cannes travel retail 2023

Cannes yacht encounter triggered alleged $1.8 billion fraud that put Malaysia’s ex-prime minister in prison

It began with a meeting on a  yacht  off the coast of Cannes in the summer of 2009. The newly-elected prime minister of Malaysia was aboard at the invitation of businessman Jho Low and Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid. The men had gathered   to explore deals for Malaysia’s new economic development fund, 1MDB. 

Fifteen years later, the prime minister is in a Malaysian prison serving  time  for corruption. Low, the alleged mastermind behind the  $4.5 billion  defrauding of 1MDB, remains at large. And Obaid and his business partner Patrick Mahony will stand trial at Switzerland’s top criminal court on April 2, accused of creating a sham oil exploration company through which they stole more than $1.8 billion in 1MDB funds.  

Neither Mahony or Obaid have spoken in public about their deals with Jho Low, a round-faced businessman they nicknamed ‘Chunk.’ The month-long trial, set in Switzerland because the two men based their business there, may reveal fresh details about the fugitive, who is suspected of pulling off arguably the biggest financial heist of the 21st century. Mahony   has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. A lawyer for Obaid didn’t return multiple messages seeking comment on the charges.

It’s also a chance for Switzerland, seen as a soft touch on white-collar criminals, to demonstrate it can be tough on financial crime. A former Coutts & Co. banker found guilty in 2020 of failing to flag money-laundering concerns related to a $700 million transfer made by Low was fined just 50,000 Swiss francs ($55,700). 

Prosecutors claim that the pair worked with Low on the scheme from as early as 2009, and the amounts at stake make it one of the largest frauds that Low allegedly helped orchestrate.

Mahony has been charged with criminal mismanagement, fraud, bribery and aggravated money-laundering, according to the 213-page indictment, with Obaid accused of all that and forgery. A conviction just on fraud charges carries a prison sentence of as much as 10 years, though in many Swiss cases, the sentence is suspended.  

In the indictment, Swiss prosecutors lay out the pair’s alleged scheme — which, they say, included negotiating on behalf of a Saudi king they had no mandate from, while claiming the rights to a Caspian Sea oilfield that they never controlled — from that first Mediterranean meeting in 2009. 

A lawyer for Obaid didn’t return emails seeking comment on the charges against her client. Laurent Baeriswyl, a lawyer for Mahony, said by email that the indictment is the result of a “totally biased and incomplete investigation.”

The Swiss Attorney General’s Office “ignored all the facts which did not correspond to its thesis, contrary to what the law requires” and so “our client therefore strongly contests the facts as they emerge from the indictment and he will defend his rights before the Federal Criminal Court.”

Saudi Connections?

Obaid founded oil exploration company Petrosaudi in 2005 with his acquaintance Prince Turki Bin Abdullah al Saud, determined to capitalize on the connections that royal name could enable. 

But even with that woven into the company’s pitch, the ambitious 30-year-old still needed cash. He had secured a modest loan through Patrick Mahony, a former classmate from private school in Geneva, who would become Petrosaudi’s unofficial chief investment officer in 2009, according to the indictment. But he needed more, prosecutors say, and turned to Low.

Communicating only through encrypted BlackBerry messages and private email accounts, the three men got to work on the company. But according to the indictment, their strategy had little to do with oil exploration. 

Prosecutors highlighted emails among the three men to drive home their argument that Petrosaudi didn’t control the assets it purported to have, nor did it have the Saudi monarch’s blessing. According to one sent in mid-September 2009 before an introductory call with a 1MDB executive, it was imperative to “hint that PSI is indirectly owned by King Abdullah.”

Turki, the seventh son of the late King Abdullah, isn’t accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Petrosaudi, and didn’t exercise any operational role within the company, according to prosecutors. Turki was one of several princes detained in November 2017 by Saudi Arabia’s defacto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, and his current whereabouts are unclear. 

Turkmeni Oil

Following the Cannes   meeting, Obaid proposed that 1MDB and Petrosaudi create a joint venture to exploit Petrosaudi’s stake in a Turkmeni oilfield. Obaid laid out in writing, according to prosecutors, that Petrosaudi would bring “$2 billion worth of its assets in the energy sector into the joint-venture company.” 

There was one problem: Petrosaudi didn’t own the oilfield or the rights to it, but was rather in stalled negotiations with a firm that had paid $10 million to buy up the rights. But those paper rights were essentially worthless as the oilfield lay in waters whose ownership was disputed by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. 

So Obaid turned to an oil consultant and old family friend to value the oilfield. Nine days later, he produced a report that put the “fair net present value” of the assets at between $2.98 billion and $4.06 billion.

With that hefty valuation in writing and the Saudi royal family’s backing established in the minds of 1MDB executives, the board of directors signed off on Sept. 26, 2009, and two days later authorized the transfer of $1 billion to bank accounts held by the new joint venture, 1MDB PetroSaudi. 

Three hundred million of that went to an account controlled by Obaid, according to prosecutors. The remaining $700 million went to GoodStar, which was falsely presented as a unit of PetroSaudi but was in fact a Seychelles-based entity controlled by Low. On Oct. 5, the businessman wired $85 million of that to an account held in Obaid’s name. Obaid, in turn, wired $33 million to Mahony on Oct. 21. 

The following year, prosecutors allege that the pair set about extracting additional money from 1MDB. Obaid had persuaded the fund to turn the joint venture into a loan facility and he drew down $500 million, ostensibly to invest in French oil company GDF Suez.

Newly flush, the pair appeared keen to distribute the funds quickly, emails show.  

“Right now we are in a good situation because we have this money in a clean and proper legal way so there is nothing anybody can do to us,” Mahony wrote to Obaid in September 2010. 

The next day, he transferred $300 million into Obaid’s personal account and the remaining $200 million to Petrosaudi accounts he controlled, according to prosecutors. 

Then in 2011, Obaid drew down again, this time for $330 million, prosecutors allege. To pressure the Malaysians to accept, he reminded them of how King Abdullah helped evacuate Malaysian Muslims during the Arab Spring protests, and how he had increased the quota of Malaysian Muslims able to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. 

Between 2009 and the end of 2011, prosecutors say that the men took a total of $1.83 billion from 1MDB, with Obaid personally pocketing $580 million, and Mahony, $37 million. 

Bangkok Prison

Obaid and Mahony’s 2023 indictment was based in part on the testimony of Xavier Justo, the third employee at Petrosaudi. After just a year at the company, Justo left and was arrested in Thailand in June 2015. Convicted of attempted blackmail in what he says was a conspiracy on the part of Obaid, Mahony and the Malaysian authorities to silence him, the Swiss national spent 18 months in prison before his country’s government intervened to help get him released. 

Documents Justo shared with  The Sarawak Report,  a blog focused on corruption in Malaysia, led to the first  expose  of the Petrosaudi pair in 2015. He published a  book  last year, co-written with his wife, chronicling his experience with the two men. 

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission flagged its own arrest warrants for Obaid and Mahony to Interpol in early 2020. It’s unclear if they were ever detained and Swiss prosecutors declined to say whether they ordered their arrest. 

Years on, Justo says he hopes that his country’s justice system will now do the right thing.  

“This is the perfect opportunity for Switzerland to show the world that it is serious about fighting financial crime and that it is prepared to punish those who perpetrate it,” he said.

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Parent item expand the sub menu, travel retail resets to a ‘new normal’.

Shifting purchasing behavior and uneven geographic and product category recoveries are helping to transform the business.

European Beauty Editor

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CANNES, France — A new normal.

That is what travel retail beauty executives are grappling with and focused on during the recent TFWA World Exhibition and Conference.

The Cannes, France-based event, held from Oct. 1 to 5, was fittingly dubbed “Open World” by trade show organizers. Everything is now open to discussion and analysis, as travel retail resembles nothing like it did in 2019, pre-coronavirus pandemic.

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“The world has shifted dramatically since 2019,” said Alexandre Callens, president global travel retail at Groupe Clarins.

“Everything has changed,” agreed Giovanni Sgariboldi, Euroitalia president.

Beauty is a bellwether for travel retail. With about a 40 percent share, perfume and cosmetics was by far the number-one category sales-wise in the channel’s almost $65 billion business in 2022, with more than 60 percent year-over-year growth, according to Generation Research. Behind beauty comes wine and spirits, and fashion and accessories, with about 15 percent each.

Among beauty categories overall, skin care generated more than half of total sales, followed by fragrance and makeup.

Beauty executives at TFWA percolated with excitement, ideas and optimism, with many saying their business had already surpassed 2019 levels, despite the fact that Chinese consumers — traditionally top luxury cosmetics spenders, especially for skin care — are still not traveling beyond their country’s borders.

“There is plenty of positivity around duty-free and travel retail at the moment,” said Erik Juul-Mortensen, president of TFWA, during the opening conference. “People are hungry to travel again…but we are not quite back to where we were in 2019.”

Overall passenger numbers by the end of 2023 are expected to reach 90 percent of 2019 levels, according to travel analytics company ForwardKeys, a travel analytics company. It estimates the Americas and Middle East and Africa regions should be up 101 and 105 percent, respectively, while Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions to be at 94 and 70 percent, respectively, of the 2019 levels.

ForwardKeys forecasts the global 2019 level of international Chinese passengers will be reached in 2026, but that some regions such as the Middle East and the Americas should recover earlier, in 2025.

“The surge in air traffic, although welcome, has created some staffing problems, since 43 percent of airport workers worldwide left the sector during the pandemic,” said Mortensen, citing Air Transport Action Group statistics. “It remains true travelers are returning, but buying habits have evolved.”

“The channel must adapt to the evolution of the worldwide population and the traffic,” said Antonin Carreau, global director for beauty at Dufry Group, which will soon be called Avolta.

“Our world is largely dominated by the younger generation valuing experience, digitalization and social responsibility,” said Carreau, who noted a greater demand for luxury experiences, such as personalization, cocreations and exclusive events.

Some challenges have a bright side.

“From a macro level, the challenge — and the opportunity — is traffic recovery,” said Israel Assa, global president, travel retail at the Estée Lauder Cos. “As traffic grows, the industry has the opportunity to grow with it.”

Yet it’s not always a perfect equation.

“Even though traffic is recovering strongly, average spend per passenger is below pre-pandemic levels,” said Mortensen.

To help ramp up in-store penetration, L’Oréal is accelerating digital activations for preflight marketing, according to Vincent Boinay, the group’s outgoing general manager for travel retail worldwide, who early next year will become president of the the company’s North Asia zone and chief executive officer of L’Oréal China.

Gebr. Heinemann is taking a similar approach.

“That’s where we see big opportunities for us to make sure that more customers buy in our stores,” said Britta Hoffmann, director of purchasing for perfumes and cosmetics at the German operator.

A TFWA-commissioned study suggests the travel retail industry must transition from a one-size-fits-all approach to a segmented value proposition tailored to each customer category.

“This is where we have collectively, as a trinity, a challenge,” said Boinay, referring to the triumvirate of suppliers, retailers and airports.

Other factors are shaping travel retail’s new normal, too. Yaël Blassin, regional director at Interparfums SA, highlighted a rise in special offers in European travel retail doors.

“For the retailers, it now represents 15 percent to 20 percent of their fragrance business,” she said.

“One of the challenges is the massive discounts we see in the beauty category everywhere,” said Hoffmann.

This has a large knock-on effect.

Another concern voiced by executives is the vast number of products in store.

“The biggest challenge is the reduction in space [for existing brands], because retailers are listing more and more,” said Blassin.

Experiential Retail

A key phrase of this 38th edition of TFWA — which clocked 7,385 attendees, up 23 percent versus 2022 and down just 2 percent against 2019 levels — was “experiential retail.”

“We have to provide experiences, retail-tainment,” said Bommier. “It’s not a transactional relationship anymore. In our shops, we need to adapt our concept, our journey, which must be seamless.”

In Cannes, DFS revealed it will open a “seven star” luxury retail and entertainment destination in Hainan, China, by 2026. That is to spread more than 1.38 million square feet and carry more than 1,000 luxury brands. Called DFS Yalong Bay, it is the largest project ever conceived by the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned travel retail operator, and will also boast immersive concepts.

Category-specific, DFS reopened a renovated and expanded store, called Beauty Store of the Future, in Galaxy Macau in late October 2022.

“This is the type of experiential retail, catering to one category only, which is beauty, that encapsulates what we’re aspiring to do,” said Benjamin Vuchot, CEO of DFS Group.

The location offers a wide selection of products and services. There are Valmont luxury treatment rooms with a full-service menu, for instance, and artisanal fragrances from the likes of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Le Labo and Diptyque.

“[They are] very beautiful brands that require a little bit more space to narrate what they’re all about,” said Vuchot.

Digital touch points are important, as well.

“We wanted to make sure that those touch points that people see online are replicated in the store,” he said.

The Beauty Store of the Future has a studio for livestreaming.

DFS sets out to create “destinations within destinations,” said Vuchot.

Heinemann is working to further expand and diversify its assortments, while focusing on innovation, new concepts and experiences. In the Düsseldorf, airport, for instance, the operator opened its Test and Learn concept.

“We have dedicated spaces for the beauty category specifically, for online brands that are targeting Gen Z — assortments that maybe we don’t typically have in duty-free,” said Hoffmann. “The first learnings is that it works super well.”

Every three to six months, the concept and brands here will change, and Test and Learn is expected to roll out to other airports.

Perfume Mania

In travel retail, as in the domestic market, fragrance — especially high-end perfume — is driving the beauty category’s growth. In 2022, fragrance was the second-largest category overall, after skin care, which makes more than half of beauty’s overall sales, according to Generation.

“Fragrance was traditionally a very large segment of the European and Latin American businesses, but the fantastic thing is that we’re seeing very strong growth for artisanal and luxury fragrance from the Asia-Pacific region,” said Assa. “So, it’s truly a global phenomenon.”

“It’s a lever of growth in the months and years to come,” said Bommier. “We will build this category with the brands.”

Other travel retail operators were quick to jump on the trend, too.

Dufry has developed an Haute Parfumerie concept, involving fragrance brands such as Penhaligon’s, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Acqua di Parma, Parfums de Marly and Amouage. The first location was launched in Zurich airport in March. The 1,940-square-foot, freestanding store has lots of digital assets, including fragrance finders.

“We’re looking into expanding the concept worldwide and evolving it from a store design and consumer standpoint,” said Carreau.

Puig has a rich portfolio of niche brands in very tight distribution. L’Artisan Parfumeur, for instance, is found in just 300 doors globally.

The company sets out to have a unique, dynamic offer in the channel. Beginning in July, it prelaunched Rabanne’s new image in Heathrow Airport T2.

“What we’ve seen is the amazing engagement of passengers with that new image and look, and that elevation of brand equity,” said Noens.

L’Artisan Parfumeur staged a pop-up in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, which has become a road map for further rollouts.

“Partnering with retailers to bring unique and different experiences is the only way we’re going to walk away from a price war that is a short-term element,” said Noens. “It’s not going to add value to the brand, the retailer or the landlord.”

Caroline Andreotti, CEO of Coty Prestige, said a fragrance brand like Chloé Atelier des Fleurs has hopped on a rising trend of perfume layering.

“We explain to the customers how they can layer different flowers together to get to a certain outcome,” she said, adding consumers are also layering ancillaries with scent to reinforce a perfumes’ long-lastingness.

Coty and others in the industry have noted the increasing importance of travel retail exclusives today.

“You have discovery sets,” said Markus Stauss, vice president of global marketing travel retail at Coty, citing as an example a coffret with five bestselling perfumes in 10-ml. spray bottles.

Molton Brown keeps rolling out its “fragrance first” strategy in travel retail.

“There’s such a demand from our consumer for services, individualization and personalization. Traditionally, those have been saved for our high-street locations,” said Mark Johnson, president of Molton Brown global, who earlier this year was also appointed president of cosmetics business AEMEA at parent company Kao Corp. “But now what we see is within the travel retail industry, the consumer no longer has that divide.”

Inspired by its global flagship on London’s Regent Street, Molton Brown reworked its T5 location in Heathrow Airport to become a space focused on perfume, with a gift bar and engraving. That reopened in November 2022.

“We’ve really worked on Atkinson to rebuild the image, fragrances, exposure and distribution,” said Sgariboldi. “We are ready to raise the visibility and presence of Atkinson in duty free.”

Retail-tainment and exclusives are also names of the game for perfume. The Estée Lauder Cos., among other groups, has been launching some products in travel retail before the domestic market. Tom Ford introduced a two-month exclusive preview of its Grey Vetiver fragrance in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region starting in April.

“It was an incredible success,” said Assa.

For the exclusive launch of Coty’s Boss Bottled Summer Edition 2023, there was a cross-category animation with Heinemann, including eyewear, watches and fashion, as well as immersive experiences in Frankfurt Airport, also in April. That included a surfboard with virtual-reality simulation and a photo booth with a surfboard and ocean backdrop.

“It was really to bring them into the universe of Boss as a brand,” said Stauss.

“More and more consumers are looking at travel retail to discover innovation that they don’t see in the domestic market,” said Andreotti.

In July, Coty introduced Burberry Goddess in travel retail worldwide for a one-month exclusive. The group said the launch is setting new market records.

Events — with glitter and a giant logo — for Jimmy Choo’s I Want Choo were staged in the channel in the U.K. a few times this year.

“For travel retail, [the concept] has to be understood immediately, because people are stressed, they do not have much time,” said Blassin.

Skin Care and Makeup

While perfume is booming, skin care and makeup sales are taking longer to recover in travel retail.

In part, that’s due to the fact fewer Chinese are traveling abroad, which has allowed beauty brands and retailers outside China to become less reliant on skin care.

“It’s more diversified, the growth footprint,” said Peter Jueptner, group president, international at the Estée Lauder Cos.

Still, the category’s business is picking up.

In China Duty Free’s International Duty Free Mall Xin Hai Gang, in Haikou, China, the Estée Lauder Cos. opened some treatment rooms for some of its brands, marking a first for the group in travel retail.

Assa said that has been well received from an experiential perspective.

“The consumer now has the ability not just to shop, but also be pampered while they shop, and that definitely resonates with the luxury, higher-end consumer,” he said.

Carreau expects by mid-2024 skin care sales in travel retail will reach 2019 levels, even without the full recovery of Chinese footfall.

At DFS, people have been seeking out clean beauty.

“I’m particularly interested also now in bringing products that are good for hair and sun care,” said Vuchot.

DFS launched in Galaxy and The Londoner, in Macau, an area called Beauty Collective, which gives an opportunity to bring in more indie brands. Its 2.0 version is due to be revealed late this year, and the rollout will include Hysan in Hong Kong in December.

Dufry has been developing and launching a well-being concept dubbed Mind. Body. Soul., which works cross-category.

“It proves to be successful in recruiting consumers,” said Carreau.

Noelle Goris, vice president global travel retail and distributor markets at La Prairie Group, has also noted momentum ramping up again for skin care.

“We are ready,” she said. “We are gearing up our BA capacity and capability.”

Over the past year, while La Prairie has closed about 15 doors in the channel, the brand’s footprint in square meters has grown 10 percent.

“We gained in terms of quantity of space, but also a lot in terms of quality of space,” said Goris, adding the brand is gaining market share most everywhere.

La Prairie is implementing more services and a channel-related offer. In February, with Heinemann, it opened an Art of Beauty suite with two facial cabins in Sydney International Airport. This month, it launched its first travel retail discovery set.

“You have a full ritual,” said Goris.

Meanwhile, Groupe Clarins’ travel retail sales are today substantially above 2019 levels, according Callens. The company in September began launching its Precious prestige skin care range in travel retail in almost 90 doors, of which almost half are in Asia.

In the channel overall, the group is homing in on a seamless omnichannel approach, with the goal of having the Clarins consumers’ data shared between the travel retail and the domestic markets, to give clients a seamless experience.

“How do we fully integrate and recognize the loyalty of our consumer across the world, across the distribution channel, across all sorts of retailer barriers?” mused Callens.

It’s been a bit easier for Clarins to achieve that in Asia, especially China, due to the WeChat mini programs and the Tencent ecosystem allowing the company to engage and collect data through the equivalent of WhatsApp.

L’Oréal, with its portfolio of brands spanning dermocosmetics to hair care, and luxury to mass market products, sets out to sell beauty for all travelers, according to Boinay.

L’Oréal Paris, in an extension of a study begun last year, asked travelers on the Chinese island of Hainan why they enter travel retail stores. Thirteen percent said it was due to the accessible-luxury brand L’Oréal Paris. Of those that purchased L’Oréal Paris in the channel, 68 percent bought another brand, as well.

“So L’Oréal Paris is really a traffic driver and has tremendous recruitment power,” said Karina Behar-Lecuiller, general manager of the Consumer Products Division Travel Retail Worldwide at L’Oréal, while standing near a merchandising unit showcasing the new mascara Panorama.

Color cosmetics is the beauty category taking the most recovery time.

“Makeup will come back more strongly,” said Jueptner. “If you look at makeup today, it’s still behind significantly. We think it’s a matter of time. There’s a big opportunity to reinvent and upgrade the experience you have with makeup.”

Sustainability Minded

A sustainability focus has amped up in the channel of travel retail and at TFWA, where L’Oréal and Heinemann revealed a new partnership.

“We will be embarking on a collaborative green road map,” said Kim Rowney, travel retail sustainability director at L’Oréal.

Guido Tappesser, chief commercial officer of L’Oréal travel retail, explained that since the health crisis began, consumers have been demanding more sustainable products and brands with a purpose.

The first step of the tie-in will concern product assortment within Heinemann’s Future Friendly concept, slated to have a global rollout starting in 2024. The partnership will be wide-reaching, including CO2 emission reduction, cooperating on social projects and customer engagement.

“We are super convinced that our business can be green and profitable,” said Hoffmann.

Executives strongly believe in the health of travel retail mid- to long-term.

“All the fundamental drivers are intact,” said Jueptner. “You will have more people traveling, more middle class in the emerging markets, more people getting a passport.

“We’ve been through this COVID disruption and have seen amazing recovery in EMEA and the Americas,” he continued. “We’re basically back to where we were before — and then some. The recovery in China, particularly, is taking more time than everybody expected, but it will come eventually.”

This is a period of transition, but also a great opportunity for industry reinvention, according to Jueptner. 

“It opens up the space to do more from a segmentation perspective, with different traveling corridors and travel nationalities,” said Assa.

“It’s a very interesting period of time, because it’s time to reset,” said Callens. “Forget about 2019 — have the same ambition or bigger ambition for performance. But the methodology behind 2019, which was for everybody the record year, doesn’t work. We need to change ingredients and make a different recipe.

“Forget about what we know,” he said.

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Winners revealed: Global Travel Retail Awards 2023

By Faye Bartle | Tuesday, 3 October 2023 21:56

The winners of the 2023 Global Travel Retail Awards were announced at a glittering ceremony at Hôtel Martinez in Cannes earlier this evening.

Organised by TRBusiness and m1nd-set, the Travel Retail Awards is the duty free and travel retail industry’s only awards programme that’s voted for entirely by consumers.

This year’s edition attracted a 38% rise in the number of entries, compared to 2022, with a bumper influx of product entries and an impressive number of consumer-conscious stakeholders being attracted by the refreshed lineup of promotion and CSR awards.

The atmosphere was electric, with a packed room of stakeholders from around the world cheering on the winners as they stepped up onto the stage to collect their trophies.

The awards were introduced by TRBusiness Editorial Director, Luke Barras-Hill, and presented by Managing Editor Digital & Marketing Faye Bartle.

On top of enjoying the exciting ceremony, ticket holders received welcome drinks, an attendee gift bag packed with fabulous products, a premium dinner, and an afterparty featuring live band Brightlights.

Congratulations once again to all those who have been recognised. We encourage you to celebrate your success by utilising the ‘Voted by Shoppers’ logo on your packaging, at the point of sale and on your marketing materials. Research by m1nd-set has shown that 22% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product displaying the ‘Voted by Shoppers’ Finalist logo and nearly a third (31%) of consumers are more likely to purchase a product displaying the ‘Voted by Shoppers’ Winner logo.

Stay close to TRBusiness for the event video.

Please see below for the full this of winners…

And the winners are…

Best children’s product 2023, sponsored by bluedog group.

Winner: Morpho Travel Experience – Antonio: The Kindest Sloth Plush Toy

Highly Recommended:

Micro Mobility Systems AG – Micro Scooter Luggage Junior Mint

Best Confectionery & Food Product 2023

Sponsored by beam suntory.

Winner : Delica AG – Mahony Gift Pack

Butlers Chocolates – Butlers Mini Bar Collection Bag

Lindt & Sprüngli (Schweiz) AG – Lindt Swiss Masterpieces Box 143g/193g/386g

Best Electronics Product 2023 sponsored by WithIT

Winner: Skross – Wireless Bluetooth Audio Adapter

Best Fashion & Accessories Product 2023

Sponsored by cabeau.

– Winner: Storyteller represented by Travel Retail Bespoke – Storyteller FlagMate

Balance, Inc. – Balance Puffer Cosmetics Bags

Marine City Duty Free – Orobianco Dymmite Bag

Best Fragrance Product 2023 sponsored by Perfetti Van Melle

Winner: Coty International BV (HQ) – Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia

Ajmal Perfumes – Amber Wood

Coty International BV (HQ) – Burberry Goddess EDP

Best Low- & No-Alcohol Product 2023

Winner: Iris Vigneti – Bella Dream Gold

Caleño Drinks – Caleño Light & Zesty

Best Makeup Product 2023 sponsored by Artisan People

Winner: L’Oréal – L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara

Mavala – Mavala Mini Bio-Color

Coty International BV (HQ) – Burberry Foundation Beyond Wear Perfecting Matte Foundation n20

Best Nicotine (non-combustible) Product 2023

Winner: Philip Morris International – IQOS ILUMA WE Limited Edition

Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product (under €40) 2023

Winner: L’Occitane Group – Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Revlon – Elizabeth Arden: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide 3×7 Capsules Tin

Dr. PawPaw Ltd – Dr. PawPaw It Does it All 7 in 1 Hair Treatment Styler

Margaret Dabbs London in partnership with GMAX Travel Retail – Firming Leg Serum

Best Skincare, Haircare, Bath & Body Product (over €40) 2023 sponsored by Beam Suntory

Winner: Dr. Levy Switzerland – The Intense Eye Rescue

Coty International BV – Sun Illuminating Cream SPF50

Dr. Levy Switzerland – 4 Miracles Mask & Stem Cell Cure

L’Oréal – Kérastase Genesis Anti Hair Fall Fortifying Serum

Best Spirits Product (under €40) 2023

Winner: Anora – Koskenkorva Climate Action Vodka

Anora – Skagerrak Nordic Gin

LCWS Brands, LDA – Per Se Aperitif

Anora – Valhalla Herb Liqueur Shot

The House of Somrus – Somrus Rum Cream Liqueur

Best Spirits Product (over €40) 2023 sponsored by Bluedog Group

Winner: Pernod Ricard – Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Grand Cru Margaux Wine Cask Finish

William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail – Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection

Levante Spirits – Ginepraio: Organic Mediterranean Dry Gin

Whyte & Mackay Travel Retail – Jura Islanders’ Expressions No. 2

Best Sustainable Product 2023 sponsored by Moroccanoil

Sustainaholics – Sustainaholics Aluminis

Dolphin Innovations GmbH – Tru Virtu Click & Slide Wallet Vegan Bio Apple Black-Red/Silver

Best Travel Accessory 2023 sponsored by Haribo

Winner: Beter – Deslía Pop Up Brush Retractable Bristles

SKROSS – The Original Swiss Pillow by SKROSS

Cabeau – The Neck’s Evolution S3 Travel Pillow

Best Watches & Jewellery Product 2023 sponsored by Cabeau

Winner: E. Gluck Corporation – Nine West Textured Flower Dial Faux Leather Strap

Noranorway AS – Nora Norway Link Set

Best Wines Product 2023

Winner: Penfolds Global Travel Retail (Treasury Wine Estates) – Penfolds 2018 Bin 169

Ogier – Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes: Les Chorégies blanc 2021

Best Charity Initiative 2023 sponsored by Proximo

Winner: Cabeau – Clean Hub

Best Diversity & Inclusion Initiative 2023 sponsored by Haribo

Winner: Starboard Cruise Services – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Starboard

VSPT Wine Group – Tayu

Best Sustainable Initiative 2023 sponsored by Beam Suntory

Winner: Lagardère Travel Retail – The Future is Local

Enviro-Point – Biotransformation STEBs: Replacing a Single Use Plastic Problem

Best Airport Commercial Promotion 2023 sponsored by Perfetti Van Melle

Winner: Heathrow Airport – Hacienda Patrόn: Heathrow Terminal 5

Duty Zero by cdf – 5th Anniversary ‘Barley & Beats’ Pop-Up Digital Installation

Frankfurt Airport – That’s Before Tomato Juice

Best Cruise & Supplier Promotion 2023 sponsored by Moroccanoil

Winner : Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Norwegian Cruise Line Private Island

Best Retailer & Supplier Promotion 2023 sponsored by E.Gluck

Winner: Brown-Forman – Woodford Reserve: The Sensory Lounge

Qatar Duty Free – Oreo Day

Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail – Lotte Duty Free Changi Airport Pop-Up Boutiques

Best Overall Product

L’Occitane Group – Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

To find out more, visit www.travelretailawards.com.

Thank you to our event partners.

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• women in travel

TFWA World 2023

october, 2023

mon 02 oct All Day thu 05 TFWA World 2023 Palais des Festivals

october 2 (Monday) - 5 (Thursday) (GMT+02:00)

Event Details

The annual Duty-Free & Travel Retail Global Summit in Cannes – TFWA is a premium exhibition and conference uniting the retail and travel sector. From 2nd to 5th October 2023, local and international

The annual  Duty-Free & Travel Retail Global Summit  in Cannes –  TFWA  is a premium exhibition and conference uniting the retail and travel sector. From  2nd to 5th October 2023 , local and international travelers, attendees, delegates and business owners will convene at the  Palais des Festivals et des Congres  to draw the market-shaping trends of the upcoming buying season.

Exhibitors across the duty-free retail shop value chain will present a complete overview of the sector spanning  Confectionery, electronics/Travel accessories, Cosmetics,  and other verticals. TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2023 attracts many brands, buyers, and vendors with its immaculate networking and relaxed social atmosphere catering to open business discussions. Find new prospects, partners, and plans guaranteed to prepare your business for the recent trends in the  TFWA  sector.

Seminars and workshops during  The TFWA Conference  will illuminate essential topics and the latest industry trends.  TFWA World Expo 2023  visitors will enjoy the advanced presentations and fresh ideas revealing innovative business strategies that will likely boost your business output.

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The Spirits Business

Top spirits stands at tfwa 2023.

With lockdowns around the globe being a thing of the past, this year’s Tax Free World Association event in Cannes is set to welcome the world.

There are still a couple of challenges facing us, particularly around stock issues, and getting the right product to the right place, as well as recruiting and retaining good staff,” notes a spokesperson for the Tax Free World Association (TFWA) about the global travel retail (GTR) channel. “However, we have undoubtedly seen a good recovery in wines and spirits sales in duty free this year.”

It’s a stark contrast to a couple of years ago, when the industry was gripped by Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns – and is a welcome recovery for those in the thick of travel retail. This year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference looks set to deliver a show much closer in comparison with the 2019 pre-pandemic offering – and show organisers are excited to welcome exhibitors and delegates back to the South of France from 1-5 October.

Exhibition space has been increased for 2023 – more in keeping with the floorspace enjoyed before the pandemic.

“Visitor numbers will be significantly ahead of 2022, and will compare favourable with those of 2019,” the spokesperson says. “The increase in numbers has been driven in part by the recovery of the Asian market, with Asian buyers now able to travel more freely. We expect this year’s Cannes event to be a truly global affair.”

The much-anticipated TFWA World Conference is scheduled to kick off at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday 2 October at 9am.

TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen will deliver his opening speech before the 2023 keynote speaker, American journalist and author Bob Woodward, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, will take the stage. Woodward won the prestigious awards in 1973 for his investigative reporting on the Watergate scandal, and in 2003 for his work as a lead reporter on the coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Other speakers booked for the conference include professor and author Erin Meyer, author of The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business . She will cover topics such as leadership, business trends, diversity and the future of work.

Economist, entrepreneur and author Dr Pippa Malmgren, who served as a special assistant to US president George W Bush, is also lined up to speak. Her expertise will shed light on geopolitical risks and trends, economic policy, Brexit, and tech innovation.

“The TFWA Airport Forum workshop will return this year, giving delegates the opportunity to hear the findings of ACI’s ANARA working group on the future for non-aeronautical revenues,” a TFWA spokesperson adds. “With regards to the exhibition, we have more than 400 companies taking part, including around 70 new exhibitors, and our Beach Village and Ambassadors Village have been extended. Meanwhile, TFWA i.lab will be housed in a new location in the Golden Village inside the Palais des Festivals.”

The i.lab has been designed to be an ideas hub, with a forum for “fresh thinking” about all aspects of the traveller experience, and to showcase innovative ways to engage travelling consumers. Among the workshops planned for the week will be Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure, an anti-illicit trade campaign. The talk will take place from 8am on Wednesday 4 October at the Majestic Hotel.

As has come to be expected at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, there will be plenty of networking opportunities for attendees.

“An opening cocktail will be held on the Carlton Beach on Sunday evening, while the same location will host the popular TFWA Lounge from Monday to Wednesday, with both after-work and later night-time sessions taking place,” the TFWA spokesperson noted.

For those attending this year’s show, there are a number of spirits stands worth stopping by. We detail some of the brands to check out during the 2023 event.

Noblewood Group

Stand: L71, Green Village

Beluga vodka will showcase its extensive product portfolio produced with exquisite craftsmanship in the ecological state of Montenegro. The Beluga Vodka brand is presented on the world’s market with 5 products: Beluga Noble, Beluga Celebration, Beluga Transatlantic Racing, Beluga Allure, and Beluga Gold Line. The stand will be dedicated to the brand’s bestselling product, Beluga Gold Line, which has become a symbol of prosperity and success.

Noblewood Group looks forward to one-to-one meetings with its long-term and new partners, introducing them to its renowned and iconic Beluga vodka from the Adriatic Riviera. The quality of its super-premium vodka has remained consistently high, and according to some experts, even surpasses it, benefitting from production in one of the most ecological countries in the world.

Andreas Ioannides, managing director at Noblewood Group, shared: “This year’s show is special for us as it represents the new beginning for the Beluga brand, its new origin, and the new milestones ahead of us.”

La Martiniquaise-Bardinet

Stand: K68, Green Village

There’s heaps to discover at La Martiniquaise-Bardinet’s stand during this year’s show. But first and foremost, the French drinks company will be proudly presenting its latest acquisition: Generous Gin.

The purchase was announced in April when La Martiniquaise-Bardinet took over Generous Gin’s parent company, Ôdevie Creative Spirits. Generous Gin is produced in the Cognac region of France.

In addition to the gin brand, there will be a number of exclusive Glen Moray Scotch whiskies for visitors to discover. Plus, 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Cutty Sark Scotch whisky , and the show will mark the final celebration of the iconic brand.

“Cannes is always about seeing our clients from around the world, especially from the Middle East and Africa,” said Donatien Ferrari, group communication manager, La Martniquaise-Bardinet.

Stand: B4, Blue Village

Visit Liviko in the Blue Village to engage in a unique sensory experience concept. Crafter’s Gin will be showcased through Crafter’s Sensory Potions , and guests will be able to experience ‘new horizons’ in the gin category.

The aim is to inspire visitors to think outside the box when it comes to gin. Furthermore, the stand will also spotlight Vana Tallinn Liqueur, known as Estonia’s signature liqueur, alongside Estonian vodkas Viru Valge, Bellingshausen, and Hõbe. “This year’s show is very important for us,” said Gloria Hallaste, export marketing specialist, Liviko. “We can’t wait to meet our friends and partners, and, of course, to introduce Crafter’s to new markets.

“We are also one of the product distribution sponsors of the TFWA Lounge – Crafter’s cocktails can be enjoyed at the Carlton Beach TFWA Lounge. We hope that the outcome is positive and successful for everyone.”

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Texas-made vodka brand Tito’s has remained loyal to its single vodka style – but will be showcasing a selection of bottle sizes to cater for all travel retail and duty free needs. Plus, the brand is bringing its ‘always popular’ Tito’s ‘Ugly Sweater’ travel retail-exclusive back in time for the festive season.

John McDonnell, managing director, international, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, said: “We’re looking forward to another terrific event this year. Being in Cannes is always a valuable opportunity to reconnect with our many distributor and retailer colleagues from around the world, and of course meet new friends too.”

While vodka drinkers worldwide become increasingly familiar with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the brand notes there are still many untapped markets it is keen to move into. During the 2023 show, Tito’s hopes to make itself known to new domestic and duty free customers, while also reconnecting with existing valued distributors and retailers.

Stand: E30, Yellow Village

There’s an air of mystery shrouding the Nemiroff stand – but this Ukrainian vodka producer is promising to unveil a new product at this year’s event.

On 3 October, the new ultra-premium vodka will be revealed at the Nemiroff Launch Event – and the brand is certain the liquid will please vodka fans. In addition to the new product launch, the brand’s premium portfolio will also be available for all to discover, including Nemiroff De Luxe and The Inked Collection, Nemiroff’s flavoured line.

“We extend a warm invitation to enthusiasts and industry expert to join us for the prestigious unveiling event during the TFWA in Cannes on 3 October,” said Sofiya Makaruk, global PR for Nemiroff. “To secure your spot and get more details for this unforgettable event and to dive deeper into the world of this incredible new product, please RSVP by reaching out to [email protected].”

Nemiroff is eager to enhance its visibility and to gain a strong foothold in airport retail spaces, as is strives to appeal to discerning travellers. The brand is actively seeking collaborations with key players in the European travel retail market.

Cotswolds Distillery

Stand: J17, Red Village

If you’re looking for high-quality English spirits, look no further than the Cotswolds Distillery stand. The English producer’s entire range of products will be on display – to be enhanced further by the official launch of three travel-retail-exclusive products. These will include: a one-litre Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky, a one-litre Cotswolds Dry Gin, and a 700ml Sherry-based travel retail-exclusive, which is being kept under wraps for now.

“We very much look forward to meeting with current customers, and also expanding our distribution globally,” said Lynsey Eades, international sales and global travel retail director, Cotswolds Distillery. “We have an amazing portfolio and team, so we are a must-visit for any retailer looking to excite and engage passengers with super-premium products.”

The company hopes to use the networking opportunities at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference to expand its presence in travel retail, and to grow its positioning as a leader of English whisky in the world whisky category.

Ian Macleod Distillers

Stand: K22, Red Village

Scottish spirits producer Ian Macleod Distillers is no stranger to global travel retail, and has a number of new releases up its sleeve. This year, the company will debut three new and exclusive single malt Scotch whiskies – including two ultra-premium expressions, one from Tamdhu and one from Rosebank.

The Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Whisky (46.8% ABV) is the first bottling from the company’s Remarkable Casks collection. A vatting of five hand-picked casks, this whisky is 31 years old, and will retail for £2,500 (US$3,179) per 700ml bottle. The release follows Ian Macleod’s purchase of Rosebank Distillery and its stocks in October 2017.

Meanwhile, the new Tamdu 46 Years Old is a single-cask bottling, also created exclusively for global travel retail. It will launch in the channel in 2024, priced at £16,000 per bottle.

Completing the trio of new releases will be another expression from Tamdhu: Cuatro Reserva. The bottling has been created to provide an ‘accessible entry point’ for travellers to discover Sherry-aged whisky. Bottled at 41.2% ABV, Tamdhu Cuatro Reserva will sell for RRP £76.99 per 700ml bottle.

Penderyn Distillery

Stand: H6, Red Village

Penderyn will be flying the flag for Wales at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference. Among the many spirits due to be celebrated will be the relaunch of the distillery’s Dragon Range of single malt whiskies. The TFWA Cannes show will be the first public international trade event to feature the revamped range.

Furthermore, new packaging for Penderyn Faraday will also be revealed during the show – containing the same liquid, but now available in a travel retail and duty free-exclusive 100ml format. (Currently, the bottling comes in a standard 700ml size). Penderyn will also be joining The Spirits Business at the annual Beach Party on the Monday evening, as the official whisky sponsor of the event.

Simon Roffe, director, business development, Penderyn Distillery, said: “Penderyn Distillery are delighted to partner with The Spirits Business again, and on this occasion at the always popular Spirits Business TFWA Party. It’s a great opportunity to relax with industry friends and colleagues and a great chance to share our award-winning single malt whiskies with everyone in such a great setting.”

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Tax Free World Exhibition

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Le Tax Free World Exhibition welcomes jewelry, watches, electronics, spirits, gastronomy… Each year, the spaces of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès are transformed into a prestigious showcase of luxury during this glittering congress that brings together the world’s duty free industry.

Spectacular stands and ideas

The international Tax Free World Exhibition, only for professionals , offers a tailor-made program for the biggest luxury brands every autumn in Cannes. The aim is, among other things, to make business relationships last and find support to boost sales. Everyone in the global duty-free and travel retail industry , meets here to share good ideas, develop business and network.

Luxury shopping

What will international travelers buy in airport stores? So it’s partly at the Tax Free World Exhibition that everything is shaped (and decided).

Watches, clothing, leather goods, sweets, spirits, cosmetics , the full range of products designed to brave the monotony of an airport concourse are presented by thousands of brands, set up in the various areas of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Trends and novelties feature prominently.

VIP delegates

On-site, TFWA-accredited visitors discover stands often spectacular and take part in sharing moments around conferences and workshops .

Prestigious speakers are present. As in 2019 with Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister. Convention-goers can even take part in original activities proposed by organizers and exhibitors.

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In Pictures: Diageo underlines commitment to travel retail in Cannes

By Chris Madden in Brand News , Events News , Liquor & Wines October 11, 2023 Comments Off on In Pictures: Diageo underlines commitment to travel retail in Cannes

The drinks giant showcased its dedication to brand building, innovation and evolving the beverage category at the TFWA World Exhibition

“We had a very special week with our customers and partners in Cannes, nothing compares to time together.” That was the analysis of Diageo Global Travel MD Andrew Cowan as the sun set on the 2023 TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last week.

During the event, Diageo hosted a dedicated beach party to celebrate the launch of its premium tequila Don Julio 1942 into European travel retail, as well as showcasing its latest brand innovations, including its “latest and biggest” travel exclusive, Johnny Walker Xordinaire .

The Diageo team operated a beachside bar and stand in the Beach Village in Cannes, and Cowan says the event reinforced the company’s vision of travel retail as a market with great potential for brand building and innovation, as well as growing and evolving the beverage category.

Driving growth, with a view to doubling the alcohol category in travel retail, will come through four key pillars: Explore & Discover, Gifting, Making It Special and Balanced Choices.

Cowan continued: “Having the opportunity to tease new ideas and innovations, to build out plans for the year ahead in more detail is just invaluable. Our focus on creating the best consumer experiences with our unrivalled portfolio of brands bringing choice and innovation – and of course exclusives like Johnnie Walker Xordinaire – we were delighted to bring to life at our beachside bar and stand.

“Being able to host our customers at our Don Julio 1942 party on the beach – celebrating Don Julio’s arrival into European Travel Retail for the first time this summer was a fantastic bonus, as was hosting WiTR+ as it relaunches reinforcing its commitment to inclusion and diversity.”

During the event, Diageo hosted the WiTR+ Networking Event, as well as throwing its Don Julio party, which featured a live set by DJ Kayper.

Johnnie Walker Xordinaire is a brand new blend for the trave retail market, created using 1 in 10,000 casks from the Johnnie Walker reserves, and finished in former French XO Cognac casks. A series of activations will be hosted at airports around the world, including Paris, London, Dubai, Taiwan and Hainan.

Tagged with: Diageo Global Travel Don Julio 1942 Johnnie Walker

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Cannes 2023 Preview: Mondelez WTR expands global rollout of Bag That Gives Back activation to Sydney  

Mondelez World Travel Retail (WTR) is championing sustainability within travel retail with the global rollout of Toblerone’s Bag That Gives Back campaign.  

To date, the campaign has launched in Europe and the Middle East and has now rolled out to Sydney, Australia in partnership with Heinemann. 

The campaign spotlights Mondelez WTR and partners’ support of local communities and worthy causes within their value chains. The activation is Mondelez WTR’s first corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign in the Asia Pacific region, high-lighting its commitment to advance its  Travel Retail Made Right  mandate around the world. 

     Throughout August and September, Sydney Airport passengers passing through the departure terminal could engage with the Bag That Gives Back activation and make a positive contribution. By riding a life-size wooden tricycle, every kilometer cycled generates 1 AUD donation towards Mondelez WTR’s Ghana Mobility Initiative, a project centered on providing tricycles for local Ghanaian cocoa communities in partnership with Cocoa Life and Child Rights International. The campaign aims to enhance mobility for children and small businesses in Ghana, and the interactive activation allows travelers to understand the project’s impact in a memorable and meaningful way.  

The campaign includes a special price promotion for the purchase two 360g Toblerone bars or two 272g Toblerone Tiny Bags.  

Cocoa Life is Mondelez International’s cocoa sustainability program focusing on making cocoa sourcing more sustainable in key cocoa-producing countries. Cocoa Life aims to help uplift the people and protect the landscapes that it reaches, bringing dynamic change to the communities and forests where the cocoa bean grows before becoming the snacks that consumers love. 

Child Rights International is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that children’s voices and contributions are recognized and valued in society, reaffirming children’s faith in a better and brighter future. 

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