Aksal Group: Best ESG Clothing Conglomerate North Africa 2016

Audacity in innovation and excellence in service: the corporate philosophy that guides Morocco’s AKSAL Group encapsulates a bold spirit. The company is no less than the instigator of a revolution that transformed Morocco’s retail sector from a rather moribund affair into a driver of progress and modernity.

Operating a number of malls, department stores and other retail stores, AKSAL Group has become the go-to corporation for the world’s premier brands that want to tap into the Moroccan and West African markets. The group got its first break when it secured exclusive representation of Spanish fashion brand Zara, now eleven years ago. Showcasing its formidable retail power, AKSAL Group soon became the world’s fourth largest Zara representative by sales.

Proving irresistible for A-brands looking for high-impact partnerships, AKSAL Group managed to accumulate an enviable stable of agencies, including Gap, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, Uterqüe, La Martina, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Fendi, FNAC, amongst many others. In 2016, AKSAL is enlarging its franchise portfolio with the addition of at least five strong international brands including Tati, Maisons du Monde, and Armani Collezione.

AKSAL Group developed the 200,000m2 Morocco Mall in Casablanca which opened in 2011. The company is currently building two other large-scale Dubai-styled malls in the country’s other major cities.

More than a retail giant, AKSAL Group aims to make a significant contribution to Morocco’s human development and, to that end, launched the AKSAL Social Initiative to promote social, cultural, educational, and healthcare programmes. The initiative bundles and coordinates the programmes of the group’s different companies and also seeks to empower employees through professional training courses offered by the AKSAL Academy – a full-fledged business school set up by the company to recruit and train future employees and to help guide their career advancement.

The CFI.co judging panel recognises AKSAL Group as a driver of progress in Morocco and commends the company on its forward looking approach and dedication to excellence. The judges are extremely pleased to offer AKSAL Group the 2016 Best ESG Clothing Conglomerate North Africa Award.