Toronto Lester B Pearson International airport is set to open the first part of its new terminal in just under a year?s time. And the new space is set to provide the background for a vibrant retail operation that draws on the culture of downtown Toronto. DFNI talks to Greater Toronto Airports Authority concessions manager Dan Driedzic and director properties and concessions Jack Gaum.

Greater Toronto Airports Authority director properties and concessions Jack Gaum explains how the new terminal will take shape.

After last year?s dip in fortunes, TFWA World Exhibition made a strong return to form in 2002.

In this report, we relive the (sometimes hazy) memories of duty-free?s biggest week of the year. Thanks to TFWA/Jacques Gavard for the use of selected photographs.

Tough, competitive, no quarter asked or given?and that was just the scrum for drinks during the post-match celebrations.

Over 400 people attending the TFWA World Exhibition participated in the pre-show day of sport and relaxation on Sunday October 20.

The Frontier Awards 2002, held at the Martinez Hotel, once again recognised the depth of industry retailer and supplier excellence.

A fond farewell to Roger Turner after 34 years in the industry.

King Power International Group has said the renovations of its new-look stores at Thailand?s international airports will be complete in the first quarter of 2003.

Canadian border operators have faced a tough year after the double blow of September 11 and the introduction of an export tax that instantly slashed tobacco sales volumes. But there is now a degree of optimism as the local industry looks to the future; supportive government initiatives, a hotly-contested tender and the first big international award for a Canadian border store are all indications that, despite the setbacks, Canada?s border business will go from strength to strength.

This year the Canadian government has introduced two new schemes which should help operators in the day-to-day running of their outlets.

The export tax on Canadian-manufactured tobacco is still the greatest issue facing Canadian border stores.

JAPAN. The annual review of Osaka Kansai International airport?s duty-free business has revealed the impact of intensified competition from Tokyo Narita and the continuing economic downturn on retail sales at Japan?s second biggest airport. A dip in passenger numbers since April?when a second runway was added at Narita, increasing capacity and attracting travellers away from Kansai?resulted in a disappointing summer for retail at Osaka.

DFNI website travelretailworld.com hit a new high last month by registering over 50,000 visitors for the first time across the three areas of the site, including the DFNI Confidential and TRI Confidential subscriber pages.

EU. The European Commission has arranged for a study into the payment of value added tax (VAT) on goods sold onboard ferries and aircraft travelling within the EU.

MIDDLE EAST. Aer Rianta International?Middle East (ARI?ME) is to manage Gulf Air?s inflight duty-free contract for the next three years. The operator has signed a letter of intent with Gulf Air confirming the deal. The business will be administered through Bahrain Duty Free in which ARI-ME is a leading shareholder. In related news, ARI-ME is to establish a new company in partnership with Travellers, part of the Chalhoub Group, to target new inflight retail contracts in the region.

CARIBBEAN. NXP Corp, which operates duty-free shops under the Jewels name on the island of St Thomas, has bought the three Colombian Emerald International (CEI) stores on the island, and one on St John.

INDONESIA. The duty-free business on the leading holiday island of Bali has been crippled following the devastating bomb blasts on October 3. Bali airport and Kuta downtown operator Plaza Bali Duty Free reported turnover down by 80% in line with the fall in hotel occupancy and airline passenger numbers.

FRANCE. Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has said that 5,403 delegates attended TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month, and described 1,662 as ?key buyers?, a category which saw a rise of 20% over 2001. This put buyer numbers back to 1999 and 2000 levels, according to the association.

SWITZERLAND. Swiss travel retailer Weitnauer is to split its activities into two separate divisions?Weitnauer Retail and Weitnauer Distribution. The distribution arm, described as ?non-core? by the company, will be integrated into a newly formed division, and is being prepared for sale.

ARGENTINA. The Argentinian government is to allow Argentinian tourists to purchase duty-free goods at the London Supply-operated shopping mall at Puerto Iguazu.

AUSTRALIA. Compass Duty Free?s downtown shop in Perth is moving to new, larger premises. The outlet will transfer from its downstairs site in the Murray Street Mall in central Perth to a larger upstairs space covering 540sq m (5,810sq ft).

UK. Specialist duty-free shop-fitting company CIL International is to merge with UK-based Anglo Retail Manufacturing. The deal is expected to be completed within the next four weeks.

By Dermot Davitt  Editor In Chief

UK. BAA?s retail operations continued to prove central to group profitability in results for the six months to September 30 unveiled last week. UK airport retailing, including the operations of World Duty Free Europe (WDFE), continued to perform strongly, with net retail income increasing by 5%.

UAE. Dubai Duty Free set a new monthly sales record in October, passing the Dh100m ($27.2m) figure for the first time, with sales of Dh102.6m ($27.9m). The operator also announced a new daily sales record of Dh4.36m ($1.18m), set on November 1.

The enlargement of Amsterdam Schiphol airport?s South terminal, set for completion in 2004, will allow KLM to double its retail space, giving the operator fresh options to introduce new concepts.

Independent Irish whiskey supplier Cooley Distillery has launched a new version of its Locke?s brand, which will be exclusive to duty-free.

Pernod Ricard World Trade (PRWT) has created a Jameson Irish whiskey carry-pack exclusively for the EU duty-paid channel.

Dutch soft drinks distributor Vrumona, wholly owned by leading brewer Heineken, is aiming to make its mark in travel-retail after showcasing a new range of energy drinks and ready-to-drink liquor items in Cannes last month.

Allied Domecq Duty Free (ADDF) is to launch a premium line extension to its Canadian Club whisky brand at this month?s Frontier Duty Free Association show in Vancouver.

At last month?s TFWA World Exhibition, German supplier Underberg presented what it believes is the perfect machine for making caipirinhas, Brazil?s national cocktail.

Dutch tobacco supplier Agio introduced new packaging for its best-selling brand Mehari?s at the TFWA World Exhibition last month.

The supplier of Macanudo and Hoyo de Monterrey has until now operated its travel-retail department from the UK, but the operation will be moved to General Cigar?s New York headquarters as part of its cost-cutting programme.

Kenzo Parfums is to relaunch L?Eau Par Kenzo next June.

According to director travel-retail worldwide Caroline Olive-Goument, the new M7 fragrance gives the company another pillar of strength in men?s fragrances alongside Kouros, which is also performing well.

Riviera Concepts is adding a men?s counterpart to women?s fragrance Shi.

Christian Dior has unveiled its new Capture R60/80, a new anti-ageing product.

Origins? new cream-gel is designed to restore the appearance of dehydrated skin.

Paris-based fashionwear, French art and culture, and writing instruments retailer CDG Participations has emerged the surprise winner of the gastronomy contract at the new Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) terminal 2E.

Belgian luxury chocolate supplier Neuhaus has joined forces with fine foods operator Caviar House.

Russ Berrie unveiled new versions of its Scented Teddy Bears in Cannes last month.

Premier Portfolio showed off extensions to its established Fun Plane range at last month?s TFWA World Exhibition.

Philishave has unveiled a new shaving system called Sensotec, which is claimed to deliver a personalised and ultra-comfortable shave?as enjoyed by secret agent James Bond in his latest film.

Greek jewellery company Folli Follie has defied the downturn in the tourism industry and stepped up its programme of store openings.

Swiss travel-retail distributor and retailer Niclas has opened its first travel-retail outlet in Morocco.

Meade Ray, a division of Canada?s CBM Leathergoods, has opened a European office in a bid to extend the distribution of its Roots range of small leathergoods.

The Best of British Excellence promotion runs until March 2003 and follows the successful UKwithNY festival.