ZOOM, the convenience store concept owned and operated by ENOC Retail, the retail business of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), has won the Most Admired Retailer of the Year Food & Grocery honour at the Retail Middle East Awards 2014.

This is the second award for ZOOM at the Retail Middle East Awards having won the same honour for ZOOM Market in 2012, adding to a number of laurels earned since its inception in 2009. Voted as a UAE Superbrand for three consecutive years from 2012, ZOOM has also been the finalist at the International Convenience Retail of the Year Award in 2012 and 2013 as well as winning the Store Design of the Year 2012 for ZOOM Metro at the 2012 InRetail Summit.

Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director ENOC Retail, and Taleb Al Saleh, Director ENOC Retail Operations & Marketing, received the award at a ceremony held in Dubai.

Al Hashemi said: We are thankful to Retail Middle East for the honour for ZOOM, a brand that is only five years young. The award comes at a time when we mark the significant expansion of ZOOM across the UAE as well as in branching out to Saudi Arabia. ZOOM has today defined its credentials as the regions largest network of convenience stores highlighted by our emphasis on product quality, freshness and customer service. The number of accolades received by ZOOM in a short span of time highlights our international competencies in retail.

He added: The success of ZOOM draws on Dubais global hub status as a business and leisure hub. We built on the positive growth environment by creating a convenience store concept offering several distinctive advantages including location and ease of access. However, at the heart of our success is the wonderful team of professionals we have who set benchmarks in customer service excellence. As Dubais home-grown brand in convenience store retailing, we will continue to explore potential opportunities for growth by sharing our competencies and being closer to our customers.

Differentiated by a resplendent red colour scheme that highlights the brand name in white with a dash of yellow, ZOOM delivers on the promise of happy shopping on the move. ENOC Retail today operates a network of 100 ZOOM convenience stores as part of the ENOC/EPPCO service station network and 41 stores in Dubai Metro stations serving as the exclusive convenience store on the worlds longest driverless metro network.

ENOC Retail has also unveiled two new neigbourhood grocery concepts for ZOOM ZOOM Market and ZOOM Mart. Today, there are 18 such stand-alone ZOOM supermarkets and groceries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Marking the geographic expansion of ENOC Retail, the company operates one ZOOM outlet in the ENOC/Aldrees service station in Dammam.

The ZOOM brand philosophy is defined by four key pillars: putting the customer first and addressing customer appeal; motivating and empowering staff; ensuring a solid plan to support the value proposition; and integrating all the elements of conventional and modern retailing to serve customers with a smile.

ENOC Retail franchises the ZOOM c-store concept and offers the full spectrum of advisory and franchising support services to its partners, which will continue to drive its growth.

The ZOOM store offers full spectrum of products and services including grocery, fresh and packaged food, household items, health and beauty products and publications, among others. Most outlets are open 24x7 adding to the convenience of motorists and customers.

ENOC Retail has come to symbolise speed, convenience, service and value. In addition to its core fuel retailing, its service stations feature convenience stores, cafes, car wash and quick lube outlets, as well as automotive services and vehicle testing and registration offering an integrated experience for customers. ENOC Retail has over 4,000 employees who spearhead the retailing of fuel, fuel products and an array of products and services.