Since its inception in 1947, Tax Free World Association has become the leading duty free and travel retail summit. Malay Raut attends this year and reports that attendance of over 3000 visitors is a record number for this trade show.
Tax Free World Association (TFWA) celebrated 70 years of its establishment at Marine Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, from May 7 – 11, 2017, maintaining its majestic success year after year.
At the opening ceremony of the celebration, TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen expressed his hearfelt appeal pertaining to “Re-Igniting Our Industry”. “The combination of geo-political, economic and social tensions is troublesome for an industry that depends on the freedom to travel. The pressure on our industry has arguably never been greater, with our value proposition under threat and our ability to compete with m- and e-commerce eroded,” Erik said.
TFWA is the conglomerate of wine and spirits, fragrances and cosmetics, fashion and accessories, jewellery and watches, confectionery and fine food, gifts and electronics, Tobacco—technically anything and everything one can expect in an airport duty-free outlet.
Coming into operations in 1947, the TWFA’s annual gala has become one of the leading and grand exhibition in travel and duty free trade show and summit.
Aude Bourdier-Rocourt, vice-president (commercial) TFWA, rightly said about ‘Always Asia’: “Of course, today this continent is the dominant force within the duty free and travel retail industry, and following a similar trajectory, TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference continues to be, year after year , an important diary date in our calendars.”
It is true that the travel retail industry is at a tipping point repeat customer and retaining customer loyalty is the key, but it has begun to ebb due to the success of e-commerce as well as the different and demanding needs of the millennials.
In such a tumultuous period, TFWA reassured the industry about dealing with the challenges of today and tomorrow. Participants in wine and spirits industry were all multinationals doing tremendously well in the Asian market. It is obviously the perfect platform to launch the new trend. William Grant & Sons Ltd did exactly the same by launching the “Infinite Layers Of Flavour” Glenfiddich Cask Collection — the collection is a travel exclusive at a launch event organised in a huge stall, in the most grandeur manner. WGS’s Manmeet Kaur and Hardeep Sethi were instrumental in explaining to the right audience with passion and pride what this travel exclusive was all about.
South Africa’s Distell Limited lavishly displayed the ivory that belong on elephants to bring out the Amarula Cream, along with Nedeburg and other wines and spirits from their wide portfolio. Andrea Baumgartner, head of marketing global travel retail; Jan Du Bruyn, regional business manager Asia Pacific; and G S Kumar, the regional BDM Asia Pacific, were quite happy expressing the success story of their brands in both Asia duty-free and domestic market.
Brown-Forman showcased its new Speyside, BenRiach Single Malt Scotch and Slane Irish whiskey.
Zamora International, a subsidiary of Diageo-Zamora group, showcased premium liqueurs Licor 43 and Spanish wines.
Bacardi Global Travel Retail showcased their premium collection like Aberfeldy, Dewars 15 and 18 Years, Glen Deveron and Royal Brackla 12
Years. Danzka, the spirit from Danzka stable, was a brand new pure vodka available, encouraging and attracting people towards itself.
The Three Stills company officially launched its new blended malt whisky Lower East Side. Macallan Rare Cask Black stole heart of many Scotch lovers. Hardy, Cognac, Legend 1863, H. Mounier’s Legend 1863 uses the retelling of the love story of an English gentleman Anthony Hardy who showcased his passion for cognac and its region.
Special mention of brands such Label 5, Patron Tequila, Kremlin, Classic Vodka, Corralejo Extra Anejo 1821, Crystal Head Vodka, Barton & Guestier French wine,Tito’s handmade vodka, El Ron Prohibido, Mexican Rum, Sir Edward’s Smoky Blended Scotch, Bottega Italian Sparkling life, Dalmore 40 years of Whyte & Mackay, Bardinet French Brandy, Bodegas Torres, Beringer Private reserve of Napa Valley, Penfolds and Bottega Vermouth is necessary because of their popularity.
Zonin Prosecco in new packaging, and Freixenet Cava were well-stocked in the stalls pronouncing their availability in the both domestic and duty-free market in Asia.
Of the exhibiting companies, two showed most promise, and a great deal of interest in Indian market. Hitejinro, the top maker of both beer and soju in Korea, exports its product to 50 countries worldwide. The company’s core idea is “Go Global Beyond Korea’s Number One”. Kim Sung Kun, GM Asia
& Pacific Market, said he is looking forward positively towards India and neighbouring countries as a potential market for their lager beer Hite.
It is true that the travel retail industry is at a tipping point — repeat customer and retaining customer loyalty is the key VP Brands International, having eight state-of-the-art production hubs in Bulgaria, is available in 83 countries across five continents. Plamen Vasilev, Head of Export MENA & Global DFTR, was clear about his passion and informed that with such huge availability across the globe “we are far from finished. We take our spirits to the category limits so that we can go beyond,” he said. He was very clear in his approach, knowing the right potential of India and said he was in no hurry in associate in India till they get the right partner for Flirt Vodka to introduce in India.
The annual travel retail and duty free trade show and summit in Singapore attracted representatives from 1,220 companies with 1,273 key buyers present. Out of the 316 companies showcasing their products at this year’s TWFA trade show, 76 were new exhibitors.
TFWA 2017 was a wonderful experience and in Singapore, too, “The Gateway” to the world of duty free and travel retail.