Bhubaneswar: Lulu Group, the leading retail and shopping mall operator in the Middle East, is set to expand its sourcing operations in Odisha.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today between Lulu Group and Odisha-based Highland Group at Gulfood 2025, the world’s largest food trade show in Dubai.
As part of this agreement, a high-level delegation from Lulu Group will visit Odisha as early as Monday to explore sourcing opportunities and assess production facilities.
The MOU was signed by Saleem VI, COO of Lulu Group, and Pratik Jena, MD of Highland Group, in the presence of Yusuffali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group, along with Saifee Rupawala (CEO), Salim MA (Global Director), and V. Nandakumar (Director of Global Marketing).
Also present were Rabindra Kumar Jena (Chairman of Highland Group) and Anil Kumar (Director, Business Development of Highland Group).
With 257 hypermarkets and supermarkets across the Middle East, Lulu Group serves over 650,000 shoppers daily and generates an annual turnover exceeding $8 billion.
The company currently operates food sourcing offices in 23 countries worldwide. *Yusuffali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “We see immense potential in Odisha for sourcing high-quality fruits, vegetables, rice, and seafood for our stores across the region and in India. Our team will be visiting the state to gain firsthand insights into the opportunities, and we will commence sourcing operations immediately.”
Beyond sourcing, Lulu Group is exploring opportunities to establish world-class shopping malls and hypermarkets in Odisha, further strengthening its presence in India.
Rabindra Jena, Chairman of Highland Group said “we are very honored and excited about this partnership with a global brand and we are fully committed to working closely with Lulu Group to explore all possible avenues of collaboration and bring in a new era of economic growth and prosperity to Odisha and especially to the agri sector.”