Giant candy store to open in gigantic Dubai mall

DUBAI (Reuters Life!) - A Dubai-based company is opening what it says will be the world's largest confectionary store in Dubai as it looks to tap demand from the Gulf Arab region's hunger for candy.

Candylicious, which initially opens in one of the world's largest shopping centres, The Dubai Mall, is also planning a second store in Singapore early next year, Sunaina Gill, director of Retail Is Detail, a Singaporean family business in Dubai told Reuters on Wednesday.

"We are planning 10-15 stores in the Gulf Arab region over the next 3-5 years, with additional stores to open in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the next 12 months," said Gill.

Dubai, one of seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates and the tourism and trade hub of the Middle East, already has the world's tallest skyscraper and one of the longest driverless train systems globally after investing billions of dollars to propel the emirate on to the international map during a six-year oil-fuelled boom.

Dubai is an ideal place for the store, said Gill, adding there was a gap and sufficient demand in the market for a confectionary store of this type, especially with 30 million visitors a year expected to visit the Dubai Mall.

Gill said the group, which will sell everything from chocolates, soda and popcorn, was aiming for sales of $10 million annually.

In addition to its sweets, the 10,000 square foot store features a huge 10-metre singing chocolate tree decorated with lollipops.

Customers will not need to necessarily have venture into the store to taste the candy. The store will also employ "Candylicious Junior", a car that will circle the mall.

(Editing by John Irish and Paul Casciato)