Faris Alrushud

RIYADH: Japanese supermarket KOMONOYA is set to open in Saudi Arabia by Oct. 22, bringing Japanese household utensils, office and bedroom organizers, pedicures products, makeup, toys and garden supplies to the Kingdom.

Saudi businessman and owner of Yanabee’ Al-Shark Company Waleed Ben Hamad Alnajim worked hard to bring KOMONOYA to Saudi Arabia.

Speaking exclusively to Arab News Japan, Alnajim said that he has an expansion plan that has been presented to the Japanese company, which includes opening 36 branches in three years, and another plan to increase and expand the branches.

Alnajim, who works in trading and marketing, said his interest in trade began when he was eight years old, selling a box of candy to friends and relatives.

Since then, his interest developed a passion towards trading when he was ten years old. He started buying the newest games and other products from far shopping centers and offered them for sale to friends and relatives as well.

At the age of 18, Waleed was importing household utensils from Dubai city and sold them as a wholesale product. and then at the age of 22, He founded an importing enterprise of hospitality and utensils from China and in 2016, it was converted to a company.

Alnajim told Arab News Japan about how and why he admires the Japanese products, as the Japanese participants in the exhibitions are distinguished by a clear and distinctive way of presenting the products with a good quality. He stated that Japan is unique in business manners, good quality of services and products and clear future business plans.

His deals with Japanese corporates were through international exhibitions held in China and Frankfurt. In 2019, he has been in contact with an intermediary company and a pioneer in providing commercial mediation services that helped him to meet with KOMONOYA in Tokyo, which helped in concluding an agreement after positive negotiations to gain the franchising award.

The businessman said he is so ambitious about his new franchise project and hoped it will succeed in achieving its vision as it fulfills the consumer needs at a lower cost.