Samuel Kauffmann, one of the most experienced and respected duty-free executives in the Americas, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the industry at the ASUTIL South American duty-free conference in Montevideo.

The Dixons Group is Europe?s largest specialist retailer of consumer electronics. But as the company's key UK market approaches saturation point, what will be the company?s next move? Step forward director of airport trading and Ireland Bryan Magrath, appointed this spring with the brief: go forth and multiply. Rebecca Mann reports.

Operators at Keflavik airport in Iceland have not been immune to the recent downturn in traffic. Although the airport authority introduced some relief measures, retailers are calling for more. And now tensions are rising over the forthcoming retail tender. Gavin Lipsith investigates.

Those who question the importance of the duty-free trade shows should look to Icemart?s Iceland Coca-Cola store as an example of the innovation that can come from those events.

As well as participating in a general advertising campaign aimed at highlighting airport savings, national carrier Icelandair is looking for other ways to boost sales after cutting its schedule.

Vibrant forum for new ideas?or the category where time stands still? The liqueurs sector is a bit of both. The established brands remain staples of the duty-free liquor offer, but there are signs that new trends are emerging: with milder liqueurs, featuring cream or fruit flavours, coming out on top. John Rimmer reports.

Electronics is not an easy category to sell, but for the companies prepared to put in time and effort, the rewards make it all worthwhile. By Rebecca Mann.

?Know thy customer? has never been a more important principle for anyone involved in tax-free electronics.

An arbitrator has ruled against Aer Rianta International (ARI) Pakistan in the operator?s long-running legal battle with the state-owned Civil Aviation Authority.

Imperial Tobacco ceo Gareth Davis has told DFNI that his company could soon be ready to make another acquisition, following the purchase of German supplier Reemtsma.

Passion: that?s the key to whisky retailing according to The Nuance Group, whose Whisky World concept at Copenhagen Kastrup airport was recently extended with the introduction of a store in the new Atrium shopping complex. As the choice for the connoisseur expands, John Rimmer talks to the retailer about new trends at Denmark?s whisky paradise.

William Grant & Sons may be famous for its eponymous blend, but in duty-free the supplier?s single malt and premium products are driving sales. Duty-free director Bob Downing says William Grant?s extended Glenfiddich family remains a worthy leader of the single malt category in travel-retail.

The launch of The Macallan Elegancia, a new single malt whisky exclusive to duty-free is just one element of supplier Highland Distillers? new focus on the travel-retail market.

URUGUAY. Over 130 delegates gathered for a lively ASUTIL 2002 duty-free conference in Montevideo on September 4?6, co-organised by regional association ASUTIL and DFNI publisher Raven Fox.

ROMANIA. The Romanian Transport Ministry has issued a decree abolishing duty- and tax-free sales at the country?s airports. The ?emergency governmental ordinance?, issued on September 11, restricts duty-free activity to border stores, airlines and diplomatic sales. It gave no reasons for the move, but DFNI understands the official motive behind the decision was Romania?s preparations for EU membership, which the country is not due to attain until 2007.

FRANCE. French airport authority Aéroports de Paris (AdP) is considering a move into directly-operated airport retail after inviting operators to submit proposals to create a joint-venture company to run the duty-free liquor, tobacco and fragrances concession at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport terminals A, B, C, D, E and F.

US. Government authorities are examining regulations that determine which so-called ?hazardous materials? are allowed onboard aircraft. At present, liquor and fragrance bottles purchased in duty-free shops are exempt under the rules for flammable materials. The International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) is to respond by making a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to persuade the authorities that duty-free products should remain exempt.

PAKISTAN. An arbitrator has ruled against Aer Rianta International (ARI) Pakistan in the operator?s long-running legal battle with the state-owned Civil Aviation Authority. The operator was ordered to pay the landlord $9.5m in concession fees, a share of its turnover and electricity charges between September 1994 and April 2002. But ARI claimed the award by the arbitrator was not binding, and said it was not the end of the matter. The company said it was considering its position with its legal advisors.

CANADA. Duty Free Air & Ship Supply (DFASS) has won the duty-free concession onboard Canadian charter airline Air Transat, which previously operated its own duty-free programme. The three-year contract begins on November 6. DFNI understands that Inflight Sales Group was the other bidder for the contract.

CYPRUS. The Nuance Group has joined forces with Cyprus-based travel, trade and distribution company Francoudi & Stephanou to ?exploit retail opportunities? at the island?s international airports. Nuance holds a 51% equity interest in The Nuance Group (Cyprus) joint venture, while Francoudi & Stephanou owns the remaining 49%.

FRANCE. Two of France?s leading travel retailers, HFP Phénix and Aelia, are to create a joint-venture company to run the duty-free fashion concession at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport?s new terminal 2E, set to open on June 17 2003. Phénix will hold 75% of shares in the as-yet unnamed venture, and will have responsibility for day-to-day management and purchasing decisions.

ARGENTINA. Airport operator Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 is expected to sign a joint-venture agreement with the Bulgarian government at the end of this month to develop and manage Sofia International airport.

By Dermot Davitt  Editor In Chief

FRANCE. Tax Free World Association has announced that over 440 stands have been reserved at the TFWA World Exhibition, which begins on October 21 in Cannes.

Elegancia was introduced to World Duty Free?s UK outlets last month, and Macallan global marketing manager David Robertson said the launch was evidence of the supplier?s commitment to travel-retail.

Californian winemaker Wente Vineyards has unveiled the latest in its range of duty-free and travel-retail exclusive items.

The European Court of Justice has rejected an appeal by UK tobacco suppliers British American Tobacco (BAT) and Imperial Tobacco over new labelling regulations.

UK-based Designer Parfums is to launch its recently acquired Ocean Dream fragrance brand in UK and US markets.

Cosmopolitan Cosmetics has unveiled a women?s fragrance in the Montblanc line. The company hopes the addition of Presence d?Une Femme will reinforce Montblanc?s position as a global master brand.

Incos, manufacturer of the So...? fragrance brand targeted at teenagers, has appointed Bonardo Travel Retail worldwide duty-free agent for its fragrances in global duty-free markets.

The luxury products division of Nihon L?Oréal, the Japanese subsidiary of L?Oréal based in Tokyo, introduced Giorgio Armani Cosmetics to three department stores in Tokyo last month.

Neuhaus sales & marketing director Bart Van Acker told DFNI: ?Asia is an area that is developing well. There are people willing to invest in the future."

Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) has given the Tigger character a leading role alongside Winnie The Pooh in an attempt to broaden the appeal of its Smarties gift packs.

Virgin Atlantic has added a Cabin Crew Sindy Doll to its range of inflight products.

Keeping up with product innovation is one of the biggest challenges facing tax-free electronics retailers, according to For Leaders Only ceo Sylviane Kerckhof.

The Pen Shop sees the comeback this month of the classic Parker 51 pen.

Bvlgari is rolling out an exclusive travel-retail collection featuring jewellery, watches and fragrance products.

An ADDF spokesperson told DFNI: ?We have restructured our shopping concept so that the very high-end brands are grouped together on the lower level of the shopping complex."