Lulu Supermarket was recently in the news for reportedly transporting 80,000 kg of fresh produce from India to United Arab Emirates through special cargo flights to ensure that supermarket shelves there remain stocked even during the conflict.
To ensure continuous supply during the current situation, Lulu arranged charter cargo flights carrying fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat from Kochi to Abu Dhabi. More such flights are being planned from Mumbai and New Delhi to various GCC destinations,” Mohamed Althaf, group director – Global Operations, Lulu Group International, tells The Hindu in an email interview. (Lulu Group International is an Abu Dhabi-based Indian-Emirati multinational conglomerate founded in 1997 by M.A. Yusuff Ali, operating over 250 stores in GCC, Asia and Europe.)
War hits Indian rice shipments to west Asian destinations
Althaf states that India plays an important role in the supply chain for the retail market of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in West Asia and it has helped to ensure the region’s food security, especially in the wake of the current war between Israel and Iran.
He adds, “For Lulu, India — particularly South India — is a major source of fresh produce, staple foods, and speciality products that cater both to the large Indian expatriate population in the Gulf and to the broader regional consumer base. We source fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, spices, coconuts, onions, seafood, meat products, and a variety of processed and packaged foods.”
