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SPAIN/INTERNATIONAL. As DFNI went to press, Italian caterer Autogrill joined the race to acquire Spanish travel retailer Aldeasa
INTERNATIONAL. The ambitious target of $50bn in global sales is achievable but only if the travel-retail business meets the need for change, according to a DFNI survey of industry representatives around the globe
People & Company
The Alpha Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief Fund has reached $200,000 in pledges from the travel-retail industry
Puig Group brand director for Paco Rabanne Parfums and Parfums Nina Ricci worldwide Jean-Roch Giovachini left the company last month
More people and company news
After 10 years heading Brussels International Airport Co's (BIAC) commercial department, executive vice-president commercial affairs Michel De Rouck has left the company
Features
Eamon Foley joined the duty-free industry from
the world of property development. At Aer Rianta International, he has helped build an empire that stretches far beyond the retailer's Irish base. Here, he talks about the break-up of Aer Rianta, the operator's new retail concept and the future of travel-retail
Cologne-Bonn airport is one of the fastest-growing regional airports in Europe, bolstered by the low-cost boom. The airport's commercial director Michael Garvens talks to John Rimmer about the location's rapidly expanding commercial activity, centred on its new Starwalk concept
After 35 years shaping policy at Aéroports de Paris, Alain Falque left the company on January 31. He talks to John Rimmer about his varied career at the French airport authority and his view of travel-retail's future
World Duty Free wanted nothing less than to create the ?ultimate liquor store? at its new London Heathrow terminal four site. Joe Bates talks to BAA managing director of global airport retail Mark Riches about whether he feels the UK travel retailer managed to fulfil its aspirations
The onboard wine offer remains a priority for scheduled airlines, despite the cost-cutting that has prevailed in the aviation industry since September 11 2001. Joe Bates assesses the health of the inflight pouring market
As the gateway to the Winter Olympics in 2006, Turin airport plans to redevelop its retail offer in anticipation of a boom in passenger numbers. Tina Milton talks to SAGAT Turin and Florence airport director commercial division Fulvio Fassone about his plans to go for gold
Guest commentator Richard Talbot
By John Rimmer Editor
By Gavin Lipsith Retail News Editor
By Dermot Davitt Executive Editor
By John Rimmer Editor
DFNI analyses the latest developments in the bidding for Aldeasa, as Autogrill considers a challenge to race leader Dufry Group
Retail News Analysis
INTERNATIONAL. An ?exceptionally strong? end to the year helped LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton to post record sales in 2004
LEBANON. Middle East Airlines' onboard duty-free sales grew by 28% in 2004 compared with the previous year, with spend per passenger reaching $8
BULGARIA. A closely fought auction is expected over the sale of state-owned Kalotina-Balkantourist, which operates one shop on the Bulgaria?Serbia border, after the country's privatisation agency put it up for public auction earlier this month
ITALY. Italian airport authority SAGAT has earmarked Florence airport for a big commercial expansion programme over the next two years
GREECE. The Greek government has announced that it will float its remaining shares in Athens International airport on the stock exchange this year as part of the privatisation of state businesses
HONG KONG. National carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has reported an encouraging response to efforts to promote its onboard retail offer
UAE. A new arrivals store, big investments in landside shopping and a brand new terminal at Abu Dhabi International airport will drive growth for Abu Dhabi Airport Catering and Duty Free in 2005
CYPRUS. Aer Rianta International (ARI) has formed a joint venture with CTC, owned by the Cypriot conglomerate Shakolas Group, as it prepares to re-enter the travel-retail market in Cyprus
FRANCE. The Espace Voyageur concept, devised by French travel-retail organisation Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) in the wake of intra-EU duty-free abolition in 1999, could finally be debated by the French parliament this year
UK. Fast-changing population demographics in the future will demand quick thinking and flexibility from travel retailers, BAA group retail director Brian Collie has warned
CANADA. Vancouver International Airport Authority is drawing up its duty-free tender after gaining approval for plans to upgrade its international terminal by 2007
NETHERLANDS. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is developing its website to promote inflight duty-free
GERMANY. One of Germany's fastest-growing airports, Cologne-Bonn, unveiled a new shopping mall at the end of 2004
UK. Birmingham International airport is to choose between incumbent operator Alpha Retail and French rival Aelia when it awards its duty-free concession in April
HONG KONG. Liquor and tobacco duty-free operator Sky Connection has achieved record sales for four consecutive months at Hong Kong International airport
UK. BAA has reported a rise in group operating profit of 9.6% to £548m ($1.03bn) in the nine months to December 31 2004, with net retail income up by 7.5% to £457m ($863.7m)
AUSTRALIA. Macquarie Airports (MAP) has announced strong results for Sydney airport for the six months to December 31 2004, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rising by 14.7% to A$169.4m ($130.3m)
Liquor & Wines
Virgin Atlantic has introduced a speciality Bombay Sapphire cocktail service for Upper Class passengers on its new London?Sydney route, which was inaugurated last month
As revealed on RavenFox.com (January 11 2004), luxury goods group LVMH Moët Hennessey-Louis Vuitton's £300m bid for Scotch whisky producer Glenmorangie has cleared its final hurdle
Malt whisky specialist Morrison Bowmore has launched Glen Garioch 46yo, the oldest Scotch whisky ever released from the Aberdeenshire distillery
Diageo is rolling out an international tasting promotion to drive duty-free sales of Johnnie Walker Green Label, which was launched on domestic markets and in selected duty-free locations worldwide in September last year (DFNI September 15 2004)
As revealed on RavenFox.com last month, New Jersey-based distributor Alexander James & Co has won the US duty-free distribution rights for Jägermeister liqueur from the brand's US importer, Sidney Frank Importing Co
More liquor news
National railway operator Norwegian State Railways (NSB) is proceeding with an ambitious plan to open a duty-free liquor store to serve arriving international passengers at Oslo's central railway station
British Airways (BA) has reported a steady recovery in its inflight pouring business after a period of decline following the terrorist attacks of September 11
Almost six years after the abolition of intra-EU duty-free, World Duty Free (WDF) is considering a return to the traditional duty-free store format
More liquor news
Tobacco Products
Spain's tobacco suppliers have reacted angrily to proposed tobacco legislation, threatening to shift production overseas if the plans are approved
More tobacco news
Greek travel retailer Hellenic Duty Free Shops has confirmed that it is in talks with Philip Morris, the world's biggest non-Chinese tobacco supplier, with a view to acquiring the Marlboro brand owner's Greek ship supplies unit Ioniki
The Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) is to consider adapting its quarterly index of French travel-retail sales to better reflect the performance of the tobacco category
The attempt to sell Bulgaria's state tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac has attracted criticism after the government received only one bid, from British-American Tobacco (BAT)
Fragrances
Elizabeth Arden has created its first men's fragrance aimed at a European audience through its licence with fashion brand Gant
Travel-retail exclusive sets drove strong year-on-year growth in the beauty category at Split airport in Croatia last year
L'Oréal Luxury Products Division's Asian arm Scental achieved sales growth of 40% in 2004, ranking it as the group's best-performing division
TAP Air Portugal maintained its sales levels in the cosmetics and fragrances category in 2004 and expects volumes to ?hold steady? despite difficult economic conditions in Portugal in the run-up to elections this month
Cosmetics
Indonesian retailer Inti Dufree Promosindo is to renovate its Jakarta and Bali airport outlets this year, along with its operation in downtown Bali
US brand Smashbox Cosmetics is increasing its international presence to between 35 and 40 countries this year after extending its network from four countries to 25 in 2004
Beauté Prestige International (BPI) plans to develop its strategy for Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Mâle men's cosmetics range Tout Beau and skincare portfolio Tout Propre this year in a bid to extend the brand's global presence
High-end cosmetics brand Sisley has posted a year-on-year sales increase of 30% in Asia and about 8% in Europe, and has earmarked duty-free as an area for expansion
AS Watson targets Marionnaud: Marionnaud Parfumeries has confirmed it is the subject of a takeover bid from AS Watson, the retail division of HutchisonWhampoa and partner of The Nuance Group in Hong Kong and Singapore airports
Confectionery & Fine Foods
More confectionary news
Turkey has emerged as the leading European market for Masterfoods International Travel Retail (MITR) over the past year
French gourmet food specialist Hédiard is stepping up its retail expansion programme and is in the early stages of negotiations with two European airports
Nordic ferry operator H-H Ferries has responded to the trend for healthier lifestyles by sourcing new ranges of snacks for sale in shops and cafés on board its two Superflex ferries, which operate 25-minute crossings between Helsingør in Denmark and Helsingborg in Sweden
Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has challenged manufacturers to be more creative with their displays and promotions in 2005
Gifts & Electronics
Dufry reopened its computer and software shop at Singapore Changi airport on January 13
UK-based ceramics and glassware supplier Waterford Wedgwood completed its buy-out of ceramics house Royal Doulton last month
US-based travel-retail electronics distributor Digital & Wireless took on two brands for exclusive travel-retail distribution at the end of 2004?Elestron and i2Telecom. Elestron signed with Digital & Wireless in August
French jewellery and glassware company Baccarat has launched its Valentine's Day collection of ornaments for domestic markets and travel-retail
UK-based toy and gift supplier Premier Portfolio has become an official licensee for the British Airways brand, supplying branded toys exclusively to the travel-retail trade
Jewellery & Watches
UK-based jewellery supplier Cat Design has revealed plans to target the US market more aggressively and is in talks with a local agent
UK jewellery and timepiece brand Hot Diamonds has appointed Jonathan Holland & Associates as its exclusive travel-retail agent for the Asia/Pacific region
Canadian supplier Cosmoda has unveiled its Roots Valentine's Day collection of watches comprising five models
French actress Emmanuelle Béart has been appointed the new face of Danish jewellery brand Pilgrim
Precious gifts supplier Swarovski has launched the Valentine's Day jewellery collection in domestic and travel-retail markets worldwide
Fashion & Leathergoods
Prague Ruzyne airport is investing in new fashion stores as part of a planned retail revamp in its new terminal, now under construction. The work is scheduled for completion in 2006
Lingerie company Lejaby will be enticing passengers to buy gift items for their loved ones at the high-end Rigby & Peller store at London Heathrow terminal three in the run-up to Valentine's Day
French high-end fashion house Zilli entered the two biggest airports in Brazil last month, signalling a fresh move into the travel-retail market in South America
Hair accessories, sunglasses and leathergoods company Buch & Deichmann has introduced the B+D In-Readers range of reading glasses with arms that fold down to protect the lenses
More fashion news