DUBAI // Super-Max, the second-largest manufacturer of razor blades in the world, is moving its global headquarters from London to Dubai where it will build a Dh100 million (US$27.2m) facility.
The company, which sells razors in more than 140 countries, expects the 50,000 square foot facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) to be completed next year.
Ajay Bindroo, the group chief executive of Wesley International, the global distributor of Super-Max razors and toiletries, said Dubai's geographic position would help the company reach its customers in the emerging markets.
"We have done well in the developing world, especially Asia, Africa, CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] and the UAE as a country," he said during the inauguration of its new headquarters on Thursday.
"And Dubai gives you the flexibility, especially in the Jebel Ali hub, to move logistics anywhere and any time." Operating costs for the distributor, which is the second largest based on number of blades sold, are also lower in Dubai than in Europe, he said. Retailers globally struggled last year after consumers became more budget-conscious amid the economic downturn, but "daily need" products, such as toiletries and razors, were less affected. It's a dynamic that worked for Super-Max, which saw 60 per cent sales growth last year, said Mr Bindroo.
"A lot of people have moved from competitors to us," he said. "We've got great value, and that's what we've seen in the last year."
In the UAE and the Middle East overall, Super-Max's sales have been growing by a consistent 30 per cent average rate for the past few years. Mr Bindroo said that with the expansion plans, including a new plant in Mexico, Super-Max was aiming for 60 per cent to 70 per cent growth this year as well.
Ibrahim al Janahi, the chief commercial officer of JAFZA, said the multinational company's decision to move its headquarters to Dubai showed that the emirate continued to be a good place for commerce.
"It is still business as usual in Dubai," he said. The number of companies stationed in the business hub last year grew by 3 per cent, he said.
"This is not the usual growth that we have every year, but it is proof that we are still growing, we are not in the minus."
Some property-related projects scheduled to start building last year were postponed due to a lack of funding from banks, he said. JAFZA, however, had built facilities for companies affected by the delays to use in the meantime, said Mr al Janahi.
"We have constructed showrooms, offices and warehouses for such companies, which can have their ready-made facilities for them until business goes back to normal in banking sectors and will be funded and construction can begin." Mr al Janahi said financing from banks was beginning to flow, and he anticipated increased growth at JAFZA this year.
aligaya@thenational.ae
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially