Canadian duty free, already suffering through its toughest period in years post-pandemic, could be devastated by the proposed tariffs coming from the U.S., the source of its most important customer. Travel Markets Insider speaks with three Canadian land border operators at the IAADFS Summit of the Americas in Miami about what is happening on the […]
FDFA
FDFA report: Canadian land border duty free stores unable to compete with U.S. due to unnecessary red tape
Representatives from the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) released a report today, Feb. 13, showing that Canadian land border duty free stores are unable to compete with U.S. retailers due to unnecessary red tape, unfair regulations, and misapplied policies. The association is calling for urgent government action to level the playing field, remove the regulatory […]
Frontier Duty Free Association celebrates Excellence, Innovation, and Leadership at the 2024 FDFA 40th Anniversary Convention
Gold Standard awards highlight of gala evening The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) announced the winners of their 2024 Gold Standard Awards during a gala evening held at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. This event, a highlight of the FDFA’s annual convention, brought together industry leaders to […]
FDFA prioritizes pandemic recovery as it fights to remove domestic excise tax
Canadian duty free is undergoing a “slow and painful recovery,” as it still struggles to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing underwhelming car traffic and domestic taxes targeting its industry, Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) President Tania Lee said in her opening remarks at the Operators Meeting of the landmark 40th anniversary for the Canadian […]
Quebec’s IGL Duty Free looks to the future as it implements changes post-pandemic
Importations Guay Ltée is not only one of the best land border duty free stores in Canada, but is recognized as one of the best in the world. For the second time in three years, IGL Duty Free has been nominated by the Frontier Awards for Border, Downtown, or Port Retailer of the Year. The […]
Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free connects with customers on both sides of the border
Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been a gradual rise, but the Canadian land border operator tells TMI that travelers are now back to pre-pandemic numbers, with the store’s connection to its community playing an important role in its success. “After falling drastically at about 95% during the pandemic, […]
FDFA opens registration for 40th anniversary Convention
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has opened registration for its annual convention taking place from November 18 – 21, 2024 at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Ontario. To mark the anniversary of the association’s establishment, the theme for this year’s convention is Celebrating 40 Years of Growing Together. The FDFA says its […]
Canada: Ontario Buyers Group helps duty free operators deal with suppliers/liquor board
Ontario duty free stores have banded together as a buying group to have a stronger voice with its supplier partners and the Ontario Liquor Board. Chris Foster, who heads the group and owns Queenston-Lewiston Duty Free in Niagara Falls, Canada, tells TMI that the combined weight of its Ontario members has had a positive impact in its […]
Hard fought recovery showing signs of progress as new Canadian border Duty Free model stresses collaboration
There was a sense of hopefulness at the 2023 Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) Convention held last month in Toronto, the first full gathering of Canadian land border operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders since the pandemic. While registration numbers were down 30% versus the last pre-COVID show in 2019, FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett tells […]
2023 FDFA Convention celebrates Excellence in Duty Free Industry with Gold Standard Awards
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), representing Canada’s land border duty free shops, announced the winners of the 2023 Gold Standard Awards at the FDFA Convention in Toronto. The awards ceremony took place during the Gala Dinner on November 29 at the conclusion of the 2023 event. As the advocate and voice for the Canadian […]
In Memoriam: Len DaSilva
Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association announced the very sad news that Len DaSilva has passed away. DaSilva was the Senior VicePresident and COO of West Coast Duty Free store for nearly two decades. “Len sat on the FDFA Board of Directors for several years and contributed greatly to Canada’s duty free industry. “Len was part […]
FDFA advocates to protect U.S./Canada border from future closures
Travel Markets Insider had an opportunity to speak with FDFA President Tania Lee and FDFA Executive Director Barbara Barrett about their efforts to promote the cause of the border duty free stores with Canada’s elected officials in Ottawa, and what they are hoping for going forward. “May 10th was the FDFA’s Day on the Hill […]
Canada/U.S. Border to open fully May 11
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has announced that tomorrow, May 11, 2023, marks the day non-essential travelers will be accepted into the United States without proof of a COVID-19 vaccine and will end unnecessary conditions at the border and return the Canada/USA border to a normal pre-pandemic state. The FDFA, representing the small independently-owned, […]
Ontario Duty Free tackles supply issue through local craft spirits
Duty free stores across Ontario in Canada are now targeting local craft spirits like they never have before as a way to offset some global supply chain issues. Chris Foster, owner of Queenston Lewiston Duty Free in Niagara Falls, Canada says the local Ontario craft spirits fill multiple needs for the land border duty free […]
Frontier Duty Free Association names new Board of Directors
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) elected a new Board of Directors at its recent Annual General Meeting held virtually on November 10, 2021. The terms of office will run from January 2022 – May 2023. The three members of the Board who were re-elected (see below), were joined by two new members, Alexandra Bachand […]
