Spinneys is ‘Happy’

Discount grocery stores to be launched

Supermarket chain Spinneys is launching ‘Happy’, a discount grocery store concept. The first two stores will open in October in Choueifat and Zouk.

“The Happy stores will offer our best selling brands at discounted prices,” said Michael Wright, CEO of Spinneys. Happy is inspired by European and American concepts. It has been customized to the local market. Wright said that discount stores are taking Europe by storm. “We are bringing the same experience here,” he said.

Spinneys offers a wider choice of products. Happy will sell best sellers and fast moving items at a lower price. Spinneys outlets are at least 2,000 m2, while Happy stores will be smaller.

Happy Choueifat is located at the 1,200 m2 premises of the now closed BFC store. The 5,000 m2 Zouk branch is located where Le Charcutier supermarket used to be before relocating to Jeita. The supermarket will occupy around 1,700 m2, and the remaining space will be used as a warehouse.

Wright said that other branches are underway, “We are exploring opportunities across the country starting in Beirut.” The chain will have as many outlets as Spinneys’. He said that investment in these stores is much smaller than in a Spinneys, which could cost up to $5 million.

The Spinneys chain includes eight outlets (Jnah, Hazmieh, Tyr, Saida, Ashrafieh, Dbayeh, Jbeil, and Tripoli). Another branch is expected to open in the ‘Spot Choueifat’ mall in 2015. It has plans for at least ten more Spinneys outlets of various sizes.

The trademark ‘Happy’ has been registered in several markets where Spinneys is active. “The Lebanese market will be the first for ‘Happy’, which we aim to export to the region,” said Wright.