Spinneys, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) supermarket chain and fresh food retailer, has marked its expansion into Saudi Arabia with its first store in Riyadh. 

The 43,520ft² store in La Strada Yard, a new mixed-use development in the An Nuzha district, offers premium products from imported goods to locally sourced items, including in-house produced bakery, meats, meal solutions and branded and private label products.  

The new Saudi Arabian store is conveniently located off King Abdullah Road. Its ample parking enhances accessibility for customers. 

Spinneys aims to achieve economies of scale with local production facilities, crucial for its fresh food proposition and margin profile.  

The brand has three more stores in the pipeline in Riyadh and Jeddah, expected to open during 2024. The company plans to launch up to 12 new stores in Saudi Arabia by 2028.  

The retailer’s entry into the market coincides with Saudi Arabia's pursuit of economic growth and is supported by initiatives such as Vision 2030 and global events including Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. 

Spinneys CEO Sunil Kumar said: “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 [Gulf Cooperation Council], 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 brand's plan also includes increasing private label penetration and introducing new concepts such as The Kitchen by Spinneys.  

The retailer is also growing its e-commerce presence with the Spinneys Swift delivery platform in the UAE and an upcoming online channel in Saudi Arabia.