(The World Cup of the Global Retail Industry)
RLI (Retail and Leisure International) is the World’s only Global Retail & Leisure magazine and has become the voice of the global retail and leisure sectors worldwide. Circulated monthly to 20,000 individually named CEO’s, Directors and key decision-makers internationally, the magazine is dedicated to the retail and leisure market, incorporating global news, specialist features, profiles and regular sections all combined to offer the reader a valuable insight into the impact of retail and leisure development on the industry as a whole. It is the chosen Media Partner for all major Retail Real Estate Industry Events globally.
RLI is also the organizer of highly successful events RLI Connect Global, the world’s only global deal-making event and the highly coveted and prestigious Global RLI Awards, now in its twelfth year – held on May 10th, at the Exquisite Palazzo Versace Hotel, Dubai, UAE – Where Baraka Retail Holding Group has been Awarded “Middle East Retailer” of the year.
This award recognizes those home-grown retailers that have achieved growth, innovation and exceptional performance across the Middle East and GCC.
Mr. Ahmed Ragab, CEO, Baraka Retail Holding Group, received the award at the RLI event, and expressed Delight with the regional recognition that rewards decades of planning and development, since the establishment of Braka Group back in late 70’s. He added “it also Marks the beginning of a new era where we aspire to expand in the regional Market, Which is already a well established platform where the world’s biggest retailers perform.”
BARAKA Retail Holding Group was established in 1979 to introduce luxury brands to the Egyptian market. The focus began with the optical business, as Baraka and C&CO stores were launched across the nation, then in the mid-1990s, BARAKA Retail Group expanded its attention to furniture, apparel, jewelry, and even construction.
Baraka Retail Group, commercially operated by Baraka Holding Group, now fully operates four brands: Baraka Optics (since 1984), C&CO (since 2003), Madar (since 1996), and Bvlgari (since 2001). It’s also a partner in Allied Trading and Consultancy, the exclusive agent for Nike (since 1999), in Egypt and Kenya, and Springfield (since 2005) and Cortefiel (since 2005) in Egypt as well as a shareholder of Ego (since 2006), Armani Jeans (since 2014), Emporio Armani (since 2015), Armani Exchange (since 2016) and Sigma Constructions. And on a regional level, Baraka group has joint ventures with Apparel Group UAE since February 2016 to include the brands: Inglot, Beverly Hills Polo Club (already open in Egypt in CFC and in City Stars), Naturalizer (to open in Egypt in June 2017), and Eye Shop (open in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and to be opened in the rest of GCC); and its investments and presence expand beyond Egypt to include the UAE and Saudi Arabia with a plan to open up to 31 stores in Egypt and the GCC region by the end of 2017.