Renovated arrivals stores help Beirut push June sales up 52%

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**DFNI Exclusive** Beirut Duty Free has reported June sales up 52% on the same month last year. In an exclusive on-site interview with DFNI earlier this week, general manager Gerry Crawford said that he expected sales to continue their improvement after a difficult start for the operator?s new retail complex.

Beirut Duty Free has reported June sales up 52% on the same month last year. In an exclusive on-site interview with DFNI earlier this week, general manager Gerry Crawford said that he expected sales to continue their improvement after a difficult start for the operator's new retail complex. He also revealed that the new 200sq m (2,150sq ft) arrivals outlet-opened last September-and another enlarged 250sq m (2,690sq ft) outlet renovated at the end of 2002 had grown Beirut's arrivals business by 71% compared with last June.

Crawford told DFNI the results marked a new beginning after a difficult period at Beirut. ?We opened many of the retail areas at the beginning of April and had the official opening  mid-May,? he said. ?Initially, performance was affected negatively by the Iraq war, but in June we've seen passenger levels turning around. Traffic in fact improved 9.8% on June last year and shows promise for the rest of the summer. And arrivals has been one of the huge successes in Beirut. We reached a high of 15% penetration in the early months of this year.?

Beirut's June results show particularly strong performances in the fragrances and cosmetics sector, up 56% for the month, while cigars, electronics and confectionery all achieved "above average" results. Departures business registered a slightly smaller increase than arrivals, up 48% on June 2002.

In a general-release statement Crawford said: "June was excellent and really demonstrates the value of the new retail complex. It has been a very difficult few months with passengers down by 50% at its worst period. C'est la vie - we now have to make hay while the sun shines.?

Look out for the next issue of DFNI, out August 1, for more on Beirut Duty Free.