As part of its ongoing 
efforts to empower local farmers and increase the competitiveness of local produce, Silal, Abu Dhabi’s new fresh produce and agritech company, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LuLu Group, to provide consumers across the UAE with local fresh fruits and vegetables that are harvested in Abu Dhabi farms.
His Excellency Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Silal, and Yusuff Ali M.A, LuLu Group Chairman and Managing Director, signed the MoU at a ceremony on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Week’s first edition, in which Silal is the Associate sponsor.
Commenting on the MoU, His Excellency Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Silal, said: “Our partnership with LuLu Group will help us drive the distribution of diversified and high quality locally grown produce. This MoU comes as part of our remit to encourage sales and consumption of local farmers’ produce, to assure them a sustainable income while guaranteeing UAE consumers freshness from farm to shelf. It also reiterates our commitment to supply local fresh produce to the UAE people across leading retailers in the country, thereby achieving a key objective to support the UAE’s self-sufficiency and agricultural sector.”
Yusuff Ali M.A, LuLu Group Chairman and Managing Director, said: "At LuLu Group, we consider this collaboration as our national duty to open doors to Silal’s efforts to market agricultural produce grown in the UAE by local farmers. Around the world, the "grow local, eat local" movement is gaining ground and this not only supports the economy, but it is also about building a sustainable food eco-system.”
He added: “LuLu has a history of fruitful partnerships with leading companies in the UAE, such as Zayed Higher Organization which supports the People of Determination by opening our shelf space to them, as well as the annual festival celebrating Emirati products proudly in our hypermarkets. It is part of our continuous retail initiatives to promote the country’s homegrown brands and help achieve a strong economic status."
Under this MoU, LuLu Group will market Silal’s local fresh produce through its branches across the UAE, offering special shelf space to the company’s produce. Silal will continue offering its contracted farmers the opportunity to access markets within its network, while promoting local produce and enhancing its competitiveness.
Once harvested, the company uses sustainable packaging methods to ensure freshness, safety, and nutritional benefits of the produce, to make it more appealing to consumers.
Silal looks forward to signing up with more leading retailers to further support local farmers, who plant and harvest several nutritious fresh produces for our current and future generations.
For more information: silal.ae