BARAKA Exhibition, a name synonymous with sports goods in Bahrain, plans to provide the latest quality equipment to commercial concerns as well as individuals, with a focus on hotels and large fitness centres.

“Hotels, condominiums, gyms, spas, salons and schools all look for quality when buying equipment. We provide them just that,” says Abduljalil Abdulla Akhund Awadhi, the company’s general manager.

He says that consultants of major construction projects can confidently choose Baraka, adding that the company handles and holds agencies of many famous brands in the field and deals with several well-known international suppliers.

“With the uptrend in installation of sport facilities and gyms within newly-developed apartment buildings, villas and clubs, the demand for a professional approach to such set-ups has increased. To bridge this gap, the company opened an exclusive showroom for heavy-duty fitness equipment in the centre of Manama,” says Awadhi.

Baraka is currently promoting renowned brands such as Matrix, Vision Fitness and Bodysolid for the commercial and institutional sector; and products from Horizon Fitness for the residential market.

Awadhi says that the Matrix treadmills, models T7xe and T7x, are supplied by Matrix Fitness Systems, a company that makes high-quality commercial fitness equipment. Matrix is a subsidiary of Johnson Health Tech, which has been producing premium fitness equipment since 1975 and is among the fastest growing manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world.

The T7xe is a state-of-the-art machine that is integrated with a 15-inch touch-screen display using FitTouch technology. It is also fitted with Vista Clear Television, which offers the most vibrant picture quality in the industry.

The machine is compatible with iPod for video and audio playback, charging and on-screen playlist selection and comes with an integrated wireless data transmitter. In addition, the Ultimate Deck System provides superior performance and durability. Other features include an integrated personal fan, a 22-inch-wide belt for an added sense of security and freedom and a Dynamic Response drive system.

The T7x comes with the same features, except that it has a seven-inch LCD display instead of touch screen as in the other version.

“Matrix’s equipment can be seen in fitness centres and gyms from Latin American countries to the Far East countries, which speaks volumes about its acceptance by those who care about quality,” says Awadhi.

Business for the company was booming until the start of the financial downturn, and although fairly good in 2009, dropped further last year (2010).

To offset the drop in sales and maintain its competitive edge, the company has been expanding its range. Awadhi elaborates: “We have absorbed many new products within our range. Instead of selling just conventional sporting and exercise equipment, we have diversified our concentration to sports flooring, sports courts, artificial football turf, among other products. We have carried out an extensive renovation of our showroom in Hoora, giving it a new look. We have, at the same time adopted a new logo that portrays our business even better.”

Baraka is part of the Abdulla M Hassan Akhundawazi Group of Companies, which has its roots in Qatar, and is one of the oldest companies registered in Bahrain. Over the years, it has diversified into many areas as importer and exporter, retail and wholesale trader, garments manufacturer, real estate, information technology and other sectors. Presently, the group consists of the following units: Al Awazi Establishment; Akhund Awazi Stores in Dubai and Bahrain; Baraka Exhibition; Baraka Projects; Baraka Sports Company, Kuwait; Pro-image (US franchise); and New Horizons Computer Learning Centre.

Baraka came into being in 1981, when a retail outlet was opened by the name of Baraka Exhibition, which specialised in sporting goods, sport garments, footwear, accessories and exercise equipment. Baraka is involved in retail and wholesale trading of sporting and fitness equipment. It also undertakes supply and installation of gym equipment, gym flooring, PVC flooring for public areas, playground equipment, sports courts, and artificial turf for football grounds. The company has a separate showroom for commercial products.