Peter Ayling elected new Chairman for the Travel Retail Consortium

Following Richard Thorpe’s decision to step down as Chairman of the Travel Retail Consortium, Peter Ayling has been elected as Chairman of the group for the next two years.

Peter has been a member of the TRC for the past 6 years representing Champagne Taittinger and has been actively involved in fund raising activities at the various events that have been organised over that period. Peter has extensive experience in Travel Retail having spent 22 years with Allied Domecq in various Sales and Marketing roles and from 2000 working in the Global Duty Free team managing the Wine and Champagne portfolios.

Since 2006 Peter has run his own Consultancy business in the Travel Retail market working with Hatch Mansfield Agencies on its Wine and Champagne portfolio, including Taittinger, and also with  Peller Estates; the Canadian Icewine company.

About TRC: The Travel Retail Consortium was originally conceived in the late 1960s and formalised in 1971 to further the interests and development of the Travel Retail industry within the UK through the member companies.

Its objectives are to raise standards of business within the Travel Retail industry; promote members products and services; discuss industry issues; and provide social and networking opportunities for key travel retail customers at annual events. The TRC is also active in raising funds for charity.

Meetings are held bi-monthly at members or customer company locations covering industry issues, new operators/services, business opportunities etc . Confidential matters such as margins and terms are NOT discussed.

A fun customer event is held annually and has included Easter Egg making at Wood Norton, aTreasure Hunt in Bath, It’s a Knockout, School Sports Day, Newbury Race Day and wine tasting in Jersey. This is followed by a black tie evening event. Consortium custom is that bacon rolls and coffee served for those still around at 1a.m.

All TRC enquiries should be made via the website (www.travelretailconsortium.co.uk) or info@travelretailconsortium.co.uk.

Current TRC Members: Accolade Wines; Aurora; Coty Prestige Travel Retail and Export; Guinness; Heineken; Imperial Tobacco International; JA Associates (JCI Jewellery, Morgan & Oates); Mars; Remy Cointreau;  Sekonda; Champagne Taittinger; Twining