Chantal Fouad

DUBAI: A tycoon in lifestyle retail across the GCC, Majid Al Futtaim announces an influential partnership with internationally renowned Italian design factories, Alessi.

“Looking ahead, Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle has an ambitious development pipeline which focuses on strategic growth and enhancing its existing pillars across Fashion, Home, Beauty, Specialty Retail and our Multi-brand concept,” said Fahed Ghanim, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle.

As a way to enhance their strategic growth and reflect the ever-evolving taste of the global lifestyle retail landscape, the decision to partner with Alessi is an initiative in the right direction to achieve Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle’s (MAF Lifestyle) vision and mission.

“Integrating Alessi’s products into the Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle ecosystem only presents a myriad of opportunities that can significantly enrich our overall customer experience and market reach. Alessi’s unique and design-centric offerings bring a fresh dimension to our existing Home product portfolio, appealing to a broader demographic. Leveraging Alessi’s global brand recognition provides a strategic avenue for further expanding our footprint into new markets, tapping into existing customer networks and distribution channels,” added Ghanim.

This exclusive partnership will give MAF Lifestyle the rights to distribute Alessi’s unparalleled design philosophy that transforms everyday items into extraordinary pieces, for wholesale, retail, HORECA, and B2B projects across the GCC.

Ghanim also emphasized the benefits that customers will enjoy from this partnership; customers will have a wider array of unique options of functional kitchen appliances and accessories to choose from, he also described it as a commitment to enhance the overall brand perception of Alessi.

Alessi has a history of collaborations in its 101-year history, it has collaborated with 300 designers, artists, and architects; Alessi’s CEO Daniel Talens said that, “Alessi is delighted to partner with Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle as we look to expand our footprint in the GCC. Through this collaboration, we are dedicated to further developing the Alessi brand in the region and bringing our design excellence to the customers who appreciate and look for poetry through our objects in their everyday life.”

Alignment of values and identities is what makes a partnership successful, MAF Lifestyle goes through a thorough process of brand selection that seamlessly align with their core values.

The selection process reflets deep understanding of customer needs and satisfaction, Ghanim commented on the shared values between MAF Lifestyle and Alessi saying, “Innovation, customer centricity, sustainability and cultural sensitivity are prioritized and by integrating brands that embody these values, Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle ensures that each customer interaction becomes a remarkable and distinctive experience. In essence, the brand curation process serves as a testament to our dedication to offering products that transcend the ordinary and contribute to the enrichment of the local communities it serves.”

This partnership also marks a milestone for MAF Lifestyle as they venture into brand distribution for the first time; “our collaboration symbolizes the beginning of a transformative journey dedicated to elevating the brand’s position in the region and ensuring it reaches the right hands of our valued customers,” adds Ghanim.

MAF Lifestyle has an ambitious development pipeline, which focuses on strategic growth and enhancing its existing pillars across Fashion, Home, Beauty, Specialty Retail and our Multi-brand concept. The company’s approach includes both maintaining and expanding its core offerings while strategically extending the brands’ geographical reach across the region with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.

This year, MAF Lifestyle, opened 20 stores in the GCC, including five stores in Saudi Arabia with lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister opening in Jeddah’s new The Village Mall in July.

They are also announcing the first stores for Crate and Barrel and CB2 in Jeddah opening in Q1 2024, which will be the first side by side store outside the US and Canada, offering our loyal customer base the convenience of shopping both brands in one location.