Lulu plans logistics units, hypermarkets in Andhra

UAE-based retail giant Lulu Group International has announced plans to set up food processing units, logistics centers, hypermarkets and a shopping mall in Vijayawada and Tirupati.

Making a significant shift from its previous position against investing in Andhra Pradesh, Lulu Group chairman and managing director Yusuffali MA announced the company’s plans on Sunday in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Both Yusuffali and state’s chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, however, did not give details of investments.

“Thank you very much Hon’ble @ncbn for the warm welcome to me and my team including my brother Ashraf Ali, our Executive Director at Amaravati, capital of Andhra Pradesh,” Yussufali said in the post.

Stating that he shares 18 long years of brotherly relationship with Naidu, Yussufali said, “Our discussions were very fruitful. We have decided to start an international-standard Shopping Mall with 8-screen imax multiplex in Vizag, state-of-the-art Hypermarkets in Vijayawada and Tirupati along with modern Food Processing and Logistic Centers in Andhra Pradesh @AndhraPradeshCM”

Thank you very much Hon’ble @ncbn for the warm welcome to me and my team including my brother Ashraf Ali, our Executive Director at Amaravati, capital of Andhra Pradesh.

I have got 18 long years of brotherly relationship with Shri. Naidu and our discussions were very fruitful.… https://t.co/aky63EdWFw

— Yusuffali M. A. (@Yusuffali_MA) September 29, 2024

\Naidu said, “I’m pleased to welcome the Chairman & MD of Lulu Group International, Mr @Yusuffali_MA, and the Executive Director, Mr Ashraf Ali MA, back to Andhra Pradesh.”

“I had a very productive meeting with their delegation in Amaravati today. We discussed plans for a Mall and multiplex in Vizag, Hypermarket and multiplexes in Vijayawada and Tirupati, along with investments in the food processing sector across the state,” Naidu said, assuring that the state government shall extend every possible cooperation and support.

I’m pleased to welcome the Chairman & MD of Lulu Group International, Mr @Yusuffali_MA, and the Executive Director, Mr Ashraf Ali MA, back to Andhra Pradesh. I had a very productive meeting with their delegation in Amaravati today. We discussed plans for a Mall and multiplex in… pic.twitter.com/itk1RuUIHX

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) September 28, 2024

In 2019, the Lulu Group halted its planned Rs2,200 crore investment in Vizag after the YS Jagmohan Reddy-led government revoked a previous agreement made with the previous Telugu Desam Party-run state government.

The UAE-based conglomerate had intended to develop a convention center, multiplex, and five-star hotel on 13.59 acres, but the allotment was canceled.

Lulu Group, an Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate with an $8 billion annual turnover, operates in various sectors including hypermarkets, mall development, manufacturing, hospitality, and real estate, with a presence in over 25 countries.