DFS Group’s Singapore Changi Airport duplex duty free liquor and tobacco store in Terminal 3 was recently voted Travel Retailer of the Year in the 2016 ‘Icons of Whisky Awards by Whisky Magazine.
As reported many times, the store was opened last May as part of an airport terminal-wide upgrade of the wines and spirits category, where the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore raised the bar by encouraging contract bidders to push the envelope in terms of shop standards and quality.
DFS’ May 7 2015 response was the long-anticipated opening of its $64m new terminal wide programme of stores over 85,350sq ft, including its 11,400sq ft dual-floor duplex Changi Airport T3 liquor and tobacco store – the largest single space for liquor and tobacco in any DFS store around the world.
DFS Group’s flagship wines and spirits store at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 is also the LVMH-owned company’s single biggest contract investment in wines and spirit to date. Prior to the opening, Michael Schriver [the then COO of DFS] described the project as ‘DFS most ambitious airport store ever’. At the same time, Ms. Lim Peck Hoon, EVP, Commercial at the Changi Airport Group described the L&T business as the single biggest commercial concession accounting for around 20% of total sales.
According to DFS, Whisky Magazine receives nominations for its huge number of awards, which are subsequently shortlisted by its editorial panel and then finalized after a voting process online.
DFS IS THRILLED…
“We are absolutely thrilled that our DFS, Singapore Changi Airport store has been awarded Travel Retailer of the Year by Whisky Magazine and look forward to continuing to deliver innovative experiences and exceptional products for our customers in 2016,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits and Tobacco.
“At each of our locations, our aim is to provide our customers with a surprising and delightful shopping experience where they can engage with the brands and products they love. We are particularly proud of DFS, Singapore Changi Airport which over the past year has expanded to become Asia Pacific’s largest assortment of single malts.
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“From the duplex’s design to the interactive tastings held on site, our customers have loved this new approach to travel retail and we’re delighted the industry has fallen in love as well.”
DFS adds that this is the first year the Icons of Whisky Awards have included a Travel Retail category, which was awarded at both the regional and global level.
SEVERAL RIVALS COMPETED
The retailer says it beat competitors from Ireland, England, Germany, the UAE and the Netherlands to receive Whisky Magazine’s Travel Retailer of the Year in the Rest of the World regional category award last in January.
Following this it adds it is now pleased to have gone head-to-head with rival entries from America and Scotland to secure the global title at the awards ceremony held in London last week.