User:Jasenlee/Blue Square - Israel

Alon Blue Square, also referred to as Blue Square Israel, is part of the Alon Group, which operates mainly in the retail and energy fields in Israel and the United States, through its holdings in Alon Blue Square (retail and energy in Israel), Alon USA, and Alon Gas (energy in Israel).

The company operates in five major operating segments and is the largest retail company in the State of Israel.

Blue Square is one of the two leading food retailers in Israel, operating supermarkets under the “Mega,” “Mega in Town” and “Shefa Shuk” brands.

Blue Square also owns a 60% interest in "Central Warehouse/Toy Village", which sells housewares, gifts, toys, dollar-store items, baby products and other non-food items, through a chain of franchises. Central Warehouse/Toy Village is also the majority shareholder of Vardinon Textile Ltd., a public company listed on the TASE, which designs, markets and sells textile products in Israel.

As part of our retail operations in Israel, we are also the franchisee of Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Israel.

BSRE owns approximately 100 properties with a total area of approximately 146,000 square meters, consisting primarily of supermarkets rented by the Blue Square, and approximately 70,000 square meters of building rights for industrial, commercial and residential use in Israel.

Following BSRE's IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the company is contemplating, as part of its strategy to increase shareholder value, to conduct new and independent real estate initiatives in Israel and abroad.

Blue Square is one of the two leading supermarket chains in Israel. With three supermarket brands and 180 stores, Blue Square provides millions of satisfied customers with value for money and an enormous variety of high-quality items and services.

Blue Square’s three brands include:


 * MEGA: Israel’s leading supermarket chain, with large stores that offer a vast variety of food and non-food items at everyday fair prices
 * MEGA IN TOWN: neighborhood stores that offer personal service and products to address local needs
 * SHEFA SHUK: hard-discount stores that also address the particular needs of the Orthodox community

As proven through ongoing, independent surveys, the Israeli public rates each of these formats as providing extraordinary value for money.

Blue Square is currently carrying out an expansion program with the goal of making all three of its brands accessible to each and every Israeli shopper. In addition, Blue Square continually evaluates the market to assure that its brands meet the needs of the Israeli population.

In addition, Blue Square operates an online shopping service called Blue Center.

In the Fueling and Commercial Sites segment, Alon Blue Square through its 63.13% subsidiary, which is listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange ("TASE"), Dor Alon Energy in Israel (1988) Ltd is one of the four largest fuel retail companies in Israel based on the number of petrol stations and a leader in the field of convenience stores operating a chain of 211 petrol stations and 220 convenience stores in different formats in Israel. In its supermarket segment, Alon Blue Square, as a pioneer in the modern food retail, through its 100% subsidiary, Mega Retail Ltd., currently operates 150 supermarkets under different formats, each offering a wide range of food products, "Near Food" products and "Non-Food" products at varying levels of service and pricing. In its "Houseware and textile" segment, Alon Blue Square, through its TASE traded 77.51% subsidiary, Na'aman Group (NV) Ltd. Operates specialist outlets in self-operation and franchises and offers a wide range of "Non-Food" products as retailer and wholesaler. In the Real Estate segment, Alon Blue Square, through its TASE traded 53.92% subsidiary Blue Square Real Estate Ltd., owns, leases and develops income producing commercial properties and projects. In addition, Alon Blue Square operates the issuance and clearance of gift certificates, and through Diners Club Israel Ltd., an associate held at 36.75%, which operates in the sector of issuance and clearance of YOU credit cards to the customer club members of the group.

Blue Square continues to expand its sales of Non-Food (home textiles, toys, housewares, “dollar store” items, etc.) and Near-Food (including health and beauty aids, baby supplies, cleaning supplies, etc.) items as a key to building its revenues and profits.

In line with this approach, Blue Square owns 60% of Hamachsan Hamerkazi Kfar Hasha’ashuim Ltd. (Central Warehouse/Toy Village), which sells toys, “dollar store” items, houseware, baby products, etc. through a chain of franchise stores and through non-food sections in the Mega stores.

As part of its growth strategy and goal to strengthen its positioning and expand its offering, Central Warehouse/Toy Village acquired the controlling share of Vardinon Textile Ltd. (TASE:WRDT) in April 2007. Vardinon Textile is one of Israel's leading textile designers and retailers.

Blue Square launched the You credit card and Customer Loyalty program together with Dor Alon, an associated company from the Alon Group. Blue Square and Dor Alon together represent two of the major categories on the monthly "spending list" of an average Israeli family - Food and Fuel. The You club leverages the strength of the Alon Group and is designed to provide loyal customers of the Alon Group of companies with special benefits and true value for their money. The You credit card provides customers with exclusive benefits, such as a cash-back mechanism, special monthly coupons, discounts and benefits at Alon subsidiaries, and at other businesses that join the Loyalty Plan. This club plans to become a platform for offering a variety of new products, such as vacation packages, personal loans and others. In connection with the establishment of the Loyalty Program, Blue Square and Dor Alon purchased 49% of the shares of Diners Club Israel Ltd., subject to agreed upon conditions and milestones.

Media

 * Israel Post
 * YouPhone
 * Eco 99 FM Radio
 * 103 FM

Real Estate

 * Blue Square Real Estate, was established to manage and enhance Blue Square's real estate assets.

Fast Food
Fast Food operations in Israel include a network of Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets, some of which are jointly situated and operated. They are currently the only Pizza Hut and KFC franchises in Israel.

Online
Blue Center - Hard to find info on this / maybe delete

Other
Mr. David Wiessman is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of ALON USA. The company was formed in August 2000 after ALON Israel Oil Co., LTD (ALON Israel) purchased the downstream assets of Atofina Petrochemicals, Inc. (FINA).