Union Coop has also launched promotional campaigns for Ramadan with price reductions of up to 75 per cent on over 2,000 basic commodities.
The Coop is helping lift the financial burdens on consumers by offering high quality commodities at competitive prices, noting that it has specified a budget of Dh30m for the campaign this season.
Harib Mohammed bin Thani, Director of Operations division at the Union Coop said the promising scheme is meant to boost consumer happiness. “We are launching five campaigns against three last Ramadan.”
This represents a 76 per cent increase in campaign number and 40 per cent jump in the budget, he added. “We spent over Dh18m on last year’s three campaigns.” Bin Thani said the campaigns will cover around 2,000 basic Ramadan commodities with discounts of up to 75 per cent.
The Co-op has concluded all provisioning processes and contracts, making sure all the basic needs of the consumers are available in abundance at all its outlets. ”
Bin Thani noted that the success of the open basket campaign in the past years has motivated the Coop to relaunch this year. “Compared to 1,000 commodities last year, the open basket, this year, will include 2,000 commodities.”
“This 100 per cent increase over last year, and that will allow shoppers to select their own baskets regardless to price or number of goods, which enhances our policy in consumer happiness, especially with the diversified communities that live in Dubai, and approach the coop for their shopping needs.”
Dh400m purchases for Ramadan
Suhail Al Bastaki, director of happiness and marketing department, with the Union Coop told Khaleej Times that they will spend Dh400 million on commodity purchases for the holy month of Ramadan.
“These are meant to secure all the foodstuff and commodities that might be needed in enough quantities and up to customers’ expectations during Ramadan.”
The Union Coop is giving competitive offers on a variety of products, including rice, cooking oil, chicken, poultry products, meat, as well as canned foods and Ramadan items, he added.
“As per the Tamayaz loyalty car, member customers will enjoy discounts up to 50 per cent on a big number of products during the Union Coop’s promotion campaigns.”
The loyalty bonus points collected can also be replaced with purchases or further discounts, Al Bastaki elaborated. “The Ramadan commodities have been secured from the very beginning of the lunar month of Shaaban.”
“All Union Coop branches shall remain open all the days before Ramadan and three days after the Eid Al Fitr until the last customer; none shall be denied access.”
Al Bastaki said that Union Coop has introduced smart shopping trollies. “As a start, we provided 20 smart shopping trollies at the Union Coop Umm Suqeim branch to ease shopping experience from the very moment the customer enters the branch and until he or she leaves.”
A staff accompanies the customer and helps him or her choose their goods, pack and put them in the trolley, and finally deliver the merchandise to their cars at the parking lot.”
Payment can be made in cash or by credit card through a special device attached to the trolley. “This new scheme to be later generalized to all branches will cut the waiting time at the cashier.”
This smart service is free at the Umm Suqeim branch for customers with over Dh500 purchased. “It is also available for free for special needs and old people,” he said. “The same service is free for customers with over Dh1,000 purchases at the Mirdif branch.”