Yusuffali M.A., the chairman of Lulu Group, held a meeting with Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace on Wednesday. During the audience, he provided a detailed briefing on the group’s current initiatives and future expansion in the country with an emphasis on food security measures. These include strengthening supply chains to guarantee the steady supply of essential food products to consumers nationwide. The Amir and the Crown Prince conveyed their appreciation for the company’s work, noting its value amid regional uncertainties.
Accompanying Yusuffali were A.V. Anand Ram, chief operating officer of Lulu International Holdings, Sreejith K.S., director for Lulu in Kuwait, and regional director Zakir Hussain. The discussions touched on how these efforts help address potential vulnerabilities in the national food system. Kuwait depends on imported goods for most of its food consumption, making reliable private sector partners essential for stability.
Lulu Group’s integrated annual report for the year ended December 2025 positions the company as a food security partner through its 19 global offices and advanced supply chain capabilities. The report indicated that fresh food categories experienced significant growth, contributing to overall performance and supporting local markets. It also highlighted the group’s role in talent development and employment as part of broader national support initiatives.
In one notable action, the group arranged multiple special flights in March to bring 82 tonnes of fresh produce from India to Kuwait when geopolitical tensions threatened supplies, according to Gulf News. This ensured continued availability in its hypermarkets and helped prevent price spikes in the local market. The company has maintained a focus on perishable goods to meet consumer demand effectively.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report points to high food price inflation as a key challenge for access to nutritious diets in the Middle East. In response, Kuwait has engaged in partnerships such as the one between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the World Food Programme announced in February 2025 to tackle such issues on a wider scale. Private operators like Lulu Group play a complementary role by investing in local infrastructure and diversified sourcing.
During the briefing, executives expressed the group’s commitment to further growth in Kuwait with proposed investments totaling approximately 100 million Kuwaiti dinars. The positive feedback from the country’s top leadership aligns with food security remaining a priority for government planning. The session reflected the collaborative approach between state authorities and leading businesses in addressing strategic economic needs.
