Y International USA, a division of LuLu Group International, celebrated the opening of its first U.S. export distribution center with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new facility at Valley Brook Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.

Y International USA specializes in exporting food and household products for its parent company’s 130 Hypermarkets located throughout the Middle East and India. The company will be purchasing, relabeling and exporting food, non-food, chilled and frozen products “Made in the U.S.A.” from its new Lyndhurst facility, giving U.S. food and consumer goods manufacturers the opportunity to expand their reach to emerging markets.

The 75,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art export distribution center has spacious storage units and advanced machinery to process and handle dry, frozen and perishable food and non-food products. It has created 80 full time jobs since its inception. Company executives estimate the staff will increase to 200 within the next few months as operations ramp up, providing additional employment opportunities for area residents.

LuLu Group made the decision to expand its operations into the United States based on the growing demand for U.S. products in the Gulf region. According to company executives involved in the location decision, New Jersey was considered the ideal location for the company’s first U.S. export distribution center based on its close proximity to major airports, seaports and over-land connectivity, making it possible to ship fresh, frozen and grocery products under one order. The availability of high quality products was also a factor in the location decision.

Choose New Jersey, Inc., a private non-profit organization charged with encouraging and nurturing economic growth throughout the state; the U.S. Department of Commerce, through the U.S. Commercial Service and the SelectUSA program; and state, county and local officials worked closely with executives of Y International USA to bring the export distribution center and its jobs to New Jersey.

“We welcome Y International to New Jersey’s business community,” said Michele Brown, president and CEO of Choose New Jersey, Inc. “In addition to bringing new jobs to our state, Y International’s export distribution center will give New Jersey and U.S. manufacturers the opportunity to reach new markets in the Middle East and beyond.”

“Y International USA’s decision to establish their first export distribution center in the United States offers the company exciting new opportunities in the world’s largest consumer market, as well as enhanced access to hundreds of millions of global consumers,” said Vinai Thummalapally, executive director, SelectUSA. “We look forward to working closely with all parties as the investment progresses – and extend our warmest congratulations to Lulu Group International, Choose New Jersey, and the community of Lyndhurst.”

Based in the UAE, LuLu Group International is a multinational company operating in more than 37 countries across the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, India, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya and Egypt among others. The Group has a 32 percent market share in the Middle East.

The company is owned and managed by Mr. Yusuff Ali, whose strategic vision has driven its growth. Today, LuLu Group International operates across several lines of business including retail chain stores, shopping malls, wholesale distribution, food processing, export/import and hospitality. The company has more than 40,000 employees in 37 countries.

Its retail division, LuLu Hypermarkets, is recognized by the industry as a trend setter in the Gulf region. Its modern retail stores offer food, household goods, cosmetics, clothing and other products from around the world. Located in cities across United Arab Emirates, LuLu Hypermarkets also have become preferred shopping destinations in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India, serving more than 740,000 shoppers daily. The company also has a well-established network of sourcing offices and logistics centers around the world, including facilities in the U.K., Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Kenya, Benin, Tanzania, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Vietnam to cater to the requirements of its stores and customers.

Executives of Y International USA and LuLu Group International that participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony included Mr. Yusuff Ali, founder and managing director, LuLu Group International; Mr. Mohamed Althaf, regional director, Lulu Group International; and Mr. Scott Weber, regional manager, Y International USA. Ms. Michele Brown, president and CEO, Choose New Jersey, Inc.; Mr. Vinai Thummalapally, executive director, SelectUSA; Mr. Steven Tanelli, chairman, Bergen County Board of Freeholders; and Mr. Robert Giangeruso, mayor of Lyndhurst also participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.