MEADFA Conference Heads to Bahrain

MEADFA spotlights strong Middle East

Sherif Toulan, President, MEADFA

MEADFA President Sherif Toulan tells Global Travel Retail Magazine about the upcoming MEADFA Conference in Bahrain in November 2022 and what is ahead for the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association

by MARY JANE PITTILLA

Sherif Toulan, President of the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA), is brimming with optimism about the MEADFA Conference 2022 in Bahrain and speaks eloquently about how the Middle East association is evolving.

The three-day MEADFA Conference takes place November 27 to 29 at the Art Hotel & Resort, Bahrain. It is managed by the Tax Free World Association (TFWA) and hosted by Bahrain Duty Free.

Toulan says attendees can expect a major source of opportunities for business in the MEADFA region. Top speakers will be there to discuss the challenges with a concrete, holistic perspective.

MEADFA represents brands, distributors, retailers and airports. It is not only a networking platform, but also a trade body, working as the voice of the industry in Africa and the Middle East. The conference aims to build momentum on challenges and opportunity in terms of advocacy, sustainability, sharing and rewarding best practices.

“Our Association has become a strong and structured lobbying organization, serving and protecting our industry and its stakeholders in the region,” he says.

MEADFA is holding the event in Bahrain as part of its aim to highlight its members’ successess.

“Bahrain has an impressive new airport with state-of-the-art duty free shops. It deserves to be celebrated and highlighted to the rest of the industry. The Board unanimously voted for having this year’s conference in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” says Toulan.

Strong industry recovery

Post-COVID, the region is booming and Toulan is adamant that “recovery is already here.”

“If we consider Airports Council International (ACI) annual traffic for 2021, we are impressed by African figures with 115 million passengers, up 49.4% from 2020. Middle East results are also good with 169 million passengers, an increase of 24.9% from 2020. Operations in Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria show a strong recovery,” he says.

“In the Middle East, especially in Dubai, from January to June the recovery has been 10 percentage points better than forecast. Dubai International Airport is back at 80 to 90% of pre-pandemic levels for footfall. Overall, summer 2022 is very good and in some countries our members are struggling with the surge of travelers,” Toulan explains.

He says Africa’s operations have recovered faster than the rest of the world and describes the Middle East as “above average” in terms of world recovery in 2022.

Noting several key challenges that remain, he cautions, “This summer is the best season we have ever had since 2019 but it is harder to satisfy our consumers’ surge in demand, especially due to the global logistics and supply chain disruption.”

Working for growth

Along with the MEADFA Conference, the Association is making moves to help ensure the continued growth of the business.

Toulan says MEADFA is taking a holistic approach, focusing on:

1. Advocating and protecting the specificity/uniqueness of the industry via its dedicated Advocacy Committee and its relevant task forces chaired by MEADFA Board Member

Rob Marriott. The Advocacy Committee and its task forces are monitoring and engaging authorities to defend the industry. It is active in the Gulf regarding the track and trace of tobacco products and in Egypt because of the reduction in duty free allowances and all other challenges in the region.

“We support our members to ensure authorities consider our supply chain so they understand that domestic marketinspired regulations should not be implemented in duty free and travel retail,” he says.

2. Research and development. The Membership & Training

Committee, chaired by MEADFA Board Member Roger

Jackson, is constantly adding to the services, insights and opportunities that membership offers. This includes keeping members updated through its monthly communique and keeping the dialogue open between members and industry stakeholders via MEADFA's regular webinars and online events. It also conducts training seminars covering topics that the members vote for.

3. MEADFA seeks to ensure its members’ growth is sustainable, which is the goal of the Sustainability Committee, chaired by MEADFA Board Member Munif Mohamed.

4. Encouraging, highlighting and celebrating its members’ success. “The region is the fastest growing, with the biggest investments and results. Promoting and rewarding excellence is the goal of our newly formed MEADFA Awards

Committee, chaired by MEADFA’s Board Member Bernard

Creed,” says Toulan.

Powerful partnerships

MEADFA continues to work with public and government entities. It has renewed its relationship with the Federal Tax Authority in the UAE.

“We are very happy with this cooperation,” he says.

The Association works with customs agencies and ministries of economy and finance in every country where there is a need.

MEADFA is a Business Council member of COMESA (the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa). It also has a strong relationship with Airports Council International Africa and is a World Business Partner to ACI Africa.

Lastly, the association initiated dialogue with the World Tourism Organization during its webinar in June 2022.

Drunk Elephant highlights Ceramighty AF Eye Balm

Drunk Elephant is highlighting its Ceramighty AF Eye Balm ahead of TFWA WE Cannes. The company describes the product as loaded with ceramides, omega-rich plant oils and butters and Vitamin F. Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm is a “cushiony, deeply replenishing eye cream that nourishes and strengthens the skin barrier, restoring and preserving elasticity, while delivering intense, long-lasting moisture.”

The vegan product has Avena sativa (oat) extract and is free of essential oils, silicones and fragrance.

The eye balm (15 milliliter) will be available in Travel Retail Asia, Europe and Middle East in September and in Travel Retail Americas from October.

NARS set to takeover TR this fall

Heading into fall, NARS Cosmetics is looking to lock in its lipstick range. Starting in October, NARS Powermatte Lipstick will be available across Travel Retail Asia Pacific, Travel Retail Japan, Travel Retail Europe, Middle East and Africa. NARS Powermatte Lipstick has a smooth, matte finish and lasts up to 10 hours.

“Power Pigment Complex, a blend of pure pigments suspended in rich, emollient oils and color-locking ingredients, saturates lips with dense color that wears comfortably around the clock,” the company says.

The lineup offers 15 transfer-resistant shades in high-intensity color and lightweight wear.

Pernod Ricard GTR returns to TFWA WE

Developed in partnership with B-Corp certified PIE factory, Pernod Richard (PR) GTR’s stand at TFWA WE in Cannes will feature 100% sustainable design, production and management. This year, attendees will learn more about PR GTR’s industry-first Lifecycle Analysis Tool for Retail Merchandizing, launched at TFWA WE 2021. The tool assesses the environmental implication of activation design and is used to publicly report on the impact and improvement of retail projects.

Exhibiting Jameson Whiskey, PR GTR promises to bring the Irish spirit to Cannes. With the launch of its “Like a Local” campaign, the whiskey will take center stage at the show. The campaign has been specifically created to bring the brand to life in the channel.

Rituals debuts Soulful Rituals limited edition

Rituals has announced the introduction of its Soulful Rituals limited edition range.

The company says, “Soulful Rituals is anchored in the idea that to enrich your life, or the lives of those you love, you must fill the body, mind and soul with experiences and emotions that elevate your sense of wellbeing.”

Soulful Rituals is made up of three mini collections: Love, Happiness and Good Fortune, with each collection containing a foaming shower gel, body cream, fragrance sticks, a scented candle and a gift set.

Henkell to focus on GTR exclusives in Cannes

Henkell Freixenet will return to the TFWA World Exhibition next month, set to showcase a new range of travel retail exclusives from across its brand portfolio: Mionetto, Henkell, Freixenet and Segura Viudas.

“Our travel retail sales performance has been growing steadily since travelers started returning in mid-2021 and we were pleased with the channel performance in such a challenging environment. This October at Cannes we will showcase a number of product exclusives, designed with travelers in mind. We want to maximize the premium opportunity in travel retail,” says Sandra Janetzki, Senior Vice President at Henkell Freixenet Global Export.

Henkel Freixenet will be in the Blue Village at Blue F11.

E. Gluck to show watches and wearables at TFWA

E. Gluck Corporation will be exhibiting its new Steve Madden watch and wearable tech collections at booth F15 in the Blue Village. The products are now available to duty free operators and travel retailers.

“E. Gluck has received an overwhelmingly positive response to its Steve Madden collections and has already shipped to 10 countries worldwide,” says Rob Robertaccio, Senior Vice President of Global & Travel Retail Sales. “Given the early positive reactions we have received, we expect this category to be a hit in duty free and travel retail.”

Wearables retail at US$35 to US$70 and the watch collection ranges from US$55 to US$150.