Add to Favorite
Magazine 
Magazine
Cover Stories
HUNGARY. Hungarian Duty Free (HDF) has won the tender to run retail at Budapest Ferihegy's renovated terminal one.
KUWAIT. In a move that will attract the attention of leading international travel retailers, Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued pre-qualification documents for the duty-free business at Kuwait International airport
FRANCE. Société Distribution Aéroportuaire (SDA), the joint venture formed by Aelia and Aéroports de Paris (AdP) in 2003, has won the tender to operate liquor, tobacco and beauty retail at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport's renovated terminal one
Insight
A record turnout at the TFWA Asia Pacific tobacco workshop last month confirmed the industry's "play hard, work harder" ethos, with delegates attending the 8.30am briefing despite the previous night's busy social schedule
The much-touted low-cost aviation boom has well and truly arrived in Asia/Pacific. So why are retailers so downbeat?
The issuing of pre-qualification documents last month ahead of a possible retail tender at Kuwait International airport puts the spotlight on one of the Middle East's less celebrated duty-free locations
This year's GATE One conference featured a number of absorbing presentations, many of which discussed the merits of privatisation in the airport sector
The news that Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) is close to an agreement with the members of the Skyteam airline alliance to switch their operations to the new terminal two SkyPlaza comes as a relief to potential tenants of the airport's revolutionary new facility
Judging by the debate at last week's Nordic Travel Retail Seminar, the "image crisis" that many believe plagues the Scandinavian industry has yet to ease
Some, rightly or wrongly, will have regarded the result as a foregone conclusion. But Aéroports de Paris (AdP) is adamant that its choice of Société Distribution Aéroportuaire (SDA)—its joint venture with retailer Aelia—to run liquor, tobacco and beauty at Paris Charles de Gaulle's renovated terminal one was a purely commercial decision
People & Company
The Nuance Group has appointed Carlo Bernasconi to the new post of executive vice-president business development and strategic marketing
YSL Beauté director travel-retail worldwide Caroline Olive left the company's duty-free division last month
At a meeting on May 19, the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) elected nine officers to represent the new trade body
DFNI publisher Raven Fox has promoted sales director Amanda Felix to the position of publisher
More people news
Features
More and more jewellery suppliers are developing product ranges specifically for the men's market in a bid to harness their spending power. But can travel retailers rise to the challenge of selling men's jewellery? Lorna Strickland investigates
Travel-retail beauty sales depend on good customer service, especially in the skincare and cosmetics category. Staff training is crucial to keep personnel up to date with the latest product information, sales and service techniques. Tina Milton talks to leading skincare brand Clinique about its acclaimed approach to training
Following the opening of its new speciality store at Newcastle International airport, Alpha Retail has made selling jewellery at the location a priority. Lorna Strickland visits the airport and talks to the retailer about its plans for the category
The rain failed to dampen spirits at this year's TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition in Singapore, where delegates enjoyed the usual mix of business and pleasure. DFNI looks back on the highlights of the show and the second GATE One conference
Retail News Analysis
DUTCH CARIBBEAN. The airport of Princess Juliana International on the island of St Maarten has called a tender for 27 retail concessions and 12 catering outlets in its new $87m terminal
MOROCCO. International Duty Free Shops (IDFS) has announced it plans to open arrivals shops at Casablanca airport
DENMARK. Copenhagen Airports is adopting a more direct approach to retail under the guidance of newly-appointed vice-president of commercial affairs Henrik Busch
NORWAY. Legislation paving the way for the introduction of arrivals duty-free shopping in Norway is expected to be passed this month, according to local retailers
SCANDINAVIA. SAS Flightshop has adapted its duty-free retail assortment in a bid to differentiate its offer to long- and short-haul passengers
QATAR. Qatar Airways retail subsidiary Qatar Duty Free has extended Aer Rianta International–Middle East's (ARI-ME) management contract at Doha International airport by five years
HONG KONG. Single-price fashion accessories concept Bijoux Terner has confirmed that it will take space in Hong Kong International airport's new SkyPlaza commercial area when it opens in June 2006
JAPAN. Narita Airport Authority Retailing (NAAR) has unveiled plans to open new shops under three separate joint ventures, including outlets at Tokyo Narita airport's refurbished terminal one south wing when it re-opens in June 2006
UK. Manchester airport is set to open its first general merchandise arrivals store later this summer, DFNI can reveal
CHINA. King Power Group (Hong Kong) has won retail and catering contracts at four domestic airports in China, including in the northern city of Harbin
HONG KONG. Members of the Skyteam airline alliance are likely to operate from Hong Kong International airport's (HKIA) new SkyPlaza facility when it opens in July 2006, the airport authority has told DFNI
UK. BAA CEO Mike Clasper hailed a "great retail performance" despite adverse conditions as the group posted a 7.3% rise in net retail income for the year ended March 2005
SPAIN. Following the launch of tenders at Tenerife South and Palma de Mallorca airports, Spanish airport authority AENA has announced a tender for duty-paid stores at Bilbao Sondica
URUGUAY. Border retailer Darok Duty Free is celebrating a record first quarter after a 67% year-on-year sales increase
INDIA. India Tourism Development Corp (ITDC) posted sales of Rs1.46bn ($33.6m) for the full year ending March 31 2005
ASIA/PACIFIC. Visitor numbers to the TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore last month were up by 12% on the previous year, according to the organiser, with the number of key buyers at the show also up by 12%
GREECE. In the first three months of 2005 sales at Hellenic Duty Free Shops increased by 11.6% compared with the same period last year, reaching €38.8m ($48.5m)
SPAIN. The Fair Payment Alliance (FPA) has won another victory in its campaign against excessive fees for credit card payments following a recent judgement by Spanish competition authorities
This year's ASUTIL conference will be held at the Hilton Buenos Aires on September 7–9
CHINA. New-York based design firm GRID2 has opened its first Asian office in Shanghai
Beamish joins Camus in Asia: Former Hennessy global duty-free director Michael Beamish has returned to the duty-free trade as Camus commercial director Asia/Pacific, based in Hong Kong
EUROPE. The European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) is urging the European Commission to reconsider a recent proposal restricting the number of liquor and wine bottle sizes
ASIA/PACIFIC. King Power International Group (Thailand) retained the top award at the Raven Fox Awards for Travel Retail Excellence in Asia/Pacific last month
Liquor & Wines
The Welsh Whisky Company has introduced the first whisky to be made in Wales in more than a century to duty-free and is confident its distribution will expand further
As revealed on RavenFox.com on May 20, travel-retail's leading liquor supplier Diageo is restructuring its Global Duty Free arm, organising it into three regional teams and placing greater focus on customer service
Nuance-Watson (HK) has achieved record sales growth in the watches category at Hong Kong International airport
Jordanian drinks group Zumot Distilleries is keen to grow duty-free sales of its premium arak brand Arak Al-Zumot beyond the Middle East, the supplier told DFNI
Following the launch of Chunghwa XO cognac earlier this year (DFNI February 15), Camus Cognac has strengthened its offer to Chinese travellers with the launch of Spirit of China, a merchandising initiative designed to showcase the three Chinese brands distributed by Camus
Tobacco Products
UK-based cigarette manufacturer Gallaher has appointed Midas International as its exclusive duty-free distributor for the Indian sub-continent
Hong Kong-based distributor Silver Base is keen to attract smokers beyond the loyal Chinese following for its flagship cigarette brand Hongtashan
Franco-Spanish tobacco supplier Altadis has reported positive results in the first few weeks of its 2005 Gauloises global promotion, which was launched at Frankfurt International airport in April
Armenian supplier Cigaronne hopes to expand its travel-retail presence in Asia/Pacific after it exhibited at the TFWA Asia Pacific show for the first time last month
Fragrances
Coty has secured a deal to purchase Unilever's global prestige fragrances business Unilever Cosmetics International (UCI) for $800m
Estée Lauder Companies has signed a licensing agreement with Missoni, the Milan-based fashion house known for its knitwear and graphic design
By Tina Milton Beauty editor
Selective Beauty has signed an agreement to distribute Diana de Silva's Montana, Jean Couturier Paris and Mauboussin brands in France
Cosmetics
L'Oréal Paris is bidding to grow in the Japanese market and opened its first counter at Osaka Kansai International airport last month
Skincare brand Babor is looking for new distributors in a bid to increase its presence in travel-retail
Clinique is to roll out a new counter concept in Asia/Pacific travel-retail in an attempt to drive sales and raise the brand's profile
Layla Cosmetics plans to expand its travel-retail operations in Europe and the Middle East to develop a greater presence in Asia/Pacific and other international markets
Confectionery & Fine Foods
More confectionery news
Kraft Foods World Travel Retail Division has embarked on a programme of launch promotions, product sampling and staff training in partnership with Flemingo International at Delhi airport
French retailer Aelia—which operates stores throughout France and at Belfast International and London Luton airports in the UK—has collected an Outstanding Customer Performance award from Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) in recognition of its confectionery sales growth over the past year
Belgian manufacturer Les Chocolatiers de Rochefort, which produces a range of chocolate creams and spreads including 100% sugar-free products, hopes to venture into duty-free and is looking for a suitable agent or distributor
Gourmet food specialist Fratelli Camisa, which manufactures a range of food products and represents about 40 companies as an importer and distributor of pastas, hams, mushrooms and salamis in the UK, is exploring ways to develop a travel-retail presence
Gifts & Electronics
Alpha Retail plans to focus on its electronics offer at Newcastle International airport this year in an effort to compete more effectively with rival operator Dixons Tax Free
Digital & Wireless has introduced a range of "next-generation" electronic and digital products aimed at the business traveller
Professional camera manufacturer Rollei is making a push into the world of consumer cameras, with particular emphasis on the travel-retail channel
German distributor Pacific and Atlantic Sound Company (Pasco) reached an agreement last month with electronics supplier Philips to distribute its products in worldwide duty-free
Jewellery & Watches
Malaysian travel retailer Valiram Group is to open a high-end watch boutique in the domestic terminal at Kuala Lumpur International airport this month
Cathay Pacific Airways has told DFNI that watch sales on board grew by 56% in the first quarter of 2005 compared with the same period in 2004
Travel retailer King Power Group (Hong Kong) is to renovate its luxury watch boutiques in the next two years. The move comes as sales in the category increased by 20% in the last nine months of 2004
Fashion & Leathergoods
UK fashion house Burberry's sales in Asia leapt by 19% last year, fuelled by strong demand from Chinese travellers and the addition of six new franchise stores in the country
Italian sunglasses brand Luxottica has signed an agreement with UK cruiseship retailer Harding Bros to supply a range of its products on five vessels by the end of this month
Wilsons Leather, one of the US's biggest leathergoods chains and one of the biggest in North American airport retail, is continuing to suffer from poor sales and has been forced to close some of its stores
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp is buying Ralph Lauren Footwear Co Inc, its global licensee for men's, women's and children's footwear, from sports apparel manufacturer Reebok International, subject to regulatory approval
French luxury brand Hermès has begun a retail renovation programme in Asia, one of the fastest-growing regions for the fashion house