Add to Favorite
Magazine 
Magazine
Kerala festival gives Alpha grounds to celebrateKerala festival gives Alpha grounds to celebrate
Tina Milton
13-Sep-2006
The annual Onam festival in the southern Indian state results in a big sales increase for retailer Alpha Kreol at Cochin International airport
The festival of Onam, celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala during August and early September, has resulted in a 29% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic at Cochin International airport during the corresponding period. Incumbent retailer Alpha Kreol posted a 61% increase in duty-free sales at the airport as thousands of expatriate Keralites returned home to take part in the celebrations.During Onam, Alpha recorded its highest daily sales on September 1, posting turnover of $47,800. The performance was driven by the retailer's arrivals business, which recorded growth of 76% in August compared with the same period in 2005. Departures duty-free sales, however, fell by 5% owing to new restrictions on carrying fragrances and liquor on board aircraft.
Alpha reported that penetration during August reached 13.83% compared with 11.3% the previous year, while spend per passenger stood at $5.37 compared with $4.31 in August 2005. The improvements were in part driven by the introduction of a three-month Diageo gwp promotion. The liquor company's flagship Scotch whisky Johnnie Walker remains the most popular liquor item in Indian duty-free.
Following rapid growth in sales of souvenirs, up by 150% in August, Alpha confirmed that it would seek to develop the destination merchandise category further at Cochin.
Meanwhile airport authority Cochin International Airport Ltd has named Sriram Bharat as its new managing director following the departure of VJ Kurian earlier this year.
Bookmark This Article
•
•
•
•
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
FacebookYour Comments On This Article
Related Stories
Articles bearing the symbol 
require subscription.
(15-Sep-2006) - INDIA. The festival of Onam, celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala in August and early September, has resulted in a 29% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic at Cochin International airport during the corresponding period
(1-Feb-2006) - INDIA. The departures duty-free area at India's Cochin International airport is to expand by about 20,000sq ft (1,860sq m) as the airport authority prepares for anticipated growth in traffic. Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) managing director VJ Kurian said he hopes work on the new terminal building will be complete by September
(29-May-2008) - The airport hopes that its duty-free operation will soon account for 40% of total airport revenues
(31-May-2002) - INDIA. The Indian Duty-Free Association held its fourth annual duty-free seminar in Cochin on May 12?13 and pledged to become more active in lobbying government on industry issues. It also promised to step up efforts to increase its membership.
(18-May-2001) - INDIA. Alpha Retail has finally been given the go-ahead to build new duty-free stores at Cochin International airport in southern India after months of delay.