In the competitive world of e-commerce grocery, Kibsons has carved out a significant niche in the UAE market. Halima Jumani, CEO of Kibsons, attributes this success to a harmonious blend of long-term strategies and core values.
“Our success is a magical mixture of many factors coming together beautifully over the years,” explains Jumani. From their passion for knowledge in the international fresh produce industry to their corporate values of trust, equity, and fairness, Kibsons has built a foundation of reliability and integrity. The company’s focus on financial prudence, a dedicated and growth-oriented team, and empathetic leadership have also played critical roles. Above all, Kibsons is driven by a mission to add value to the customer by providing healthy eating options at affordable prices, delivered conveniently to their doorsteps.
Kibsons’ journey as a self-funded enterprise for over 40 years is impressive. Jumani explains that self-funding offers advantages like rapid decision-making, flexibility, and responsiveness to changes. “Being your own boss allows quick strategic changes and eliminates bureaucratic delays,” she says. However, this independence comes with challenges such as the burden of financial stress, limited growth potential tied to cash flow, and the responsibility for major expenses.
Handling 1800+ employees and 10,000+ daily orders is no small feat. Kibsons leverages nearly four decades of retail and distribution experience to manage its operations. Respect for the operational team, creative delivery route optimization, and adherence to six sigma and lean processes for picking, loading, and dispatching are part of their strategy. “Our IT team empowers and strengthens our supply chain solutions, constantly inspiring brainstorming and innovation,” the CEO shares.
With the cost of living in the UAE on the rise, Kibsons is committed to maintaining affordability. Direct imports, alternative sourcing, a lean structure, and sustainable practices help keep prices low. Additionally, the company absorbs a portion of the cost increases to protect customers from price hikes.
AI and automation play crucial roles in Kibsons’ operations. AI-driven automation has significantly reduced food waste by making local purchase order quantities more efficient. “We’ve achieved a 50% reduction in food wastage in the local segment that has been automated,” notes Jumani. AI-based route optimization for last-mile operations improves delivery timings, customer satisfaction, and fuel efficiency, while reducing the associated carbon footprint.
As a sustainability leader, Kibsons continually seeks ways to minimize its ecological footprint. Six months after COP28, the CEO highlights several initiatives:
- Solar panels that save over 25% of electricity consumption annually
- A water recycling plant that recycles more than 75% of their water usage
- Aiming to collect over 70% of delivery boxes for reuse or recycling
- An industrial composter that turns food waste into organic compost
- Leveraging data to reduce food loss and waste to less than 1% in the next two years
Future goals include developing an electric fleet and securing BCORP certification to further their sustainability governance.
Jumani emphasizes that Kibsons’ future lies in maintaining consistency in quality, availability, affordability, delivery experience, and customer service. “As we grow our product range and customer base across the UAE and beyond, consistency will be our guiding principle,” she concludes.
Kibsons continues to set the benchmark for e-commerce grocery in the UAE, driven by a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Instagram: @kibsons