UAE-based Lulu Group has made its debut in Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai, with its first hypermarket in the city. The LuLu Hypermarket, which is located inside the Shenoy Nagar Metro Station on Chennai Metro's Green Line, was opened to the public on Monday, October 12. According to reports from Live Mint and businessline, both stores were inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar, along with Ministers Raj Mohan and Venkataramanan, in the presence of LuLu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali. The inaugural ceremony also included MLAs Kanimozhi Santhosh and V.K. Ramkumar, along with other management representatives.
The hypermarket in Shenoy Nagar spans approximately 1 lakh square feet and is described by the company as India's first and largest hypermarket within a metro station. As reported by Live Mint and businessline, the facility comprises a 56,000 sq. ft. supermarket and a 50,000 sq. ft. department store housing LuLu Fashion Store and LuLu Connect. The store is strategically located inside the metro station, providing convenient access to commuters and shoppers. The facility offers parking for more than 1,000 vehicles and customers can shop for groceries, fresh produce, daily essentials, fashion, footwear and electronics under one roof. According to Google Maps, the store operates from 9 am to 11 pm daily.
Alongside the Shenoy Nagar hypermarket, LuLu Group also opened a smaller-format store called LuLu Daily at Chennai Central Metro Station on the same day. According to Live Mint and businessline, the LuLu Daily store spans 35,000 sq. ft. and offers fresh market products, groceries and everyday essentials, catering to metro commuters and residents in the surrounding areas. Both stores represent the company's comprehensive retail strategy in Chennai's metro network, targeting different customer segments and shopping preferences.
Speaking to businessline at the inauguration, LuLu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali expressed his happiness over the company's entry into Chennai and thanked State government officials for support and cooperation over the past few years. "We are very happy to be in Chennai, one of the most cosmopolitan cities with good buying power. We are particularly excited about setting this up in the Metro station and want people from all walks of life to choose LuLu for their monthly purchases," he said. As reported by businessline, this is only the beginning; the company will continue to expand in Chennai and Tamil Nadu. LuLu Group Executive Director M.A. Asharaf Ali said Chennai and Tamil Nadu are important destinations for the company's expansion plans, with plans for a mix of various store formats in over 20 locations in Chennai itself.
According to businessline, LuLu Group has announced plans to establish a mini mall in Tiruppur, highlighting its intention to explore further investment opportunities in Tamil Nadu. The company is also interested in setting up a food processing unit in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant expansion into the state's manufacturing sector. In January, the company announced major investments in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, including a mega mall in Visakhapatnam and food processing hubs, while planning new hypermarkets in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and other cities. The retail industry titan continues to explore additional opportunities in the state, with sources indicating that a much-awaited LuLu mall is still on the cards for Chennai.
