The first Lulu Group Malaysia hypermarket is scheduled to open in February 2016, the Middle Eastern retailer has confirmed.

Lulu currently operates 118 hypermarkets and shopping malls in the Middle East and India and positions itself offering quality products, competitive prices and high level customer service. It is ranked by Deloitte as one of the top 10 fastest growing retailers in the world.

The company confirmed this week during a luncheon hosted by Malaysia’s prime minister that he first hypermarket will open in February 2016 at Jalan Munshi Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur.

Yusuff Ali Ma, chairman and MD of Lulu Group said the company will initially invest RM1.3 billion (US$300 million) in rolling out 10 hypermarkets during the next two years and gradually expand to all parts of Malaysia.

“Today the whole world knows about Malaysia’s economic stability, investor friendly approach, liberalised policies and world-class infrastructure and we are confident about our success here,” he said.

“Our hypermarkets encompass both supermarket and department store formats and we intend to bring a whole new world of shopping to the residents of Malaysia.”

Yusuffali said Malaysian staff would be trained in the Middle East so as to replicate the levels of service and expertise the brand is renowned for.

Lease agreements have been inked with retail developers including Greenhill Resources SdnBhd (Setia City Mall), KLIA Properties (for a new project in Bangi) and PNB Commerce (Perling Mall in Johar Baru). Other hypermarkets will open in Kalandhan Kotabaru, Shaa Aalam, Ipoh, Malaka, Penang and Kuala Tringanu.

“Works of other hypermarkets have already started with some having completed 60 per cent and some others 70 per cent” he said.