Logistics Middle East – August 2019

AUGUST 2019 | UPDATE

http://www.logisticsmiddleeast.com LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | AUGUST 2019 9

FODEL is the first
platform in the
GCC region to im-
plement the pick-up loca-
tion option as an alternative
to home delivery enabling
online shoppers to pick up
their e-commerce parcels
from their local stores any
time they want.
The concept is used around
the world and 7eleven is a
reference point for the pick-
up service concept interna-
tionally. Many of 7eleven’s
66,000 stores in 18 countries
including, US, European and
Hong Kong outlets offer simi-
lar ecommerce parcel pick
up services and the trend is
catching up in the UAE.
Now FODEL and 7eleven
have agreed to work together
to make the pick-up service

FODEL and 7eleven partner to create UAE

chain of e-com pick-up points

available to UAE online

shoppers at any of the retail

chain’s convenience stores

across the country.

In addition, more 7eleven

outlets will offer the service

once they open later this year

to become part of FODEL’s

rapidly growing network of

collection points across the

UAE helping consumers to re-

ceive their shipments faster,

cheaper and at a place and

time most convenient to them.

7eleven stores are open 24

hours, 365 days a year, which

means that people can visit

them any time to pick up their

parcels, day or night. Con-

sumers are notified in real

time once their order arrives

at their preferred 7eleven

location and have full vis-

ibility and control over their

shipments.

“Adding FODEL as a ser-

vice to our stores enhances

consumer convenience, in-

creases footfall and will help

boost impulse purchases from

our customers who come to

7eleven for the high quality

of the ‘grab and go’ fresh food

products at affordable prices

and the multiple available

services available under one

roof,” said Christophe Nob-

let, general manager, Seven

Emirates Investment.

Soumia Benturquia, found-

er & CEO, FODEL, said:

“7eleven is a reference of the

pick-up locations concept

globally and well-known for

the great customer experi-

ence they provide. We are

happy to have them part of

our network and we can to-

gether create a unique and

hassle-free parcel collection

experience for online cus-

tomers.”

“7eleven’s growing net-

work of UAE stores, their

24/7 availability and their

strategic locations are a great

asset for FODEL,” she added.

Australia may extend Middle East livestock

export ban through summer

Australia’s ban on

the export of live

sheep to the Mid-

dle East could be extended

right through the summer to

the end of September amid

concerns of the risk of heat

stress under a proposal from

federal regulators, reports The

Guardian.

The ban, which began in June,

may be extended for another

three months amid backlash

over whistleblower footage of

a voyage on which more than

2,000 sheep died.

The Department of Agricul-

ture in Australia is yet to deter-

mine whether the export of live

sheep to the Middle East will

be allowed in high-risk months

from 2020 onward.

The department said that

based on the available evidence

on average temperatures and

sheep mortality rates in Septem-

ber, it “believes this option [of

resuming trade on 1 September]

presents a higher risk of heat

stress event, and does not prefer

this option”.

“The options take into account

evidence that demonstrates Sep-

tember remains as hot, or hotter

than June and has historically

experienced the third highest

average monthly mortality rates

after July and August,” it said.

The average mortality rate for

sheep on live export ships to the

Middle East in September is just

over 0.8%. The month with the

highest average mortality rate

was August, with 1.25%, followed

by July with just under 1%.

The deadly voyage on the

Awassi Express in August 2017,

which triggered the review of

Australia’s heat stress guidelines

and the ban on summer voyages,

had a mortality rate of 3.76%, or

2,400 sheep.

The RSPCA says that allowing

the live sheep trade to resume in

September was not supported by

the department’s own evidence

on the impact of heat stress, as

set out in the draft Heat Stress

Risk Assessment (HSRA) report

released in December.

Australia’s ban on the export

of live sheep to the Middle East

during the summer months, and

India’s rules against sea freight

for livestock during summer, have

hit Eid Al Adha sacrifice prices.

Without Australia as an export

option, traders have been forced

to rely on goats from India, but

New Delhi does not allow livestock

to be exported by sea during the

summer months, and air freight

adds an extra AED300 on average

to the cost of each animal.

7eleven stores join FODEL network