On January 22, Tamimi celebrated the completion of its total makeover, a long-lasting operation that brings the KAUST community a supermarket experience. Nadmi Al-Nasr, KAUST interim president, and Mahmoud Zaqout, Tamimi Markets corporate director of operations, cut the Grand Opening red ribbon, which was followed by a tour of the store led by Zaqout and a cake cutting ceremony.
Listening to the community
When Tamimi first opened in September 2009, the company used the space, equipment and fixtures provided by KAUST for supermarket operations.
To better serve the community and to cater to special dietary and cultural needs, several new departments were added during the remodel. For example, the Healthy Living department, which offers natural, organic, gluten-free and low-sugar ingredients, now offers a broader range of products. Close to the Seafood Room, an expanded Asian product selection was built to address the mix of Asian cultures on campus. Specialties from Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Indonesia, among other countries, are available, and offers are expanding. Over 30 authentic Chinese products have been added over the last month!
Modifying a store
As part of the remodel, all flooring and shelving units were replaced and the entire store layout was modified. Expanding the aisles allowed the store to hold up to 20 percent more products to serve the growing and diverse community. Space between the aisles was also broadened to provide a more comfortable shopping experience.
Hot stuff!
Because the community was eager to purchase freshly baked products, Tamimi now features a new brick oven and a hot food service. Freshly baked fatayas, chicken tenders, samosas, all-butter croissants and crusty breads are now available to satisfy your taste buds. There is even an Arabic bread factory that can produce hundreds of pieces of hot Arabic bread per hour for customers in whole wheat and white varieties.
Grab & Go
In a hurry and need a quick snack or a meal, or need to take something to eat on the bus going to Jeddah? Head to the Grab & Go island located on the left of the store and choose from fresh sandwiches, salads, hot rotisserie chickens and chilled beverages. The new Deli and Cheese island on the left side of the store also offers a wide range of sliced meats and cheese from around the world.
Bake, cook and keep the kids happy
Along the back of the store is a series of new sections to help fulfill the community’s household needs, including the Kitchen Shop, Home Goods, Toy Shop and Baby Shop.
In the Kitchen Shop, you’ll find an expanded range of imported and local kitchen gadgets, small appliances and helpful kitchen solutions.
The Home Goods section offers a large assortment of pillows, blankets, sheet sets, towels and spa accessories. While mom is enjoying the range of luxurious spa items and dad is choosing cuts for tonight’s barbecue, the kids can have a ball in the new Toy Shop, looking with bright eyes at all the toys—the area is overflowing with fun. The Baby Shop brings together everything new mothers and their young infants might need, ranging from diapers to rattles, lotions, toys and wide range of baby foods, including organic options.
Sustainability is our concern
At KAUST, using sustainable and green energy alternatives is part of the University’s mission. Keeping that in mind, Tamimi undertook a major effort to reduce its carbon footprint and replace the previous refrigerators with an environmentally friendly, high-efficiency system to run all coolers and freezers and the air conditioning. The new freezers even have LED lights triggered by motion detectors that turn off when no one is in front of them. For a better shopping experience, the store lighting was also changed to energy-efficient LED lighting that almost doubles the brightness in the store while using less energy. The new Seafood Room is a big improvement—its automated doors allow easy entry into the department, and the room has a blower that creates negative air pressure, keeping the aroma and the coolness of the sea within the room.
You can also do your share for the environment and bring your own reusable bags for your shopping.
We would like to know what you think about the new Tamimi Market at KAUST and invite you to take part in the upcoming focus groups Community Life and Tamimi management organizes to best address our community’s needs.