SouqExtra,! a pioneering national chain of community supercenters, has welcomed its one millionth shopper within a year of launching its inaugural outlet at Ewan Residences in Dubai last December.

A neighbourhood community-focused center, SouqExtra! offers integrated primary services such as high-end grocery, kids’ play area, fast food outlets, coffee shops, full-fledged gymnasium, salon, photo shop and community hall, all designed to help the community meet their daily needs.

SouqExtra! has since opened another outlet in Al Ain, with further planned developments in Fujeirah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the first steps towards achieving its strategic goal of opening 75 outlets across the UAE and the Middle East over the next decade, said a top official.

“Our internal footfall tracking system revealed that the number of SouqExtra! visitors has already crossed the one millionth mark which is a remarkable testament to the success of the community-centric retail model adopted, the product and service mix selected and the facilities provided by SouqExtra!,” remarked Saleh Abdullah Lootah, managing director of SouqExtra!.

"SouqExtra! is confident of maintaining successful momentum and we expect a two-fold growth in footfall by the end of 2011," he stated.

SouqExtra! is a pioneering lifestyle supercenter model, representing an innovative retail concept shaped by extensive research into outlet positioning as well as the quality and variety of services offered.

"It offers an innovative program that encourages local entrepreneurs to enter the exciting retail scene, and focuses on providing access to amenities and services that connect consumers' professional and family life to the larger community, adding something Extra! to life,' noted Lootah.

"SouqExtra! has enjoyed an incredibly positive reception from some of the biggest and most respected retail providers in the UAE who have partnered with us at our first two outlets."

The result is that SouqExtra! has received a continuous stream of enquiries from a large number of business entities, land developers, service providers and retailers who have recognized the strength of this unique retail model and are keen to collaborate on future projects,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service