PVM appoints new Director of Export

Perfetti Van Melle GTR is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michiel Havermans as its new Director of Export North, West, Central, Eastern Europe & Global Travel Retail.

Michiel succeeds Marc Van Campenhoudt, who has now been appointed Commerical Director PVM Benelux & France.

Michiel first joined PVM in 2001 and has been employed in several commerical roles in the past including Export Area Manager, Country Manager UK, Managing Director PVM Philippines, and Managing Director PVM Vietnam.

Says Susan De Vree, PVM GTR Manager: “Michiel has been a valued member of the PVM team since joining in 2001. I wish him all the best with his new role which I am certain he will thrive in.”

TISSERAND TAKE TO THE SKIES

Tisserand, experts in essential oils since 1974, has partnered with Scorpio Worldwide to bring its iconic Aromatherapy Roller Balls to Inflight Retail, and exclusively with Tourvest Inflight Retail Services for a limited period in Autumn 2015.

Handcrafted, 100% natural essential oil blends are at the very heart of every Tisserand product and its bestselling Aromatherapy Roller Balls will be available in three collections, including a Travel Retail exclusive.  Essential Survival Kit, Travel Survival Kit and the exclusive Roller Ball Collection are designed to help the discerning traveller feel de-stressed and revived on their journey, making them the perfect travel companion and inflight remedy.

Containing only pure essential oils and no synthetic fragrances, every drop of essential oil used is of the highest quality grade and carefully tested to ensure the upmost purity and effectiveness.

Essential Survival Kit: includes De-Stress, Sweet Dreams and Energy Roller Balls. 

Travel Survival Kit: includes Sweet Dreams, Energy and Travel Roller Balls.

Exclusive Roller Ball Collection: includes Sweet Dreams, De-Stress, Energy and Travel Roller Balls.

Commenting on the launch, Charlie Preece, Head of Sales at First Natural Brands Ltd, said, “We are delighted to be able to announce the listing of Tisserand’s popular Roller Balls with Tourvest Inflight Retail Services.  It is the first concessionaire to list the products on board and we’re looking forward to what we are sure will be a very successful launch.”

Katy Mason UK Buying Manager for Tourvest Inflight Retail Services added “We have high hopes for the new Exclusive Rollerball Collection from Tisserand which will sit within our new Wellbeing Category.  The essential oils provide a natural solution to relieve everyday pressures – compact and easy to apply, they are perfect for people on the move.”

For more information about Tisserand visit www.tisserand.com.

END

Note to Editors

About Tisserand:

Tisserand specialises in essential oils, professional and wellbeing, natural perfumes and bath and body products. First launched in 1974 by leading oil expert and aromatherapy pioneer Robert Tisserand, the company has 30 years’ experience in using essential oils to support physical and emotional wellbeing. 

Tisserand sources its oils from all over the world and guarantees they are 100% pure, organic and wild crafted or ethically harvested and sourced from only known botanical species to ensure maximum fragrance, intensity and purity. Tisserand’s organic oils are also Soil Association Certified and Vegan Society Approved.

Formulations are hand-blended by its team of aromatherapy experts to ensure they harness the unique, beneficial properties of its ingredients and all products are free from synthetic fragrances and dyes, chemical foaming agents and parabens.

About Scorpio Worldwide:
Founded in 1997, Scorpio Worldwide is a leading and award winning specialist in the global travel retail industry. The company provides a 360 degree sales, marketing and distribution service for airlines, airports, duty free shopping groups, ferries and cruise liners. Its products include major brands in fragrance, cosmetics, watches, jewellery, accessories, wellbeing, gadgets and other travel goods. Scorpio is a family based business and an independently managed company within the Gebr Heinemann Group, one of the largest operators and distributors within the global travel retail market.

About Tourvest Inflight Retail Services:

Tourvest  currently provides inflight duty free services to British Airways, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, SA Airlink, Arik Airways, and TAAG, which results in a total count in excess of 48m passengers on 286 routes globally. Tourvest are the exclusive inflight duty free service providers to these airlines covering their complete global network.

Tourvest have a menu of individual services, as well as a full turnkey outsource of inflight retail, including duty free, buy on board food and beverage products as well as retail technologies.

Tourvest also also offer these products via a omni-channel approach for each of our clients allowing for these purchases to be made prior to travel with the product delivered to the travellers seat once on board, or alternatively via home delivery.

Furla opens new store with Starboard

Furla is thrilled to announce it is expanding its cruise ship presence with the opening of a new 7sqm personalised corner aboard the Silhouette cruise ship with Starboard Cruise Services which opened in June.

Says Gerry Munday, Furla’s Global Travel Retail Director: “It has been a pleasure to work with Starboard again, on this second location and we thank them for their help with this opening.

The cruise ship business is very different from other travel retail channels as travelers have much longer to make a decision on purchases - often resulting in a higher spend per head. It’s an important area for us and one that we wish to develop further.”

Accolade Wines introduces two new exciting travel retail exclusives

With a vision to become the world’s leading provider of New World premium, commercial and value wines, Accolade Wines is underlining its dedication to the travel retail and duty free market with the introduction of two category exclusive wines. Hardys Premium Selection and Mud House Hillside No.5 are the newest additions to its ever expanding travel retail portfolio.

With a listing already achieved with World Duty Free across their UK estate, The Premium Selection by Bill Hardy - a fifth generation winemaker of the Hardys family, has been created from top parcels of wine from premier wine producing regions in Australia.

Available in Shiraz or Chardonnay expressions, the Premium Selection is a great addition to the flagship Hardys range, already one of the Leading and most widely distributed wine brands in global travel retail. Staying true to its heritage, The Premium Selection South Australian Shiraz offers a distinctive taste of rich plum and blueberry fruit complexed with dark chocolate, vanilla and clove spice. With a vibrant bright colour it is the ideal wine for those that enjoy a warm lingering earthy finish. Perfect for those that enjoy a fresh and lively wine, The Premium Selection Chardonnay releases intense aromatics of melon and white peach, combined with notes of spicy oak, delivering a distinctive delicate taste. 

Rupert Firbank, Accolade Wines Commercial Director comments, “Travel Retail plays a significant role in the development of our Hardys wine brand. The introduction of ‘The Premium Selection’ is another step in our mission to introduce travellers to the more premium and often undiscovered Premium end of the Hardys Portfolio.

“We have a very broad range of Hardys wines, some of which start at over $200 AUD per bottle, whilst others are available to the more modest passenger spend at less than $12AUD at the other end of the spectrum.  Wine in Travel Retail needs to appeal at a wide range of price points depending on location and passenger mix.  Getting that message across is key for Accolade, and the introduction of Hardys Premium Selection takes us further in the right direction”

Listed already in Auckland with Aer Rianta, Mud House Hillside No. 5 is solely sourced from the hillside blocks of Mud House’s Marlborough Vineyard. A great addition to anyone’s wine rack, this Sauvignon Blanc overflows with fruit concentration as classic tropical, citrus and green bean flavours fill the palate.

Accolade Wines is also pleased to announce that it will be collaborating with Essential Communications, Travel Retail and Duty Free PR specialists to further its investment in the industry.

Firbank continues, “We are very excited to be working with Essential Communications; the past 2 years has seen Accolade Wines greatly expand its Travel Retail business with very strong double digit growth in each year. The category is gaining momentum, retailers are beginning to capitalise on the value of having a broad selection of branded wine in their stores, so we feel that this is the perfect opportunity to step up our investment in the industry, and PR is a brilliant way to do this.”

Frey gears up travel retail focus as part of overseas drive

Switzerland’s leading chocolate manufacturer – Chocolat Frey – is gearing up its travel retail focus as part of a global strategy to build export sales. The company beefed up its travel retail team last year and says it now has both the logistics and product portfolio in place to seriously target new markets.

Chocolat Frey has been a “quiet” brand in export and travel retail markets, but in Switzerland the company (part of the huge Migros retail group) holds over 30% of the chocolate confectionery business by volume and is perceived as ‘simply the best’ by Swiss consumers.

With a heritage dating back to 1887, Chocolat Frey stands out from other brands through its fine attention to premium Swiss quality. Using only first class cocoa from sustainable sources, Frey adds only Swiss milk, Swiss sugar and cocoa butter to the mix, along with natural added ingredients and flavours where necessary. Fine grinding and unusually long 12 hour conching create a fine, smooth and aromatic chocolate that has seen Frey become the uncontested No 1 in Switzerland. Given that the Swiss are the highest consumers per head of chocolate in the world, this is no mean feat!

“It was a deliberate policy in the past to concentrate on building our Swiss domestic business, which we have done with unprecedented success,” says Chocolat Frey head of travel retail Claudia Rosenberg. “It is only in the last couple of years that the company has started looking outwards with a Brand Export Strategy and travel retail is seen as a key part of that strategy, providing a perfect platform for consumers to be introduced to the Frey brand.

“The perception is that other Swiss brands  - which dominate the market in travel retail  - are the most successful in Switzerland too – but that is just not the case. It’s time for Frey, the market leader, to show its true strength!”

Creating the right portfolio for travel retail is key to Chocolat Frey’s growth within the business. “It’s not that we are not present in GTR- we certainly are with representation in some 100 countries,” continues Rosenberg. “To a degree that is mirroring our success in developing overseas domestic markets such as in South Africa, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and Asia – particularly China and Hong Kong. However, we see lots of potential in other markets where travel retail presence can – in turn – help us to build domestic market strength,”

Chocolat Frey recognizes that while undisputed quality is paramount, packaging and presentation in travel retail can mean the difference between success and failure. “We have many product lines in Switzerland that are very successful but would not work in travel retail at the moment because of the dominance of other brands,” explains Rosenberg. ‘We’re not vain in that respect; we understand that we’re sitting alongside brands that are already hugely popular within the channel. We believe that we can add something to the confectionery offer and, given that it’s a high impulse purchase channel, we like to think we can help build confectionery sales overall.”

Chocolat Frey’s ‘hero’ products will continue to be the focus for travel retail, namely its Chocobloc 5 x 100g Family Pack, Chocobloc 400g range and Swiss Premium Chocolate Tablets 300g. “We have created both travel exclusive presentations – such as the 5 x 100g Family Pack – differences in packaging and exclusive category flavours, such as Crunchy Caramel, Crunchy Tablets with an extra high percentage of nuts inside, 72% Chocobloc and our secret star Chocobloc Milk-Orange,” Rosenberg explains. ”We’re now in the process of upgrading and modernizing both the communication and presentation for travel retail, maintaining the heritage of our logo but overall creating a younger, cooler, more urban look.’

An example is Frey’s Swiss Selection Biscuits, relaunched earlier this year in a new premium look 400g box. With its crisp modern design in red, matt gold and white, the box contains nine deliciously different creations combining the finest Swiss chocolate and biscuit.

Alongside its hero products, Chocolat Frey is aware of the need for innovation within the sector. Last year it introduced its creative Message for You concept enabling purchasers to choose from one of three designs and then create their own chocolate message for the recipient. “We have designs aimed at messages for loved ones, for family and for friends; it’s a really innovative idea because it enables the gifter to put together a very personal message from the wide range of options available on each chocolate, “ says Rosenberg.

The combination of Hero products, innovative ideas and modern premium packaging will, believes Chocolat Frey, help it establish a much stronger foothold in travel retail over the next five years.

“We’re currently in the Top 15 brands within travel retail and we’d like to be within the Top 10, “ enthuses Rosenberg. “It’s ambitious but we believe possible. We’re supporting our offer with a very energetic program of instore activations and promotions at key airports this summer, along with intensive training for ground staff which is utterly vital,” she adds. “If store staff can become our brand ambassadors through their own understanding of just how wonderful Chocolat Frey is, then we are more than half way there!”

About Chocolat Frey. One of the oldest chocolate factories in Switzerland,  Chocolat Frey was founded in 1887 by brothers Robert and Max Frey who opened the first company in Aarau. In 1950 Chocolat Frey became part of the Migros Group, moving to its current production site in Buchs in 1967. In 1984 the company started exporting, initially with private label. Exporting of the Chocolat Frey brand began in 2008. In 2014 the company opened its first Chocolat Frey visitors centre in Buchs which this year is expected to attract more than 80,000 Swiss nationals and tourists from all over the world.

Chocolat Frey is highly committed to sustainability. UTZ certified since 2011, the company is dedicated to combatting the problems of poverty and child labour amongst cocoa plantations. As part of its work, Frey has built and finances 12 family homes in the SOS Children’s Village of Asiakwa in Ghana.

Employing some 900 people. Chocolat Frey processes over 10,000 tons of cocoa beans each year from Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Venezuela and Ghana. With 37% of the Swiss chocolate market by volume, Frey represents uncompromising Swiss quality, know how, tradition and innovative strength.

THE KASE INTRODUCES POPUP STORES FOR TRAVEL RETAIL

THE KASE, a brand concept specialising in ready-to-wear and on-demand customised fashionable items for smartphones, tablets and many more products, is now offering space-saving popup stores designed with airport retail in mind.

There are three types available:

THE KASE standard popup measures at 464 x 311cm with no roof making it compatible with all airport ceiling heights. It features 360° client visibility for sales advisors and an anti-vandalism cover, ensuring product safety at all times.

The premium popup also measures 464 x 311cm but features an integrated roof for better stand security. The stand also features impactful communication thanks to four integrated popup imagery displays.

The prestige popup is slightly larger than the previous two, measuring 494cm x 410cm. This popup allows for a wider range of products to be displayed and is large enough to allow customer walk-in. 

THE KASE’s objective is to become the world leader in fashion accessories for smartphones and tablets, a market that promises strong growth over the next decade. So far, THE KASE has opened 70 domestic stores in less than three years, with a team of over 5000 designers who have collectively created over 45,000 designs for over 100 difference personal devices. It opened its first airport store earlier this year at Manila NAIA.

Says Steve Rosenblum, CEO & Founder of THE KASE: “The flexibility of THE KASE system makes it absolutely perfect for travel retail, no matter the space available. The development of these popup stores creates even more opportunity for airport authorities and retailers to introduce a totally unique offer for customers with excellent margins and profitability.”

The KASE HISTORY

• 5 stores in Paris and surrounds open in December 2012!

• Acquisition of 114 stores from The Phone House July 2013 (formerly Best Buy Europe) 65

   stores opened by December 2013, 140 stores globally today

• Asia: Singapore first opening May 2013 (Ion Orchard), Hong-Kong first store November

   2013.

• Germany: Dusseldorf September 2013, Belgium November 2013

• USA: Staten Island Mall NY, Westfield Connecticut Post CT, Providence Place Mall RI

   Opening December 2013,  Garden State Plaza NJ March 2014.

• First Franchise store opens November 2013 in Belgium. Today 20 franchise stores      

   operated worldwide in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Philippines, Indonesia, Dubai, Saudi   

   Arabia, Turkey, South Africa.

• First Airport shop opens February 2015 at Manila NAIA

Steve & Jean-Emile Rosenblum

In 2000 Jean Emile and Steve Rosenblum launched the e-commerce site Pixmania.com which in 2011 generated sales of over €900 million. 35% of the sales were in France and the rest of the business came from 25 European countries with 1400 employees and a monthly traffic of 30 million unique visitors. Originally created to sell photographic equipment, by 2012 the product range included such diversified sectors as consumer electronics to jewellery, to baby products. The two founders also developed a marketplace allowing thousands of business partners to have access to their customer base. With their subsidiary e-merchant, they became a major player in the delegated e-commerce sector. After selling Pixmania to Dixons Retail for 366M€ enterprise value, and leaving their operational roles in 2012, the 2 brothers founded The Kase to become a worldwide player in the fashion accessories retail business.

E

PVM appoints new Area Manager for APAC

Perfetti Van Melle has strengthened its travel retail team with a dedicated person to cover the Asia Pacific region.

Estee Teo was appointed Area Manager APAC including Australia and New Zealand as of July 1st.

Estee has spent the last 7 years in the FMCG industry with experience in key account management as well as distributor management. She started her career with Procter & Gamble (Singapore) before moving to a Malaysian privately owned noodle and snacks company managing distributors in the region. She also has experience in new product development, opening new markets in white space as well as brand building in developed markets.

Says Susan De Vree, PVM Manager Global Travel Retail: “Although new to the travel retail market, I am very confident that Estee will integrate easily and will be an asset to both us and our customers. We wish Estee much success in her new role.”

New Furla store in Macau exceeds all expectations

Premium leather goods company Furla says it is delighted with initial sell-through at its new location at Macau International Airport.

In the first two months since opening the 10 sq m personalised corner with King Power Duty Free Company Ltd, Furla says sales of its Spring Summer 2015 collection have exceeded all expectations. The location is also now offering Autumn Winter 2015 Pre-fall collection which, says Furla Global Travel Retail Director Gerry Munday: “shows every indication of proving equally popular”.

“Many thanks to King Power for their support with this opening,” continues Munday. “We have opened many new stores in airports across Asia this year, all have proven to be a success and we look forward to opening many more in the months to follow.”

GLENFIDDICH RESIDENCE CASK VINTAGE 1992 LAUNCH EVENT - A WILLIAM GRANT & SONS & DFS COLLABORATION

Glenfiddich, the World’s Most Awarded single malt Scotch whisky, collaborates with DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, to launch the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992 at DFS Singapore Changi Airport. 

Glenfiddich brand ambassador engaging with guests

Head Cooper, Ian McDonald, demonstrating his skills

Malt Master, Brian Kinsman introducing the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992

   Rachel Tan, General Manager DFS Singapore Changi Airport; Justin Weston, Managing Director Global Travel Retail, William Grant & Sons; Patricia Sim, Regional Merchandising Manager, DFS Group

The Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992 edition is one of the highlights within the Glenfiddich Rare Collection made up of an ensemble of single cask releases handpicked by Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, reflecting the classic taste profile of Glenfiddich.

At a closed door event for a select group of DFS VIPs, guests were invited to immerse themselves in the Glenfiddich experience through engaging ways, including personal interactions with Malt Master Brian Kinsman himself.

Ian McDonald, head cooper from the Glenfiddich cooperage in Dufftown Scotland, gave demonstrations of his unique craft, disassembling and assembling the whisky barrel with speed and dexterity only possible with 46 years of honing the skill.

At tasting stations comprising of the Glenfiddich Cask Collection, Age of Discovery range and the luxury range of 21 and 25 Years Old, carefully paired canapés were served, ensuring the perfect harmony of tastes. Exclusive sessions with Malt Master Brian Kinsman were also held in a private room where he shared intimate insights into the art and romance of whisky making while tasting a very rare Glenfiddich 1973.

Upon unveiling the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992, guests tasted the exquisite whisky for the first time as Malt Master Brian Kinsman took the audience through the nuances of its aromas, taste and finish of his unique personal creation.

Scott Hamilton, APAC Travel Retail Director said: “This event is more than a launch of an exceptional whisky. It is a great example of the close and successful partnership between DFS Singapore Changi Airport and William Grant and Sons. We have the opportunity to showcase our unique range of products to the right audience and for DFS, they keep their privileged customers excited, giving them more reasons to stay loyal to the DFS & Glenfiddich brands. We are thrilled to have this opportunity and I certainly look forward to the next exclusive launch with DFS.”   

“For over 30 years DFS has connected travellers and wines and spirits lovers at Changi Airport by offering a unique and exclusive product offering,” said Brooke Supernaw, Senior Vice President, Global Merchandising – Spirits, Wine & Tobacco. “We’re thrilled to continue that journey as we bring the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992 exclusively to DFS, creating once again, an opportunity for our valued customers to have their own piece of history.”

In true bespoke fashion worthy of the exceptional whisky, the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Vintage 1992 bottles are individually numbered and presented in hand-crafted leather boxes featuring detailed cask information.

As part of the Glenfiddich Residence Cask Programme in partnership with DFS, shoppers have the option to personalise the foot label upon purchase to either remember their unique travel experience or as a personalised gift for someone special. Owners of these exclusive bottles can also fill out a beautiful leather bound ledger book which will be sent back to the distillery and put on display, becoming a part of the Glenfiddich history.

Matured in American Oak (ex-Bourbon) cask number 8247, this 22 year old spirit is distilled in 1992 and bottled at cask strength of 58.7%. The release is limited to only 200 bottles and exclusively available to DFS.

This launch coincides with the opening of the Glenfiddich Residence Changi, a shop-in-shop at DFS’s new double-storey Wines and Spirits flagship store at Terminal 3 Changi Airport where shoppers can experience the Glenfiddich provenance through beautiful displays and have the opportunity to taste a variety of whiskies, while learning more about Glenfiddich through our brand ambassadors.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

Tasting notes:

Colour

Golden

Nose

Classic expression of Glenfiddich with ripe pear, baked apple and vanilla oak. With a few drops of water the aroma opens up, revealing further layers of cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted almonds

Taste

Rich and mellow with a deep oakiness. Layers of vanilla, creamy toffee, spiced fruit and tangy orange marmalade

Finish  

A rich, long lasting sweetness

For further information and photography, please contact Nigel Ng from
William Grant & Sons Singapore:

– nigel.ng@wgrant.com   +65 9796 5596

About William Grant & Sons and Glenfiddich

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1886. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s favourite single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch Grant’s® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry®, Milagro® Tequila and, most recently, Tullamore D.E.W Irish Whiskey

Recent Awards:

International Spirits Challenge 2013

·     Gold : Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

·     Gold: Glenfiddich 18 Year Old

·     Gold: Glenfiddich 30 Year Old

·     Gold: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

·     Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish

·     Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve

·     Gold: Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Edition

·     Gold: Glenfiddich Ultimate 38 Year Old

Scotch Whisky Masters Awards 2013

·       Master: Glenfiddich 15 Year Old

·       Master: Glenfiddich Ultimate 38 Year Old

·       Master: Glenfiddich 125^th Anniversary Edition

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Rich Oak

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 18 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

International Wine and Spirit Competition 2013

·       Trophy for Single Malt Cask Strength: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

·       Gold Outstanding: Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 30 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 21 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 15 Year Old

·       Gold: Glenfiddich Rich oak

·       Gold: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

Click on www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands.