Kerala, a small south Indian state, is home to a lot of respectable personnel that include Businessmen, Sportsmen, Diplomats, and great law-makers. M. A. Yusuff Ali, the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group International, is one of them.

Challenges in Kerala for Business Investments

Generally, Kerala isn’t regarded as a place to start a business. People appear to be fearful of making a huge investment in the state owing to many factors. It is among the reasons why one can’t find many successful business personnel here.

Yusuff Ali’s Impact on Kerala’s Business Landscape

However, Mr Yusuff Ali repeatedly proves through his actions that Kerala can be a go-to place for businesses to invest their money in. The man is the richest individual in the tiny state and is among the top 1000 richest people in the world.

His net worth is $5.9 Billion making him one of the wealthiest individuals in India.

M. A. Yusuff Ali and Lulu Group

• Yusuff Ali was born in 1955 in a place called Nattika in the Thrissur District of Kerala. His father was running a grocery shop in Gujarat, a state in northern India.

• At around the age of 16-17, he left his home in Kerala and headed to Gujarat to help his father in running the grocery shop. Alongside helping his father, he also completed his studies. He has a diploma in Business management to count on his educational qualification.

• In 1973, when he was just 18, he left for UAE to help his paternal uncle manage the family business. His paternal uncle, Mr M K Abdullah, already had a recognizable name and fame among businessmen in Abu Dhabi.

• The foundation of the current Lulu group comes from the vision of Mr M K Abdullah, who was primarily involved in the import and wholesale business. It was he who started the supermarket chain in UAE in the early 90s.

• In the mid-90s Yusuff Ali stepped into the business and got involved more vigorously to help expand the business model and revenue engine.

Also, Read -The success story of Yulu Bikes

Lulu Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, and Malls

• The main business of Lulu Group is in the retail sector. Lulu has a large network of retail chains spanning multiple countries such as India, UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, and more. Lulu Group is the largest retail chain in UAE and is a household name among the residents.

• As of 2022, Lulu group has more than 200 Lulu Hypermarkets in GCC, 4 malls in India, 1 in Malaysia, and 4 in Indonesia. The group is constantly expanding its reach in various countries.

• Although the company has its presence in multiple countries, its primary location of the business is UAE and its headquarter is located in Abu Dhabi. The company owns a number of sourcing centres and food processing units across different countries.

• Interestingly, when Lulu group started off their first supermarket in the early 90s the region was going through a tough time. While all NRIs (Non-resident Indians) were returning back to their home, Yusuff Ali stayed in the country and indulged in expanding the business.

• This extraordinary trust factor he showcased in the region earned him high-level contacts. Lawmakers of the UAE are highly supportive of the Lulu group. While many businessmen from foreign countries failed to sustain themselves in a region going through immense war, the Lulu group undoubtedly succeeded and now holds the number one position!

Lulu Group and India

• Though Yusuff Ali conducts his business primarily in UAE, he invariably holds an emotional bonding with India and his home state of Kerala.  He is the largest job provider for Indians outside the country.

• Lulu Group has more than 50,000 employees that include people from 38 different nations. Out of this more than 70% are Indians!

• Lulu group makes sure to treat their employees with the utmost dignity and provides all the required facilities to make them feel at home. Even during covid 19 pandemic employees were paid their full salary when there wasn’t a considerable business.

• Lulu group entered India in 2013 when they launched Lulu Shopping Mall in Kochi, Kerala. This shopping mall is the biggest in India and over the years has turned into one of the major attractions in the city.

• Now the group has 4 shopping malls, the largest convention centre, and a big food processing unit in India. Yusuff Ali stated that the group has plans to expand its business to more locations in India.

Philanthropical works of Yusuff Ali

• A notable area Mr Yusuff Ali is well known for is his philanthropical works. He believes that it is his responsibility to extend helping hands in every possible way. He made huge donations during Tsunami, Kerala Flood in 2018 and 19, the Calicut fire accident, and Covid 19 pandemic.

• The generosity of Yusuff Ali is praiseworthy. He has voluntarily extended his help and support to uplift the conditions of plenty of people in Kerala.

• The love he has for his mother tongue and native place is highly appreciable. The then-small village of Nattakom now has a better living standard, thanks to job opportunities created by Yusuff Ali aiming at his villagers.

• Yusuf Ali constantly donates a considerable amount of money to the medical and educational sectors.

Takeaway for Readers

• Yusuff Ali sets a great example of what a businessman can do to empower those around him/her. Often, successful people seldom put effort to uplift the community they emerged from. According to Yusuff Ali, this approach isn’t good in the long term.

• One should never forget the past as it helped them learn a lot and achieve what they have now. In case of improvement in their condition, a businessman must consider revisiting their past and do the needful to bring the community to the fore.

• Just like in the story of all successful businessmen, the story of Yusuff Ali promotes the beginning from a humble background. It is not the education or money you carry that determines your success but the constant efforts you put in to attain your dream that plays the game.

• Lulu group also sets an example of not evading the location of a business when it undergoes through a disastrous phase.

Businessmen should think long-term and place trust in the system which helped them hitherto!

The Rollercoaster Journey of Maggi—Maggi Noodles : A Saga of Outright hate to Unconditional Love!