LuLu to open malls in Kerala

DUBAI: With Indian economy booming, another retail major firms up plan to open shops in India.

The UAE-based retail major LuLu, which runs 58 stores in the Gulf, is gearing up to start construction of a huge mall in Kochi, as part of its plan to open several malls in India.

The company is conducting feasibility studies to open malls throughout the country, especially the southern metro cities of Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, said Yousuf Ali MA, managing director of Emke Group, which owns the flagship supermarket brand Lulu.

Construction will start 'very soon' ahead of a scheduled 2009 opening, a company official was quoted as saying in Gulf News.

"We're not ruling out any of the main cities. There are significant opportunities in India and this is the right time to enter the market," he told Gulf News.

According to a report released by London-based retail analysts, Planet Retail Ltd, Emke Group (Retail division) is ranked 12th in the African and Middle East Top 30 Grocery Retailer list, which is dominated by European retailers operating stores in the region.