’s top 10 most livable cities, New Murabba is poised to play a crucial role in achieving this vision. The project aligns perfectly with the Kingdom’s ambitious development goals by embracing sustainability, advanced technology, and smart city concepts. New Murabba is set to attract foreign investors eager to participate in Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and expanding real estate market.