Vindico and Aldar Properties PJSC have renewed a portfolio retail delivery appointment creating a decade-long working relationship between Abu Dhabi’s largest property company and the region’s leading retail delivery specialist.
The appointment sees Vindico provide an integrated retail delivery design, management and on site service inside an innovative service and fee model across twenty-one of Aldar’s retail properties, including The Souk at World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, where it all began in 2008.
Vindico’s decade long relationship with Aldar started with retail delivery design, management and on site services at The Souk at World Trade Centre Mall in 2008.
“Aldar was a foundation client for us when we expanded to the Middle East in 2007,” comments Peter Row, Vindico Founding Director. “Our first Aldar development, The Souk at World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, was formative on a few fronts as we climbed a steep local learning curve, on a challenging project in a recessionary market. In doing so, the foundation was laid for an enduring partnership with a key client.”
Vindico has delivered retail in four of Aldar’s major development projects, including Abu Dhabi’s largest regional shopping centre, Yas Mall. Now operating centres, these properties form part of the portfolio appointment where Vindico works with Aldar’s tenants and their brands through the design, management and onsite processes to accelerate opening dates and activate retail frontages.
Vindico’s service and fee model covers twenty-one of Aldar’s twenty-six retail properties, from local community centres to Abu Dhabi’s largest super prime retail destination, Yas Mall, where Vindico has provided retail delivery content, design, manage and on-site services since it opened in 2014.
Richard Kim, Vindico Managing Director explains, “We have enjoyed working with the Aldar team over the last couple of years to refine a service agreement and fee model which is about value, not just cost. Based on workload forecasts, a blended monthly and variable fee aligns our activity to Aldar’s business model and risk profile. We are focussed on outcomes achieved, not hours worked.”
Paul Wagner, Vindico Head of Retail Delivery for Abu Dhabi has been Portfolio Lead responsible for Aldar since 2015. “The transition from a project to operational mindset has been an interesting journey for everyone,” he reflects. “The process to open a shop or restaurant is the same, but the focus on opening individual units in less time, rather than many units on time, creates new challenges – and a different energy.”
“Helping tenants and their brands get open in less time than they thought gives us all a huge sense of satisfaction, and everybody – customers, retailers, brands and the mall – wins.”
The latest Aldar Tenant to open is local food & beverage operator, Churros Land. Managing Director, Asma Al Shanqiti was appreciative of how the retail delivery process facilitated a smooth opening.
“Supportive, responsive and with the highest levels of professionalism” is how Churros Land Cafe Managing Director, Asma Al Shanqiti, describes her experience of opening the local brand’s latest outlet in Aldar’s Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. (Image Credit: Churros Land Cafe)
“All of us in the Churros Land team, and our Contractor, are sincerely thankful for the continuous support and guidance during the project,” says Asma. “Aldar has appointed a strong company to manage (retail delivery) at Yas Mall, and we had the right Manager for this difficult responsibility. It has been a pleasure working with everyone involved.”
Divya Ramdas, Vindico Retail Delivery Manager, worked with the Tenant through the retail delivery process.
“I have taken many tenants through the process,” comments Divya,”and whilst it’s standardised structure allows our design, manage and on site teams to be connected and efficient, every Tenant, their brand and their team is a unique journey.”
“It’s great to see Churros Land open at Yas Mall.”
For more information, or to contact Peter, Richard, Paul or Divya, get on touch:
