DFNI speaks to European Travel Retail Council president Frank O’Connell about the latest developments in the aviation security campaign, and discovers that the fight for mutual recognition of security standards is reaching a critical phase

Singapore Changi airport has always been a crucial location for travel-retail, even back in 1988 when there was only one terminal

In this month’s confectionery and fine foods report, DFNI reports on Gaia Trade, the new Scandinavian agency specialising in organic and ethical products

The travel-retail industry has never been good at protecting its own interests. Witness the slow response to the threat of intra-EU duty-free abolition in the 1990s, or the many times that retailers have discovered threats to their duty-free tobacco business through reports in the local media

More People & Company News

Sweden is keen to follow in the footsteps of its neighbour Norway, which allowed the country’s first arrivals store at Oslo International airport in 2005. But will its fellow EU members accept its arguments? Emily Pacey reports

After losing a purchasing contract with Tallink and Silja Line last year, Swedish distributor and retailer Inflight Service is focusing on airport retail. But, writes Emily Pacey, it may be a while before it is ready to compete in the big tenders

Keflavik airport retailer Duty Free Store is losing its fastest-growing category to two domestic operators, but as Emily Pacey discovers, it is gaining a bigger, more focused duty-free offer instead

The first Asia/Pacific Travel Partnership Symposium will take place later this month. DFNI examines how the various companies serving travellers can increase their cooperation to improve profits

Increasing awareness of the health benefits of eating dark chocolate culminated in an unprecedented number of product launches at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last October. Michael Eaton explores a notable trend

Healthy eating has become a political and a personal issue in many parts of the world and there is likely to be a gradual knock-on effect in travel-retail. Michael Eaton reports on how a new agency is spreading the good food message

Life has turned full circle for Thierry Uldry. Five years after leaving Caviar House, where he was CEO, he is heading a new rival enterprise. In an exclusive interview he discusses his plans for Kazakh Kaviar with Michael Eaton

Luxury goods suppliers are prominent among the fastest-growing travel-retail related stocks of the past month. They include Richemont, Swatch Group and Hermès International

Only three countries seek mutual recognition with EU | Study to assess impact of new restrictions | Lobbyists urge travel-retail companies to contact governments

SINGAPORE. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has released its long-awaited liquor and tobacco tender, which covers Singapore Changi airport’s three existing terminals and its new terminal three, due to open later this year

US. Retailers who were eagerly anticipating Chicago O’Hare International airport’s tender for duty-free at international terminal five will have mixed feelings about the recent request for proposals

More news in brief

CARIBBEAN. Swiss travel retailer Dufry Group is to acquire the travel-retail division of the Bared Group

AUSTRIA. Vienna International airport’s announcement that it will launch a duty-free and duty-paid tender for its Skylink terminal in March presents a rare fresh opportunity for retail development in the European Union’s crowded airport retail marketplace

JAMAICA. Sangster International airport operator MBJ Airports has awarded 18 retail and three food and beverage contracts at its expanded terminal

US. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport’s decision to waive minimum annual guarantee (MAG) payments in 2007 and to extend all retail leases by two years will come as a relief to HMSHost, which operates the duty-free and duty-paid retail concession under a contract that will now expire on December 31 2011

US. After a turbulent few years for its Hawaii business, DFS Group appears to have emerged from the worst of its problems on the islands with its business intact

SLOVAKIA. Gebr Heinemann has renegotiated a deal with the new board of directors at Bratislava airport to operate the duty-free and duty-paid retail space

UAE. Sales at Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF) grew by 30% to $90m in December 2006 compared with the same period in 2005. The results reflect the buoyancy of the Middle Eastern market and the effectiveness of the retailer’s new merchandising strategy

NORWAY/DENMARK. Norwegian ferry operator Master Ferries plans to generate over half of its total revenue through retail sales (including food and beverages) by the end of the year

Liquor suppliers and distributors have welcomed Swedish airport authority Luftfartsverket’s (LFV) decision to lobby the country’s government to sell duty-free liquor to international arrivals passengers at Stockholm airport (Ravenfox.com, November 9 2006)

UK firm Sachet Systems has developed liquor packaging which it claims will offer airlines significant weight and space savings, as well as benefiting the environment through reduced fuel consumption

Jameson Irish whiskey is poised to launch a new travel-retail promotional campaign focusing on the brand’s sponsorship of the New York Tribeca Film Festival

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has issued a tender for a cigar boutique at Singapore Changi airport’s new terminal three, due to open later this year.

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is poised to acquire UK rival cigarette manufacturer Gallaher after placing an offer valuing the company at £7.5bn ($14.5bn)

Italian group Maccaferri has unveiled plans to develop the Toscano cigar business acquired from British-American Tobacco in the second half of the year

Beauty sales at Mauritius Duty Free Paradise (MDFP) grew by between 10% and 12% year on year in 2006 at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International airport (SSR)

Bahamas travel retailer The Beauty Spot and sister company The Perfume Shop have reported a healthy end to 2006 at their 160sq m (1,720sq ft) seaport outlets following a drop in spend in the summer. Sales were up by 7% compared with the same period in 2005

Skincare and suncare company Hampton Sun, which specialises in tanning oils, gels and lotions, is to take its first steps into the fragrances market in March with the launch of Privet Bloom

Irish airport retailer Aer Rianta Retail has revealed that sales of beauty products at Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports were up by 18% in 2006 compared with the previous year

European spa operator Be Relax has established an office in the US as the first part of its strategy to secure new business in the region

Estée Lauder Companies brand Origins has launched Modern Fusion, a serum that can be used as part of a skincare regime with micro-dermabrasion product Modern Friction for Face

Thai spa business Harnn and Thann is looking for opportunities to expand outside its Thailand base

Thierry Uldry, the former Caviar House CEO who left the Switzerland-based retailer and restaurateur five years ago to buy and run Swiss biscuit company Tante Agathe, is back in the caviar business

Gaia Trade, the specialist sales and marketing agency created by former Toms Confectionery executives Anette Thisgaard and Irina Sandberg last year (Ravenfox.com December 4 2006), has added three clients to its portfolio of premium and health-orientated chocolate and food suppliers

Several leading operators, including Dubai Duty Free (DDF), Gebr Heinemann and The Nuance Group, are focusing on the dark chocolate sub-category and implementing either dedicated displays or exclusive promotions

Perfetti van Melle has reported growth in turnover of 21% in 2006, and is confident that further growth is assured in 2007

The electronics and multimedia concessions at Keflavik International airport has been won by two domestic retailers, ousting airport manager Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal (LEAT) retail subsidiary Duty Free Store

Plush toy supplier Russ Berrie is in discussions with China’s leading travel retailer China Duty Free Group (CDFG) as part of its strategy to focus on the Asian market

Phone card company Skytel is in discussions with several airport retailers and distributors with a view to entering the airport retail channel. Skytel has supplied the airline market for two years

Cross-channel ferry operator Norfolkline is to streamline its range of unbranded electronics in 2007

Nuance-Watson (HK) posted a 50% rise in watch sales at Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) in 2006 compared with the previous year

Danish jewellery and watch supplier Georg Jensen achieved 20% growth in travel-retail sales in 2006 compared with the previous year

Jewellery supplier and retailer Swarovski has revealed it will upgrade its travel-retail network into stand-alone stores as opposed to seeking new locations

South Korea-owned German fashion and leathergoods house MCM (Mode Creation München) will enter the Middle East travel-retail market this February with a corner at Kuwait airport operated by regional distributor Jashanmal

Frankfurt International airport has unveiled a new accessories concept in terminal one aimed at affluent Asian passengers

Leathergoods was the only category to record a rise in sales in Canadian duty-free border stores from January to October 2006, according to the latest figures released last month by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

As the spa market continues to blossom many spa operators plan to increase their regional presence by securing contracts at airports worldwide. Tina Milton investigates