Greenvalley Hypermarket

Carrefour established first hypermarket in Paris in 1963. In 1968, Jacques Pictet a French trade expert coined the term hypermarket (hupermarche). Who would have thought that five decades later we would be able to enjoy services of number of international standard hypermarkets in twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad. By definition, hypermarket is an expansive retail facility carrying wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise. As a thumb rule, following western models, covered area of a hypermarket is 8 to 20 kanals. Due to its size, such facilities are generally located in shopping malls and suburban areas accessible by automobiles supported by spacious parking lots.
Having traveled Europe and much of Middle East, my first exposure of a hypermarket in Pakistan was with Greenvalley Hypermarket situated at Bahria Town Phase 8, Rawalpindi and it was a heartwarming experience. It sprawled over 8 kanals with capacious front parking. Parking at double or triple basements was always cumbersome, not to mention the suffocating engine combusted gases trapped there. Greenvalley had all the right answers for modern lifestyle. Being resident of DHA I, it was the most convenient shopping facility providing all solutions under one roof. Couldn’t help but promote the good things this magnificent facility had to offer. With the passage of time, innovative improvements like use of front lawns for kids adventure sports, fresh food serving next to entrance and desi breakfast on weekend all added to an overarching shopping and dinning experience at this magnificent hypermarket.
Unlike a fairytale where everyone lived happily ever after, I was unimpressed by sale of a spoiled cake on birthday of my son. I returned with the cake, fuming with anger and asked for management for answers. There, I came to know that there was an elaborate system of customer service. Even one could call the country head from his displayed number on the desk. My call was answered by the country head. Before I hung up, GM Greenvalley Mr Naveed Khan was standing next to me whom I found to be a thorough gentleman. He took me to his office and not only he handled the situation brilliantly, he also presented my son with a birthday gift as a goodwill gesture. And guess what, on services part, Greenvalley again carried the day because attracting customers for extravagant façade is one thing and retaining customers with personal touch is definitely the next level of management and service.
Real endorsement came from my close friend visiting from Manchester who happened to be part of security of hypermarkets in UK. After a brief visit to Greenvalley, he was pleasantly surprised and at the same time he felt sad. Surprised for the availability of such remarkable shopping facility in the heart of residential areas, more so, in his reckoning Greenvalley outdone any other hypermarket in UK for its inventory management, space management and price control. And he felt sad for being away from home where better quality of life has already surpassed Europe with such facilities in range. There goes the whole idea of leaving ones homeland for better life in the west.
Quite recently, I went for little shop-stop at Greenvalley during heavy rainfall and was amazed to see the GM marshaling his team of helpers to see off the customers to their cars providing umbrellas from the store. Such consideration, attention to detail and customer care is only found in management course books and I had the privilege to experience it firsthand.
Finally, Greenvalley Hypermarket epitomizes the concept of quality lifestyle where you get all household solutions under one roof where quality is not just limited to fancy display but real time customer care and after sales services. With this kind of wholesome package, where else would one like to go for shopping.