Landmark Group Named ‘Retail Company of the Year’ at Arabian Business Awards 2010

Dubai-UAE: 6 December, 2010 – Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, today announced it has been named ‘Retail Company of the Year’ at the Arabian Business Awards 2010.

Recognising outstanding business achievements in the region across 15 categories, the award ceremony was held at Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa on 30 November.

Vipen Sethi, CEO, Landmark Group, said: “It is an honour to be acknowledged as the ‘Retail Company of the Year’. Landmark Group has grown consistently over the past 37 years, and while our journey has been incredible, it is the support of a results-oriented team that has made this possible.

“The Group’s consistent track record of growth in the retail space has remained a profound testimony to the management’s entrepreneurial approach that inspires individuals to strive harder. We have always banked on our core belief – creating exceptional value for all the lives we touch – which has been the guiding philosophy to the Group’s success in every venture.”

Among the recent milestones for Landmark Group was the region-wide launch of its rebranded loyalty programme – Shukran – extending a single loyalty platform where customers can seamlessly earn and redeem points across more than 40 brands in different sectors.

The annual Arabian Business Awards additionally recognise companies in categories such as technology, aviation, retail banking, property, hospitality, media, telecom, investment banking, healthcare, education and small business. Individuals are honoured for their achievements as Businesswoman, Businessman and Lifetime Achievement of the Year.

The awards which are in their 11^th edition this year, have built the reputation for being amongst the most credible industry awards in the region. An illustrious panel of judges, chaired by Arabtec Founder Riad Kamal, went through entries across various categories to arrive upon winners. Landmark Group, joins the ranks of Batelco, Alwaleed Foundation, Union National Bank, GE Middle East and other industry leaders that were recognised in their categories this year.

Landmark Group has a presence across all categories within the retail sector and diversified into areas such as hospitality and leisure. A leader in the Middle East retail industry with operations across 15 markets, the Group has successfully established its procurement might and offers a high value to customers.

About Landmark Group

Founded in 1973 in Bahrain, the Landmark Group has successfully grown into one of the largest and most successful retail organizations in the Middle East and India. An international, diversified retail conglomerate that encourages entrepreneurship to consistently deliver exceptional value, the Group operates over 900 stores encompassing over thirteen million square feet across Middle East, India, Egypt, Turkey, Yemen and Pakistan (franchise operation).

Landmark Group employs more than 32,000 employees and provides a value-driven product range for the family through its core retail concepts: Centrepoint, Babyshop, Shoe Mart, Splash, Lifestyle, Beautybay, Iconic, Home Centre, Q Home Décor, Max, Shoexpress, E-Max and international franchise brands such as New Look, Reiss, Aftershock, Koton, Kurt Geiger, Ecco, Pablosky amongst others.

Besides retail, the Group has also diversified in the leisure, food and hospitality segments with Fun City, Gourmet Station, Spaces, Citymax Hotels, Fitness First and Foodmark, the restaurant division which includes own and franchise brands like Mango Tree, The Meat Company, Carluccio's, La Gaufrette, Bazerkan, Ushna amongst others.