Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 19 No. 20

The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.

 

The New Year has started with a slew of new Boardroom deals that could have some impact on the products sold in travel retail.

 

The big announcement released this afternoon was that Bacardi was acquiring 100% of Patrón Spirits International AG and its ultra-premium Patrón Tequila brand for $5.1 billion. Patrón continues to be a star brand in duty free. See full story on page 1.

 

In more boardroom developments, Dufry Group has set the price of the Class A common shares related to the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hudson Ltd. Dufry also inaugurated it remodeled store in Sharjah International Airport. Page 1.

 

Last week’s big acquisition news took place in the confectionery sector, with Nestlé selling its U.S. confectionery business – worth a reported US$900 million in sales a year – to rival Ferrero, so it can focus on its non-candy businesses. See page 3 for details.

 

On the luxury side, Swiss conglomerate Richement has made a public tender offer to buy the remainder of the shares in luxury fashion e-commerce company Yoox Net-a-Porter that it does not already own, demonstrating its belief that more and more consumers will purchase high-end goods through the internet. Page 3.

 

Looking at travel retail, Roust Group, the world’s second largest vodka producer and the makers of Russian Standard Vodka, has announced a new organizational structure to directly manage the company’s global travel retail business, taking distribution in-house after a successful long-term relationship with Rémy Cointreau. Russian Standard and the other Roust-owned brands will be handled from London effective April 1. Read more on page 2.

 

 

SUPPLY SIDE NEWS

 

Beauty news predominates this week.

 

Estée Lauder has teamed up with Expedia.com to launch a travel-related omni-channel activation in the U.S. and Canadian local market. Are they taking a page from their travel retail experience?  Page 2.

 

Kiehl’s presented a very special set of products and packaging in travel retail during the 2017 Holiday season, celebrating with its biggest holiday collection to date. Page 2.

 

Coty and Tiffany & Co. decked duty free posts from Singapore to New York with the iconic Tiffany Blue Box during the holiday launch of the new Tiffany Eau de Parfum, the first new Tiffany fragrance in 15 years and the first created in partnership with Coty. Retail-design agency Bloommiami produced a stunning recreation of the Tiffany Blue Box in an activation at JFK International Airport, Terminal 4, which is running through Feb. 15. Page 4.

 

Sportsman and fashion icon David Beckham, arguably the man with one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, has teamed with L’Oréal to launch the 21-product House 99 men’s grooming range. From its streamlined black and white packaging, to its gentlemanly and addictive aromas – not to mention such innovative products as a Tattoo Body Moisturizer – this is a line that should generate immense consumer interest. Story on page 4.

 

 

PEOPLE

 

Doug Newhouse joins IWSR.

 

LVMH brings back Hedi Slimane as artistic, creative and image director of Céline.

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