Panama’s Grupo Wisa – a leading retailer in Central America and Colombia — has been operating in the Mercosur region since November 2012; where Uruguay has been the focus of its expansion, primarily on the Uruguay–Brazil border where it operates stores in Rivera, Rio Branco and Acegua. The opening of the Melancia Mall is a […]
South America
Melancia Mall: Neutral Duty Free builds for the future and attracts a new border shopper
The opening of the 4,000 sqm anchor duty free store in the Melancia Mall is another landmark in the history of Neutral –the oldest established border shop operator in Uruguay, with stores in the six cities where duty free trading is permitted. Over the past few years the company has significantly increased the amount of […]
Argentina’s new president ends restrictions on buying/selling dollars and reverses other currency controls
John Gallagher reports. Since Mauricio Macri, the Centrist-leaning Mayor of the city of Buenos Aires, won Argentina’s second-round runoff election on November 22nd to become the country’s next president, Argentines have been expecting major changes in fiscal and business regulations, including steps to improve relations with foreign creditors and the U.S. Macri narrowly won with […]
ASUTIL names Fagundes new president
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL has announced its new officers and Executive Board for the 2016-2017 period. Gustavo Fagundes, COO of Dufry Brasil and Bolivia, has been elected president for the two-year term. Grupo Wisa commercial director Marcelo Montico continues as vice president of ASUTIL; and Martín Laffitte of Zeinal Hnos. is secretary treasurer. […]
Uruguay’s Melancia Mall opens
Despite the challenging economic situation facing retailers who depend on Brazilian business at this time, the massive 33,000sqm Melancia Mall opened for business in Uruguay on Thursday, Nov. 5. The complex, located in the border town of Rivera in Northern Uruguay, is adjacent to the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. It is […]
L’Oréal TRAM and Dufry engage Americas’ passengers with Polo Red Panamerican racing challenge
L’Oréal’s Travel Retail subsidiary in the Americas (TRAM), in partnership with Dufry Group, embarked on a month-long, ground-breaking animation for its best- selling Polo Red franchise in September. The Ralph Lauren experience animation was TRAM’s first digital pan-American competition using Facebook targeted to airport passengers. Since its launch in 2013, Polo Red has been […]
Downturn in Latin America impacts entire region
Enjoying nearly 10 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the duty free business in Latin America reaped the benefits of growing economies throughout the region. Indications of a slowdown surfaced more than a year ago. Raw material prices, a principal element in Latin American exports, have been falling since early in 2014, leading to currency instability […]
Uruguay Border Free Shop meeting postponed until 2016
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL and trade group Camara de Empresarios de Free Shops del Uruguay (CEFSU) have announced that the Third Border Meeting that was to be held in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina on November 16-17, has been postponed until some time in 2016. A joint announcement released under the signatures of ASUTIL Secretary […]
ASUTIL President Urioste: Complex issues, but worst is behind us
ASUTIL President and Neutral CEO Enrique Urioste took a few minutes during the 2015 ASUTIL Conference to discuss with TMI the complexity of the crisis in Brazil and how it is effecting the travel retail industry throughout Latin America. Brazil is in the midst of an economic crisis and a political crisis, he said. “First […]
Higher turnout for Panama Conference, even as LATAM market registers downturn
The 2015 ASUTIL Conference, which took place in Panama City, Panama last week, kicked off with the traditional regional update from ASUTIL Secretary General José Luis Donagaray. Describing 2015 as a very challenging year for LatAm, Donagaray reported that retail sales in the first quarter of 2015 were down by -6% across its 15 member […]
L’Oréal breaks new frontiers with Haircare & Professional Products
London Supply opens first Kérastase Travel Retail Salon in Americas, with Dermacenter to follow as travel retail and domestic markets join forces to recruit new customers. Lois Pasternak reports. L’Oréal’s Active Cosmetics Division is all about differentiation and bringing a unique offer to the consumer, says Jose Luis Lacunza, Division Manager of Active Cosmetics & […]
MONARQ Group adds new brands, has “best year”
MONARQ Group rounded out its spirits portfolio last year, adding brands and categories the company has never represented before, says MONARQ Managing Director/Owner Robert de Monchy. “We have added a number of brands from the Bacardi portfolio, such as B&B / Dom Benedictine, Cazadores and Corzo tequila, Baron Otard cognac and Oxley Gin. Furthermore, we […]
Jose Carlos Rosa takes top job at Lojas Francas
Jose Carlos Rosa has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lojas Francas de Portugal (LFP), the joint venture company owned by TAP Air Portugal and Dufry. Rosa took over the top job at LFP at the beginning of February, from Nuno Amaral, who stepped down last year. The capital of LFP is shared by TAP […]
Simon Falic to open Hard Rock Hotel in Ciudad del Este
Simon Falic is leading a group of investors that intend to build a 5-star Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex in the Paraguayan city of Ciudad del Este. Last month Falic met with Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and Gustavo Leite, Minister of Trade and Industry to explain the details of the project. “Construction should begin […]
DANZKA brings back Tito Gonzalez to head LATAM sales
Ricardo “Tito” Gonzalez has joined German spirits company Waldemar Behn GmbH as Regional Director Latin America and Caribbean, effective March 1. Gonzalez will focus on growing Danzka Vodka in the region, and expanding the distribution of Dooley’s Original Toffee Cream Liqueur and other brands owned by the company. Gonzalez brings 15 years of spirits industry […]