Prepared By: Benoi Nair

Union Coop, the largest Consumer Cooperative in the UAE recently announced that all of its branches will operate 24X7, with exceptions of Al Mamzar, Al Mizhar Mini Coop, Coop the Pointe, Al Satwa and International City. This step is as a response to the decision of The Ministry of Health and Prevention, and National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, explaining that consumers can now shop any time – day or night as per their convenience.

Union Coop’s Director of Happiness and Marketing Department, Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki in a statement said: “Union Coop branches will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, starting from Thursday, March 26 to ensure that the goods are provided to the community smoothly, in response to the directives of the concerned authorities in order to overcome the Corona pandemic,”  Al Bastaki stresses that all goods are available throughout the day and there is no need for the consumers to rush, as the strategic cooperative plans guarantee to consumers the availability of all products in huge quantities and throughout the year, indicating that there is absolutely no need to fear that the products will run out of stock because the cooperative and retail outlets in the country in cooperation with the competent authorities worked over the past years to build a national food stock, As well as preparing resource sustainability plans.

Al Bastaki further explained” “Union Coop’s stock is maintained strategically and is sufficient for a prolonged time, as we are maintaining a regular supply chain on a daily basis. Moreover, we signed contracts worth more than AED 400 Million with suppliers, in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, which will be kept in the best storage condition prevalent at the Union Coop Warehouse – one of the largest Food and Non-Food commodity warehouses in the Middle East.” Al Bastaki highlights that Union Coop deals with more than 50 countries to import goods and also with local farms and factories that provide large quantities of Food and Non-Food commodities.”

Calling all citizens and residents, Al Bastaki said: “Not to rush in branches and outlets to buy goods in large quantities as we have everything available in sufficient numbers for all members of the society. We would like to stress the necessity to follow a shopping style just above normal in order to successfully implement the current instructions to stay at home and support the relevant authorities in the sustainability of resources, commodity stock and food provision for all.”