(Cairo – September 2020)
This award recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit, achievements, and long-term ambitions of up-and-coming retail businesses embarking on an international expansion program.
Through a virtual event this year hosted and aired live from London, United Kingdom, RLI hosts annually an evening of recognition and celebration for the most innovative and imaginative retail and leisure concepts across the globe, through an international global judging panel composed of:
1-PATRICK CHALHOUB CEO CHALHOUB GROUP
2-ANDREW DARROW CEO DARROW CONSULTING CORPORATION
3-STEFFEN ERIC FRIEDLEIN MANAGING DIRECTOR LEASING AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD ECE
4-STEPHEN JONES DIRECTOR WOODS BAGOT
5-NIGEL KEENGROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR JD SPORTS FASHION
6-MANJU MALHOTRA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER HARVEY NICHOLS
7-JAMES QUINN EDITOR RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL
8-JOHN M. SCHREINERSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, THEATRE DEVELOPMENT | RUSSIA, CIS, MIDDLE EAST, INDIA AND SOUTH EAST ASIA IMAX CORPORATION
9-SOHAIL SHAIKHCEO – GLOBAL FRANCHISE BUSINESS HAMLEYS OF LONDON
10-DAVID SYLVESTER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL RETAIL LAS VEGAS SANDS CORP
11-ROGER WADE CEO & FOUNDER BOXPARK
In a special statement, Ahmed Ragab, CEO and executive board member of Baraka Retail group highlighted that
It is an honor to be recognized globally again, after being awarded the Middle East retailer in 2017 , and ensured that is confirmed and passionates Baraka retail group vision and ambition to become one of the top regional retail leaders by 2022, as a milestone prior to international expansion.
Mr. Mohamed Fathy Ragab, BRG Founder, and group Chairman thanked the Baraka retail group family and teams, who proudly shared his vision and glorified his 40 years retail journey with this international recognition, and ensured that the baraka retail group team and family was and will always be the main driver and base for any success reached.
ABOUT BRG: BARAKA RETAIL GROUP, fully operates in various divisions, including; optics, fashion, and F&B
In the optics division, it leads the Egyptian retail market, with 40 doors, under 4 different trade marks. Baraka optics , the starting point for Baraka retail group legacy, has been historically trademarked as the house of latest trends and introducing most luxurious brands in the market, since 1984,from Chanel, Bvlgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Gucci, Cartier, Boucheron, YSL, Balenciaga, Carrera, Ray-ban, Persol, and many others.
In 2003, Baraka retail group , introduced C&Co to the market, with the promise of the highest levels of service and latest fashion with a futuristic theme.
In 2016, Ray-ban stand-alone store was launched, with confirmed plans to launch more than 10 stores, with exclusive technology offering a digitalized shopping experience for the first time in the Middle East.
In 2019, JOOJ , baraka retail group private label stores were introduced to the market offering the latest trends with affordable pricing, within a very colorful and hippy store experience.
In the fashion division, Baraka Retail Group has joint ventures with Apparel Group UAE, since November 2016 to include the following brands: Inglot, Beverly Hills Polo Club, Naturalizer, and Athletes co. With plans to break the 50 stores bench mark before 2022
Baraka Retail Group operates exclusively New balance in Egypt, since 2018.
BRG has also officially launched a fashion line called Mellow in 2020, which is a fast-fashion Moroccan brand operating in Morocco, Tunis, Algeria, UAE, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
In the F&B Division, BRG have a partnership with the delicious group, since2019 to exclusively operate Cilantro, with its new rebranded and revamped experience and offering in shopping malls.
The Group is financially based in DIFC, logistically in DMCC, and operationally based in Egypt.
Baraka Retail Group fully operates and possesses partnerships and joint ventures in 3 different divisions, with 14 brands and across 70+ stores in Egypt, with potential expansion in GCC markets by 2022.
ABOUT RLI: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
RLI – The World’s only Global Retail & Leisure magazine plays host year on year to the ‘Global RLI Awards’ albeit virtual, it once again promises all the glitz and glamour that we have come to expect from the most highly anticipated event on the global retail and leisure calendar, an evening of recognition and celebration for the most innovative and imaginative retail and leisure concepts across the globe. www.rli.uk.com