Panda Retail - Brochure 2018 by Business Chief Middle East

Panda Retail Company: Always fresh

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Panda Retail Company: Always fresh

How Panda Retail remains an industry leader in the Middle East with advanced technology and customer focus

anda Retail has spent the past four decades as a household name in the Middle East. Operating under Savola Retail since 1998, it leads the market across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, ever-evolving as per the trends, technologies, and requirements of the industry. ‘Always Fresh, Always Less’ is the brand’s slogan, and the first half refers not just to the groceries Panda sells, but every element of the business. Constant change is the norm for staff and customers alike, many of whom have watched the company split into two formats: a hypermarket under the name HyperPanda in 2004, and smaller convenience stores – named Pandati – as of 2013. In 2014 the company name was changed from Azizia Panda United to the Panda Retail Company. And another big step in the expansion plan was achieved when Panda opened it hypermarket in Egypt in the year of 2015. These big steps have raised Panda share in the retail sector from 7% to

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‘Always Fresh, Always Less’ is the brand’s slogan, and the first half refers not just to the groceries Panda sells, but every element of the business.’

more than 8%. Today Panda is the largest food retailer in the Middle East owns more than 400 branch of panda Super, Panda Hyper and Pandati in Saudi Arabia & Egypt making it the largest retail company that offering its services to more than 400 million visitors annually. There are over 500 stores altogether, and Panda is expanding all the time – 18 new shops were opened in 2016 alone. All of this has been achieved thanks to a combination of innovation, customer focus, and the strong

ethics that Savola and Panda are known for. Concentrating on an ERP transformation, a customer loyalty programmed, and the creation of an automatic checkout system, Panda is a business looking to leverage the changing tides of technology. In Europe, the idea of automated check-out systems is a familiar one, but it is far less common in the Middle East. But by following a four-step plan from inception to full-scale development, Panda has implemented a retail innovation for the region. Feedback from

customers has been positive and it seems likely that Panda’s approach will become a blueprint for other major retailers in the Middle East. As with the vast majority of transformational projects, there were challenges involved in simple aspects like barcoding strategy and related processes to ensure that the technology would perform at maximum potential, but the pilot phase followed after several months

of collaborative effort. The concept was brought to life in a store with customer experience and feedback helping to continually improve it. Panda’s other current and upcoming technological offerings include a ‘Surprise and Delight’ loyalty programme. Recently launched, it brings together technology which allows Panda to analyse and understand customer data in order to improve the service further. The company’s app can gather this type of information before the customer is even through the door, enabling it to cater offers and discounts to the person. Even better, customers can use the app in-store – utilising the wireless internet that is being implemented across the business – giving an extra edge to that user experience. Part of Panda’s transformation programme also entails a concerted effort to expand its product portfolio and make significant savings by becoming a leading provider of basic branded goods alongside diversifying its range to include value added goods. Another of the central pillars of its transformation

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initiatives is to clearly differentiate between its hypermarket, supermarket and convenience formats, according to Retail Analysis. In a 2017 report, it said: “Panda has said that its Pandati format is still being evaluated and reconfigured, following the formats launch in 2013. As part of the transformation programme this involves tailoring store’s products to suit their catchment areas. Panda has reported this has created an increase in footfall.” The transformation programme will also see Panda Retail focus on “streamlining”, said Retail Analysis. “Panda has focused on range optimisation and improving its assortment of products. It is then drawing attention to certain food categories by pulling products together and turning them into destinations in stores to generate greater interest,” it detailed. “Panda also aims to shrink its supply chain costs. To do this it has improved operations by ensuring better fleet utilisation and launching new planning initiatives. This has particularly focused on its convenience format, Pandati. Panda has also reduced working capital by reducing its inventory.” The company is looking forward to a prosperous future, appealing to the millions of Saudi nationals through its range of outlets. As it looks forward it finds itself guided by new leadership; in October 2017, the company appointed Mr. Bander Talaat Hamooh as Chief Executive Officer.

‘Part of Panda’s transformation programme also entails a concerted effort to expand its product portfolio and make significant savings by becoming a leading provider of basic branded goods’

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Bander is a Saudi national, who has over twenty-five years of vast experience in various leadership positions in Retail, Pharmaceuticals and FMCG. He started his professional career at the Ministry of Health after obtaining his Bachelor Degree in Pharmaceutical Science from King Saud University in 1989. Bander’s most prominent role was his role as a General Supervisor of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Health and the CEO of Al Nahdi Medical Company, where he led the growth and expansion of the business and development of the Company’s strategy in pharmaceutical retail sector. In addition, he has established track records in both public and private sectors, where he accomplished many achievements in retail, commercial management, organisational development, change management, supply chain, marketing and social responsibility. In a statement, the company’s board wished Banda all the success in his new position as the CEO of Panda to support its vision and achieve its objectives and aspirations in the future.

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