Spinneys, the leading premium fresh food retailer, has announced the opening of its first store in Saudi Arabia, located in the vibrant new mixed-use development La Strada Yard in the popular and affluent An Nuzha district of Riyadh.
According to Industry sources, La Strada Yard is an emerging hub for residential and commercial activities, making it an ideal location for Spinneysโ first-ever opening in the Kingdom. The latest 43,520 sq.ft. store offers a comprehensive range of premium products, comprising imported goods, locally sourced items, and branded and private label products.ย
Industry sources further added that Spinneys has a well-advanced store pipeline, with further openings planned in Riyadh and Jeddah, the Kingdomโs most affluent and populous cities. The firm is poised to open up to 12 new stores in Saudi Arabia by 2028.ย
According to Industry sources, the La Strada store will feature an extensive selection of bakery, meats, and meal solutions that are all produced on-site, with in-house production capability critical to Spinneysโ commitment to the freshness and quality that it is known for in the UAE and Oman. By establishing local production capabilities in Saudi Arabia, Spinneys aims to drive economies of scale, a key component of its fresh food proposition and margin profile. The production facilities at La Strada will also serve other Spinneys stores scheduled to open in Riyadh this year.
Sunil Kumar, CEO of Spinneys, stated: โWe are delighted to be launching our unique premium offering in Saudi Arabia, a rapidly growing market with a diverse consumer base and a keen appetite for fresh, high-quality products. Our entry into Saudi Arabia, a historic moment for a homegrown UAE brand, is driven by strong demand and positive market fundamentals, bolstered by the transformative Saudi Vision 2030, which has created an ideal environment for retail sector growth. Our track record in the GCC, coupled with best-in-class insights and partnerships in the Kingdom, give us a robust platform and we look forward to becoming a trusted name in the market.”
The โwhitespaceโ opportunity in Saudi Arabia offers a unique opportunity for Spinneysโ international expansion, with whitespace in the Kingdom projected to increase to 86 million sq.ft. by 2033, equivalent to nearly 1,200 Spinneys stores. Growth in whitespace in the Saudi market is supported by structural tailwinds including a projected 6.4% CAGR in the Kingdomโs affluent population between 2022 and 2028.
Spinneys’ entry into Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the Kingdom continues to pursue growth and diversification, supported by ambitious government initiatives including Vision 2030 and upcoming global events such as Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. The government aims to increase the expatriate population to 50% by 2030, boost household incomes and drive consumer spending. These changes create an ideal environment for the expansion of the retail sector, and Spinneys is well-positioned to capitalize by bringing its unique high-quality, and fresh offering to the Saudi market.
