CHINA. Taiwanese retailer Sunrise Duty Free is the favourite to win the duty-free tender at Beijing Capital International airport (BCIA)

MALAYSIA. Malaysia Airports is to negotiate directly with operators rather than hold open tenders for core categories at Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA)

INTERNATIONAL. German distributor and retailer Gebr Heinemann is pursuing opportunities to move into the Asian travel-retail market in a bid to guarantee long-term growth

Much like chaos theory's butterfly, which flaps its wings in Brazil and causes a tornado in Texas, policymakers, economists and stargazers everywhere are wondering how Beijing's decision to revalue the yuan will affect the rest of us further down the road. It's a move that could have a profound impact on duty-free in Asia and beyond

Among the many idiotic ideas expressed at DFNI editorial meetings, one recent suggestion might not appear so ridiculous on reflection.

More than six months after Malaysia Airports was due to publish retail tenders for Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA), details of the selection process are finally emerging, and the nature of the contest is likely to disappoint many retailers

The Irish government has named December as the deadline for a decision on the future of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, as well as that of Aer Rianta International (ARI)

The liquor industry bid a fond farewell to Allied Domecq last month, as the company's takeover by Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands was completed

A look into the DFNI archives confirms that the debate over the ideal airport contract is hardly new, yet it still arouses passions

Dufry Group has recruited Manuel Lallana as director of logistics

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Trinity Forum co-organisers TFWA and Moodie International have announced the speakers for this year's event, to be held at the Hotel Radisson Edwardian Heathrow in London on September 22–23

Support is growing for the Baltic and East European Travel Retail Conference, with Gebr Heinemann and Moscow Domodedovo International airport management company East Line the latest companies to pledge their support for the event

Godiva has ended its five-year relationship with Elizabeth Taylor Corp, which represented the Belgian chocolatier in US duty-free until July 31

Airports operator TBI Group has appointed Kathryn James as London Luton airport managing director, effective from August 5. James, currently financial director at Luton, succeeds Paul Kehoe, who resigned last month

Godiva has ended its five-year relationship with Elizabeth Taylor Corp, which represented the Belgian chocolatier in US duty-free until July 31

Cane spirit cachaça is increasingly popular away from its home market of Brazil. Joe Bates reports on Sagatiba, an ambitious premium entrant to the category that is keen to expand its travel-retail business

Duty-free operators on the Canadian border are accustomed to hearing bad news from politicians. But a recent proposal on improving security at the frontier could bring benefits for the beleaguered industry. Emily Pacey and John Rimmer report

InterBaires has a global reputation as a beauty specialist, but the operator has not neglected the liquor and wine category, as Joe Bates reports

After great initial interest the recent duty-free tender at Miami International airport attracted just four bids, with a joint submission from Duty Free Americas and Concourse Concessions securing the contract. Gavin Lipsith examines the process at one of North America's key duty-free locations

Travellers are starting to trade up to more expensive vodkas as this dynamic category begins to blossom. Joe Bates reports

As the oldest company in the industry and one of the last remaining family-owned operators, Gebr Heinemann has a unique perspective on a turbulent business. In a rare interview, co-owner Claus Heinemann and director Raoul Spanger talk to DFNI about the company's airport business and plans for growth

AFRICA. Saresco Afrique plans to extend its duty-free presence beyond its base in sub-Saharan Africa, the retailer has told DFNI

One of the biggest, most familiar and well-respected names in the spirits and wines business bid farewell to the industry last month when Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands completed the £7.6bn ($13.2bn) purchase of Allied Domecq

IRELAND. Aer Rianta International (ARI) will remain part of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) even if plans to split Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports are approved by the government later this year

CHINA. King Power Group (Hong Kong) has begun operations at four regional Chinese airports through one of its China-based subsidiaries

SERBIA. As the deadline for bids in the master retail and catering concession at Belgrade International airport nears, Gebr Heinemann has told DFNI it is not interested in bidding for the contract

PORTUGAL. Lojas Francas de Portugal (LFP) has signalled its interest in operating retail outlets at Lisbon harbour if plans to develop the port are realised

POLAND. Warsaw Frederic Chopin airport is set to issue a tender for retail space at its second terminal within months, DFNI has learned

UK. Leeds-Bradford International airport has extended Alpha Retail's duty-free contract for five years as part of its decision to maintain continuity during the airport's renovation project

CANADA. Ontario senator Colin Kenny, the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, has expressed his determination to push for an increase in duty exemptions for shoppers at the US/Canada border

US. BAA USA is to expand the retail areas at Boston Logan airport by 15,000sq m (161,400sq ft) over the next two years after securing an extension to its retail management contracts at the location until the end of 2015

ANTIGUA. VC Bird International airport is to overhaul its commercial offer early next year in preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, DFNI has learned

UK. Low-cost airline Flybe plans to revamp its onboard duty-free range in the coming months, according to newly-appointed general manager retail sales Raymond Kiersey

CANADA. Vancouver International airport has unveiled four new stores in its transborder departures area as retailers await a decision on the airport's duty-free tender

EASTERN EUROPE. Aer Rianta International (ARI) is hoping to boost its recently established trading division through securing supply contracts with duty-free retailers in Russia, the CIS and eastern Europe

INTERNATIONAL. LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton recorded a 10% increase in sales in the first six months of 2005, with sales at its Selective Retailing division—including DFS Group and beauty chain Sephora—increasing by 12%

EUROPE. Cross-border spending in Europe reached €13.9bn ($16.7bn) last year, with hotels and retail outlets capturing almost 53% of the spend, according to a new study from MasterCard Europe

UAE. Abu Dhabi Duty Free is to expand its Ghweifat store at the border between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which opened in 2002

EUROPE. Aelia is to target more markets outside its French base as part of its strategy to extend its portfolio of concessions

KUWAIT. Habchi & Chalhoub, operator of Kuwait Duty Free, is among the five pre-qualified companies to be short-listed for the duty-free contract at Kuwait International airport

Philip Morris International has reported a 2.9% increase in worldwide duty-free shipments in the second quarter of the year, with particularly strong sales in Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania

Cuban cigar supplier Habanos's co-owner Cubatabaco is to take legal action to defend its Cohiba trademark in the US

UK chief medical officer Liam Donaldson has suggested that the government should use its presidency of the EU to lower recommended cross-border tobacco allowances from 3,200 sticks to 200

Bahrain Duty Free has reported a 27.2% sales increase in the tobacco category in 2004

Kao Corp has acquired UK brand Molton Brown for £170m ($297.5m) from European private equity fund Bridgepoint Capital and the Molton Brown management team

The Lancaster Group is targeting the mature men's market with its latest Davidoff fragrance Silver Shadow

As predicted in DFNI April 15, international fragrances and cosmetics distributor Selective Beauty has acquired the worldwide licence for all brands previously owned by Diana de Silva, including Breeze, Hanorah, Montana, Cosmactive, Jean Couturier and Mauboussin

Parlux Fragrances, which produces the Paris Hilton fragrance and Andy Roddick cologne, is exploring a number of strategies to enhance shareholder value, including the possible sale of the company

Aelia is to open its first stand-alone men's fragrances and skincare store at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CdG) airport terminal D

Oasis Day Spa is to consider opening more airport spas after it unveiled a location at New York JFK airport earlier this year, in partnership with airline JetBlue Airways

Shiseido plans to develop its inflight business this year to include a presence on board three airlines in each region by the end of 2005

African retailer Saresco Afrique Group plans to extend its beauty presence at Dakar International airport in Senegal by expanding its departures store from 160sq m (1,720sq ft) to 240sq m (2,580sq ft)

French premium chocolate manufacturer Valrhona is poised to begin phase two of its expansion programme—the launch of its first selection of travel-retail exclusives

Kusmi Tea, which operated a bar and "tea appreciation" centre during its TFWA World Exhibition debut last autumn, has achieved a duty-free breakthrough after several months of discussion

Italian luxury and novelty chocolate specialist Caffarel has appointed International Duty Free Trading Agencies as its agent in Egypt and has shipped its first order to Egyptair outlets at Cairo airport

Nordic ferry operator H-H Ferries has reported record sales of liquorice confectionery this summer following the introduction of a lower-priced brand from Burton's alongside Bassett's Allsorts

UK plush toy supplier Russ Berrie has enhanced its promotional offers for travel retailers

French jewellery and homewares supplier Baccarat has introduced a range of sculptures and paperweights

US crystal giftware supplier Crystal World is to donate a proportion of sales from its latest gifts range to the City of Hope Cancer Center

UK charter airline MyTravel Airways is targeting its latest inflight products at the teenage and pre-teen markets

Alpha Airports Group is preparing to open seven speciality boutiques at Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino airports this month, as revealed on RavenFox.com (April 25)

Monaco-based jewellery firm Misaki has signalled a fresh push into the Americas travel-retail market following a deal with agency Travel Traders to distribute its products in the Brazilian and Caribbean markets

Jewellery supplier Gerzon Duty Free has introduced a new range of luxury blue velvet jewellery boxes for retailers to use with its jewellery brand Vivaldi

King Power Group (Hong Kong)'s fashion business at Singapore Changi airport has been boosted by strong luggage sales following the opening of the company's first stand-alone store in May

Singapore Changi airport last month became one of only a handful of DFS Group retail locations worldwide to sell the new limited-edition Tumi Red Trek collection

Two of the biggest fashion brands in travel-retail, Hugo Boss and Ermenegildo Zegna, have reported booming sales in the shoes sector

Italian scarves brand Alfredo Pria has entered the Hong Kong travel-retail market through a deal with Nuance-Watson (HK)

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