The fast-growing value retail segment Mark & Save celebrated Onam with traditional activities, festive offers and cultural community events in its stores throughout the UAE for a month-long campaign running through August 2026. This festive initiative is designed to strengthen family bonds and is embraced with enthusiasm by diverse Indian communities around the UAE, reflecting the strong cultural ties that Kerala maintains with the region.
The campaign merges the retailer’s signature affordable luxury ethos with its usual holiday celebration, offering shoppers access to a broad range of essential festive products and holiday items including festive groceries, fresh produce, household goods, dairy products, meat and poultry, snacks, drinks and general merchandise at value-driven prices. Running through the end of August, the campaign centers on giving back to the community through a special Free Sadhya deal across select locations.
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If customers spend AED 250 for goods other than electronic products from August 18 to 23, they will get a free traditional feast. In addition, the Mark & Save Al Tallah store in Ajman features an exclusive ‘Great 2 Days of Savings’ weekend promotion that includes combo discounts and multi-buy deals for families to make their holiday preparations.
Cultural Engagement and Community Activities
Integrating traditional Kerala culture directly into the retail environment forms a cornerstone of the Mark and Save Onam campaign across the region. Designed to foster an inclusive community atmosphere beyond the standard shopping aisles, the retailer encourages active public participation through a diverse schedule of family-oriented activities.
These cultural events include Kids’ Fancy Dress competitions, traditional Thiruvathira dance performances, energetic Cinematic Dance showcases, Payasam cooking and tasting sessions, and traditional Tug of War matches. In addition, the stores are conducting colorful Pookkalam (floral design) competitions, cultural pageants like Mr Malayali and Malayali Manka, and a special Digital Engagement Campaign to engage families through digital channels. “Onam is not just a festival, but a celebration of togetherness, heritage and family and community bonds,” Mohammed Fasil, Head of Operations at Mark & Save said.
He further added: “Our goal is to demonstrate those values in a fun, affordable and convenient experience for our customers. By bringing festive products, cultural activities, and value-led offers together, we want every customer to feel closer to the spirit of Onam.”
Transforming Festive Retail Experiences
Expanding beyond standard transactional shopping allows the Mark and Save Onam campaign to build lasting relationships with diverse consumer demographics by recognizing the cultural occasions that matter most to local residents.
Fasil explained that modern retail requires a deeper understanding of meaningful family occasions: “Retail today is about more than simply providing products. It is about understanding customers, recognising the occasions that matter to them and creating experiences that add value to their lives. Our Onam initiative is a reflection of that approach. We are pleased to bring together attractive offers and meaningful cultural engagement while ensuring that customers can access their festive requirements conveniently under one roof.”
By aligning its comprehensive store assortment with essential seasonal requirements — ranging from specialized traditional pantry staples to hot food counters and everyday home supplies — the retail chain establishes its physical locations as convenient, one-stop shopping destinations for families preparing to welcome the festive season.
Regional Expansion and Value Commitment
Executing large-scale seasonal initiatives relies on the expansive operational capacity and growing regional presence behind the Mark and Save Onam campaign. The brand was established as a family-centric value retail concept in May 2022 under the diversified conglomerate, Western International Group, operating a growing network of 25 stores across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
With a goal to help value-minded shoppers save money on each visit, the company has over 5,000 employees and over 200,000 varieties of products in its retail locations. Further, the brand utilizes state-of-the-art digital processes, in-store offers, and its mobile loyalty program, WeRewards, to improve the customer experience and ensure that great products are available at affordable prices.
During important cultural events, Fasil reiterated the company’s support for household budgets: “Our commitment has always been to make quality and choice accessible without placing unnecessary pressure on household budgets. During a culturally significant occasion such as Onam, that commitment becomes even more meaningful. We want families to have the freedom to celebrate their traditions, prepare their favourite festive dishes, and enjoy time together while benefiting from the value and convenience that Mark & Save provides.”
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