KUWAIT. Aldeasa has broken its silence over the retailer's controversial victory in the duty-free tender at Kuwait airport in September

AUSTRALIA. Sydney airport has requested expressions of interest in its forthcoming duty-free tender by December 7

SWITZERLAND. Dufry Group has launched an initial public offering (IPO) for 29% of its share capital in a bid to improve funding for its ambitious expansion plans in duty-free markets around the world

It was 3am in St Petersburg and the city was rapidly running out of vodka

Regulatory challenges increasingly threaten the border duty-free business, but with better information-sharing and proper support the market still has a bright future

As we approach the end of the year, the trade can look back on a period of remarkable growth

Thirteen years ago this month DFNI reported on a story that reflects the turbulent history of trading at Warsaw airport, where it is understood that the current duty-free tender has stalled amid management changes at Polish Airports State Enterprise (PPL)

A year ago Abu Dhabi International airport was a single-terminal facility. Now the location has three, with a fourth to follow next year. By 2010 the emirate will be home to a new airport. John Rimmer discovers how retailer Abu Dhabi Duty Free is keeping up with the pace of change

Competitors have been critical of Aldeasa's bid in the Kuwait duty-free tender, which was more than twice the amount offered by its nearest rival. John Gallagher went to Madrid to talk to one of the most well-travelled executives in the travel-retail business, Aldeasa international commercial director Daniel Montero

Despite enduring political tension in Lebanon, the country's capital remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the eastern Mediterranean. John Rimmer visited Beirut to find out how airport retailer Beirut Duty Free is capitalising on the potential

YSL Beauté president and CEO Chantal Roos talks to Tina Milton about acquisition, consolidation and how a cosmetics push is at the forefront of the company's strategy

While cigars have traditionally been synonymous with luxury, over the past few years consumers have become increasingly driven by price. Gavin Lipsith examines the implications for suppliers and their brands

While the trend for budget cigars increases, developments at the premium end of the category have continued apace. DFNI analyses how retailers across the world have invested in their cigar offers this year

As Oman begins to tap into its potential as a centre for ecological, sports and leisure tourism, Muscat Duty Free is poised to take advantage. John Rimmer visited the retailer, which has doubled sales in less than three years in business

Fuelled by the aggressive expansion of its owner Qatar Airways, Qatar Duty Free claims to be among the fastest-growing travel-retail operations in the world. John Rimmer went to Doha to explore one of the Middle East's most promising retail locations

On November 21, Cecil Macdonald chairman John Sankey celebrated 50 years at one of the UK's best-established distributors to the ferry, cruise, airline and airport markets. Here DFNI pays tribute to a true industry stalwart

As the popularity of sunglasses continues to increase, the category has been enjoying steady growth in travel-retail. But this success can only be sustained if retailers and suppliers acquire a better eye for merchandising, writes Kevin Rozario

JORDAN. Aldeasa's duty-free sales in Jordan during 2005 are at record levels, international commercial director Daniel Montero has told DFNI

CANADA. Duty-free distributor DFX Distribution parent company Beler Holdings is offering a third-party logistics service to suppliers after updating its automated stock system

SOUTH AFRICA. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is to build a second terminal at Johannesburg International airport in 2012

US. Duty Free Americas (DFA) has opened a new outlet at the Peace Bridge crossing between the US and Canada, offering a different format to its other stores on the northern US border

AFRICA. Tourvest Duty Free has reported double-digit dollar sales growth across all its airline concessions compared with 2004

CANADA. The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) honoured Canada's best duty-free stores at its annual convention in Vancouver last month

US. Miami International airport is seeking proposals for eight retail packages covering 27 outlets in its north and south terminals

MALTA. The Nuance Group has completed its purchase of Air Supplies and Catering with local partners Airport Investments—part of the Bianchi Group of Companies—and Demajo Holdings

RUSSIA. Duty-free space at Moscow Domodedovo is to increase by 50% next year to 1,500sq m (16,140sq ft)

UAE. Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF) is to relocate its duty-free store in the departures area of Al Ain airport on the United Arab Emirates' border with Oman. The store will be moved from the first to the ground floor by the end of this year in a bid to encourage greater footfall

MONTENEGRO. Tivat airport, one of only two international airports in Montenegro, has called a duty-free tender that has attracted interest from Balkan operators and international companies such as Gebr Heinemann

LEBANON. Beirut Duty Free has completed a substantial expansion of its beauty store at Beirut airport, adding about 120sq m (1,290sq ft) of space

INDIA. Travellers at India's international airports will from now on be allowed to pay for duty-free goods with Indian rupees, a first for the country's duty-free trade

PANAMA. The tender for duty-free at Panama City International airport has been suspended following concerns voiced by local duty-free operators at a meeting with airport authority Tocumen last month (DFNI November 15)

CANADA. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is studying three border crossings and two airports with a view to launching duty-free tenders

SINGAPORE. Retail tenders for several key concessions at Singapore Changi's new low-cost terminal have received little response

LATVIA. Riga International airport is holding tenders for a series of new retail concepts at its existing terminal, in a bid to improve the low returns it receives from commercial space

Diageo has boosted its presence in the duty-free Scotch malt whisky category with the introduction of eight new limited-edition single malt whiskies, four of which come from closed distilleries

US company World Spirits & Wine Brands has launched a super- premium Chinese vodka aimed at bars in western cities, specialist domestic retailers and duty-free operators worldwide

Alizé International has launched a vodka and cognac-based liqueur exclusive to the leading travel retailer DFS Group

Low-cost carrier JetBlue has signed an agreement with US discount wine retailer Best Cellars to supply its inflight wine programme from December 1

Independent Portuguese port wine house JH Andresen has introduced a new gift pack targeted at the duty-free and travel-retail channels

Philip Morris is testing a new travel-retail configuration for its Marlboro brand at Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF), with a view to rolling out the product to other markets if successful. The supplier chose Abu Dhabi to test demand for a pack of three 20-stick boxes of Marlboro designed as an impulse buy for travelling smokers.

Spanish flag carrier Iberia is to withdraw tobacco products from its inflight offer from January 1 2006. Sources close to the airline confirmed that Iberia has sent a letter informing its tobacco suppliers of the decision

The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has allocated C$10,000 ($8,400) to fund lobbying during the year ahead, including taking action on the long-standing export tax on domestically-produced tobacco

Alfa Brands is renewing its push to sell Prime Time cigarillos in duty-free markets following a vote of confidence by Canada's border store operators

Alien, the new women's fragrance from Thierry Mugler Parfums, was presented at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month. The launch is designed to strengthen the group's hold on the fragrances market following the success of Angel and to create another pillar for Mugler, a division of Clarins Group

ITF has introduced women's fragrance Ferre, an edp which, according to ITF export manager Marcio dos Santos, "successfully incorporates the elements of the fashion brand"

The new twin fragrance concept from Parfums de Paris, Jaguar Fresh, was previewed at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month

Estée Lauder division Aramis and Designer Fragrances plans to capitalise on the success of the DKNY Be Delicious franchise with the launch of travel-retail exclusive Delicious Kisses. The pink version of the original fragrance Be Delicious will be launched in spring 2006.

Lancôme has revised its initial plans for the Hypnôse fragrance owing to its popularity in Europe since its launch in September. According to Lancôme international marketing manager travel-retail worldwide Françoise Boisseaud, an edt will be launched "very quickly" to support the edp. The edp was scheduled for launch in Asia and the US from February

Beauté Prestige International (BPI) chief operating officer Eric Henry has called for stronger partnerships between travel retailers and suppliers to help drive spend per passenger. He expressed concern that passenger levels are growing much faster than the business they are generating

A focus on cosmetics sales has helped to boost worldwide sales at Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), according to YSL Beauté president and CEO Chantal Roos

Gebr Heinemann has reported strong sales following the introduction of the Beauty Lounge promotion at its Frankfurt airport shop in terminal 1B east last month

Italian premium chocolate manufacturer Venchi has opened a shop-in-shop at Venice airport under a five-year contract with operator Airport Elite. The 15sq m (159sq ft) space in the duty-free shop, which is located beyond passport control, is Venchi's fourth airport store after it opened two shops at Rome Fiumicino in 2000 and another at Turin in 2003

Caffe Florian, one of Venice's most notable landmarks, is continuing its push into travel-retail. It returned to Cannes for a second TFWA World Exhibition appearance last month where it launched two chocolate items—Spicy Chilli Pepper and Rum & Raisin—and two liqueurs

Belgian praline manufacturer Leonidas believes it is well-placed to make a significant travel-retail breakthrough after developing a range of pre-packs and building recognition for the brand in Asia/Pacific through its presence in several regional domestic chains

Cadbury Schweppes International Travel Retail (CSITR) has begun a concentrated push behind the Adams chewing gum business, which it purchased two years ago, and is formulating a travel-retail strategy for the Fair Trade organic chocolate brand Green & Black's, which it acquired this summer

Godiva Chocolatier is considering what action to take after learning that rival companies have questioned the origin of its chocolates, claiming that they aren't all made at its Brussels factory

Electronics supplier Braun has released its assessment of the traffic visiting the Braun stand at TFWA World Exhibition

The Asian airport outlets of news and books chain WH Smith have been rebranded after their acquisition by HDS Retail Asia Pacific earlier this year. HDS Retail—part of Hachette Distribution Services—has rebranded eight of its WH Smith's Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) outlets under the Relay fascia

US-based retail vending machines operator Zoom Systems is preparing to introduce a series of gifts to its range

Victorinox, maker of the original Swiss army knives, has appointed Silonyx to distribute its Swiss army products on domestic and travel-retail markets in the UK

Swatch Group brand Tissot plans to work with retailers to develop product promotions for its T-Navigator 3000 range, which is priced slightly higher than Tissot's other items. The supplier wants to allocate special areas to the high technology touch-screen watch so customers can watch demonstrations by staff and ask questions about the product

Richemont-owned brand Montblanc has launched its first jewellery range for domestic and travel-retail markets

UK-based sterling silver and diamond jewellery supplier Hot Diamonds has achieved a 300% year-on-year increase in duty-free sales as a result of a more focused approach to the channel. Parent company Historic Originals has also revealed plans for a new range, Hot Gold

Samsonite's return as an exhibitor at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month could mark a turning point for the brand, the company has suggested

US sports apparel specialist Duty Free Golf (DFG) has been awarded the duty-free distribution rights for the Bobby Jones line of accessories and casual apparel, adding to its existing distribution deals for the Callaway and Pebble Beach brands. Presented for the first time at TFWA World Exhibition last month, the brand complements the company's existing portfolio

Italian eyewear supplier Safilo Group has signed a licensing agreement with German fashion brand Hugo Boss. The deal covers the design, production and worldwide distribution of Boss and Hugo eyewear collections

Duty-free surfwear retailer beachculture, which has stores at Australia's main airports including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, has formed a joint venture with Australian surfwear and apparel group Billabong International

Danish toy brand Lego is launching its range of children's apparel into the travel-retail market through its licensee Kabooki

The presentation of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses at last month's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes could pave the way for the brand's development at the heart of Luxottica's travel-retail portfolio in 2006

UK men's clothing and accessories company Simon Carter has opened its first airport outlet, at London City, with more UK airport locations in the pipeline