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SCANDINAVIA. Nordic duty-free operators are braced for a new threat to their business following the Norwegian government's decision, announced on June 17, to allow arrivals duty-free shopping in the country's airports
SOUTH AFRICA. Ambitious inflight retailer Tourvest Duty Free is to discuss potential acquisition targets in the coming weeks, the company's new CEO Ian Hay has told DFNI
US. Documents from the recent duty-free tender at Miami International airport reveal a tight contest in the non-financial process, with technical bids submitted by Duty Free Americas, Brasif and The Nuance Group placed within one percentage point of each other
Insight
If you had to choose a product category that acts as a weathervane for travel-retail today, one that hints at where the prevailing wind might take us, what would it be?
It's not often that the travel-retail industry is able to salute governmental and political bodies for their common sense, as any veteran of the 1999 campaign in Europe will confirm.
European retailers and suppliers might be forgiven for hoping that after years of investment in costly marketing campaigns, the region's travellers are better informed than ever on what they can and can't buy duty-free, and why prices vary according to destination
The latest index of the French travel-retail trade may have changed format, with liquor, tobacco and beauty products separated rather than grouped together, but the challenges the market faces remain clear
Watching a one-horse race is never much fun
People & Company
Estée Lauder Companies vice-president and general manager travel retailing Europe, Middle East and Africa Stéphane Beraud has left the company
The Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) has released details of its events schedule for December following a board meeting at TFWA Asia Pacific last month
Experienced duty-free executive Alan Edwards is to join Alpha Airports Group's Asia division as buying controller
More people news
The European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) has re-elected Frank O'Connell as president after a unanimous vote during the trade association's first annual general meeting in Paris on June 22
Features
Technological advances on board the new Airbus A380, such as servers and wireless systems, could revolutionise the inflight shopping experience and reduce hassle for inflight retailers. Tina Milton reports
Some operators seem to sell confectionery as an afterthought. But that is far from true for Brussels Zaventem airport retailer Belgian Sky Shops. Michael Eaton travels to Belgium and discovers how the operator has developed premium chocolate retailing into an art form
White chocolate is big business in Australia but remains a relatively niche segment elsewhere. Yet the sub-category still has a role to play in the wider confectionery market. Michael Eaton asks manufacturers and retailers about its appeal
Travel Retail Norway, the joint venture between Gebr Heinemann and Esthétique Norge, is set to become a force in Nordic duty-free. Gavin Lipsith reports from the opening of its flagship store at Oslo International airport last month, where he spoke to the people driving the project
As the European aviation market expands to accommodate new airlines, Lorna Strickland talks to Alpha Inflight Retail managing director Paul Possamai about the concessionaire's strategy for growth
Just over a year after inflight retailer Tourvest Duty Free
took over the Virgin Atlantic Airways concession, new CEO Ian Hay tells Gavin Lipsith that the company is seeking acquisitions in the inflight sector and beyond
Retail News Analysis
Companies wishing to attend this year's ASUTIL conference will qualify for a discounted "early bird" delegate rate if they register before the end of July
DENMARK. The Nuance Group has completed the renovation of its flagship store at Copenhagen Kastrup airport in a bid to improve penetration and sales at the location
FRANCE. The first sales index of 2005 to be issued by French travel-retail body Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) reveals disappointing sales figures in certain categories despite an overall increase in passenger traffic
ARGENTINA. Border and airport operator London Supply is to invest Ps15m ($5.2m) in renovation and expansion at El Calafate airport in southern Argentina
FRANCE. Marseille Provence airport has launched a tender for its duty-free concession
GERMANY. Hugo Boss and Nike will top the list of brands in Frankfurt airport's new-look terminal one pier B landside shopping lounge, the first phase of which is due to open later this year
ETHIOPIA. Retailer Ethiopian Tourist Trading Enterprise (ETTE) has recorded a 9.4% year-on-year sales increase to Birr62.8m ($7.2m) for the nine months ending in March
SPAIN. Aldeasa president Javier Gomez Serrano has confirmed that formal negotiations with airport authority AENA are under way in an effort to find a solution to the dispute between the two companies over rental payments at AENA's network of airports in Spain
DFNI publisher Raven Fox is to host the second Baltic and East European Travel Retail Conference in St Petersburg, Russia on November 23–25 this year
UK. As DFNI went to press French operator Aelia was preparing to move into its new 1,000sq m (10,760sq ft) main store at London Luton airport
CANADA. Border operators have welcomed proposals to almost triple the duty-free allowance for returning Canadians and US visitors, recommended in an interim report by the Canadian Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
SWITZERLAND. The Nuance Group is adapting its duty-free stores at Zürich airport's Airside Center to better accommodate cross-selling
UK. Cruiseship spa and retail concessionaire Harding Bros has reported that its investment in systems and training last year has prepared the company for rapid growth
ITALY. Italian travel retailer Meridian Duty Free plans to increase its shop portfolio from two to five outlets
BULGARIA. The competition procedure for the renewal of duty-free contracts at border stores in Bulgaria has emerged as one of the sticking points of the country's new Duty-Free Trade Bill
CYPRUS. Aer Rianta International (ARI) is close to securing build-operate-transfer contracts to run Larnaca and Paphos airports in Cyprus despite the latest delay to the selection process
NETHERLANDS. After a year of promising growth, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is expecting a fall in inflight retail sales in the coming financial year, director of inflight sales Koos Kruijswijk has told DFNI
MOROCCO. Aeroboutique Sales Group has won the duty-free concession on board Moroccan low-cost airline Atlas Blue, a subsidiary of flag carrier Royal Air Maroc
LATVIA. Riga International Airport has revealed further details of its plans for the new North terminal, now under construction and due to welcome its first passengers next year
Liquor & Wines
UK start-up firm The Active Vodka Company has launched a vodka-based spirit, designed as an alternative to the popular nightclub mix of vodka and Red Bull
The European Commission has given Pernod Ricard clearance to go ahead with its £7.5bn ($13.7bn) acquisition of Allied Domecq, in partnership with Jim Beam owner Fortune Brands
Keflavik airport retailer Duty Free Store has enjoyed a rise in sales of its more expensive wines since it ran an 80-hour in-house training course, which finished in April
More liquor and wine news
Aer Rianta International subsidiary Kyiv Duty Free was presented with a Diageo Golden Still award last month for its Johnnie Walker Red Label promotion, which ran during the Christmas period last year
Tobacco Products
World Duty Free (WDF) will become the first UK travel retailer to receive Cuban cigar supplier Habanos' coveted Gold Specialist status when its Cigar House stores at London Heathrow airport are honoured this month
A ruling by a provincial court in the Philippines could help travel retailers overturn the government's recent decision to make tobacco and liquor products sold in duty-free outlets subject to excise duties and VAT.
Swiss cigar supplier Oettinger Davidoff has introduced a robusto variant designed exclusively for inflight retail
UK supplier Imperial Tobacco and Dubai Duty Free have presented a Dubai shopper with the top prize for Imperial luxury cigarette brand Davidoff's 2004 promotion campaign Celebrate the World
More tobacco news
Fragrances
International Duty Free Shops (IDFS) Morocco has recorded a 13% increase in beauty sales in the first five months of 2005 across its eight airport stores
Malaysia Airlines achieved a 20% increase in inflight sales in May compared with the previous month, and cited a rise in fragrance sales as one of the main sales drivers
The launch of P&G Beauty's Boss Baldessarini fragrance Del Mar has helped Boss to capture almost 30% of the fragrances market at Oslo International airport, according to Kay Spanger, director at Travel Retail Norway partner Gebr Heinemann
Kenzo has unveiled further details of its first travel-retail exclusive "travel spray project", details of which were first revealed in DFNI March 15
More fragrances news
Cosmetics
Concessionaire Kappé International is working with Lancôme on the design of a new personal care centre, scheduled to open at Amsterdam Schiphol airport by the end of the year
YSL Beauté is to extend its cosmetics line and update its whitening skincare range in a bid to grow its business in the sector
UK charter airline MyTravel Airways is planning to expand its range of men's skincare despite disappointing sales so far this year
Clinique is to add a new Liquid Facial Soap to its 3-Step range of Facial Soap, Clarifying Lotion and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Confectionery & Fine Foods
Belgian Sky Shops (BSS) is cutting back on its premium chocolate retail operation The Chocolate Company
Droste is counteracting the post-tsunami effect on sales in certain countries in Asia/Pacific with growth in other parts of the region
The Nuance Group and Caviar House have provided travel-retail newcomer Kshocolat with a launchpad for its innovative range of upmarket chocolates
Godiva Chocolatier has unveiled what it describes as its "biggest single launch", the Platinum Collection
Starbrook Airlines has out-performed better-known brands to claim a top-six spot in Belgian Sky Shops' (BSS) confectionery best sellers at Brussels Zaventem airport
Kraft Foods World Travel Retail Division enjoyed a sales increase of more than 50% following two big events in contrasting retail environments
Toms Confectionery has appointed Singapore-based Focus Network Agencies as a second Asia/Pacific distributor alongside Distriworld, which also operates out of Singapore
Gifts & Electronics
A new agent and distributor has entered the UK ground store duty-free market
More gifts and electronics news
Alpha Airport Shopping is to review its writing instruments selection in its speciality store at Newcastle International airport
US jewellery supplier Nob Hill has created a gifts division under its Michael Hero brand. Nob Hill mainly supplies Aurofin gold jewellery to US domestic outlets such as Bloomingdale's
Jewellery & Watches
Alpha Airport Shopping is to refurbish its speciality store at Newcastle International airport
Licensed timepiece supplier Timex has completed its purchase of Versace's precious goods division, including the brand's watch and jewellery collections
UK charter airline MyTravel Airways is seeking to introduce a range of men's jewellery products
Fashion & Leathergoods
Brussels Zaventem airport's main concessionaire, Belgian Sky Shops (BSS), opened its second standalone sunglasses shop on June 10 in the non-Schengen terminal B. It is the first of its kind to offer passengers an interactive experience
Japanese eyewear manufacturer Charmant is set to increase its travel-retail business with new representation at Qatar Duty Free and Egyptair Duty Free Shops
Following the Falic Group's acquisition of French couture label Christian Lacroix from LVMH in January, the company has confirmed that Lacroix himself will remain as artistic director
The Carlo Rino shoes and leatherwear concept arrived at Singapore Changi airport last month