Prouds has been a pioneer in duty and fine store shopping and leading shopping in Fiji for the past five numerous world renowned and Free is the oldest running duty the world. Prouds Duty Free stores International Airport Departure, Jewellery Galleria.
duty free, luxury travel retail leading the way in world class five decades. Associated with and local brands, Prouds Duty duty free concessionaire brand in stores operates at Nadi Departure, Arrival Lounges and
Briefly introduce me to Motibhai Group, e.g., a brief overview of your main products and services, locations, client base, and number of employees.
Established in 1931, Motibhai Group is a leading business house with diverse operations, including luxury domestic and travel retail, manufacturing, importation, export, and wholesaling of fast-moving consumer goods. Moreover, the group has a strong presence in print/digital news media, real estate, and service departments, along with quick-service restaurants and regular food and beverage outlets.
Waqavuka Development Company Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Motibhai Group, operates duty-free stores at Nadi International Airport Departure and Arrival lounges trading as Prouds and Jewellery Galleria. Prouds Duty-Free (Prouds) has pioneered duty-free, luxury travel retail, and fine-store shopping, leading the way in world-class shopping in Fiji for the past five decades. Associated with numerous world-renowned and local brands, Prouds is the oldest running duty-free brand in the world.
The company has also extended duty-free operations in Papua New Guinea.
With approximately one thousand five hundred employees, Motibhai Group’s business thrives on purpose, shaped by its unique heritage and entrepreneurial innovation. The group upholds a vision where its past enriches its present and inspires the future with renewed passion and enthusiasm.
What are some ongoing or recent projects people should be aware of?
With the launch of Prouds’ online duty-free shopping in May, we will offer several benefits for travellers, making the shopping experience more convenient, cost-effective, and hassle-free through Prouds Arrivals and Departure stores.
Among the standout successes is the Pure Fiji range, which has firmly established itself as the preferred choice for tourists. Moreover, we have introduced an exciting new range of wines and spirits, including Papa Salt Gin, Awildian Gin, Macallan
Whiskies, and Jameson Triple Triple, and are expanding the confectionery selection with more world-renowned brands like Cavendish Harvey and Whittaker’s. In addition, Fiji’s destination products, including deli, handicrafts, and souvenirs, offer visitors an exciting opportunity to take a piece of the island back home. Moreover, our success can be attributed to the strengthened relationships we have nurtured with all our suppliers, which have paved the way for strategies for mutual growth. This has ensured that we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.
What, for you, differentiates Motibhai Group from the competition?
Prouds is undoubtedly the South Pacific’s most comprehensive duty-free outlet, offering travellers a unique shopping experience. Be sure to browse at your leisure for the world’s finest names upon arrival and departure.
Over the past year, our company’s travel-retail and downtown operations have experienced good growth and success in several key areas. We have successfully expanded our market presence and launched innovative products, which have all notably enhanced our market footprint, introducing a dynamic range of products catering to diverse consumer needs and preferences.
In the realm of fashion, we have widened our offerings in shoes to include dresses, casual wear, and sportswear, catering to a wide array of lifestyle needs. Additionally, travel and hand luggage segments have also witnessed an exciting expansion in order to cater to the needs of discerning shoppers and modern travellers.
We are passionately associated with Fijian entrepreneurs who come up with unique products. We get involved with them as genuine partners by engaging with planning and production, which also includes customised packaging so visitors to our shores can take something unique from Fiji.
That is what sets us apart from others as we leave a lasting impression and offer a real taste of Fiji to our customers.
Founded in 1984, TFWA is the world’s largest duty-free and travel retail association with a membership of more than 500 companies that supply the global market. Prouds is well represented annually in the Tax-Free World Association (TFWA) Asia Pacific Exhibition and Conference.
Could you tell us about some of the major challenges faced within the industry and the business itself and how these have been overcome?
Duty-free sales are directly tied to international travel, making them highly vulnerable to disruptions caused by economic downturns, geopolitical instability, and global crises such as pandemics. Any decline in passenger traffic directly impacts revenue, requiring businesses to adopt flexible strategies to sustain profitability.
Additionally, regulatory complexities pose a significant challenge. Different countries enforce strict duty-free allowances, taxation policies, and product restrictions, necessitating constant adaptation to compliance requirements. These legal barriers add to operational complexities and can limit product offerings.
Competition is another major factor affecting sales. Domestic and online retailers, along with international duty-free
businesses, offer competitive pricing and convenience, making it harder for Prouds to attract customers. Travellers now have more options to shop outside airports, challenging the traditional duty-free advantage.
Furthermore, high operational costs at Fiji Airports, including rental fees, maintenance expenses, and labour wages, place a financial strain on the business. Balancing profitability while maintaining competitive prices and offering premium products remains a critical challenge.
To stay ahead, Prouds is focusing on innovation, customer service, and exclusive product offerings. Enhancing the passenger shopping experience through personalised services, digital integration, and strategic partnerships with airports has become a key differentiator. By leveraging technology, improving customer engagement, and curating unique travelexclusive products, Prouds is positioning itself as a leader in this dynamic and competitive industry.
In addition, Prouds stores are offering exclusive duty-free discount vouchers on minimum purchases so that customers can enjoy shopping with more savings.
What are your major future ambitions going forward and how will these goals be achieved?
The general travel retail shop is the most used concept at Prouds stores, covering the full range of categories, such as perfumes and cosmetics, wines and spirits, watches and jewellery, fashion and leather, snacks and confectionery, tobacco goods, souvenirs, toys, electronics, and more.
As a global travel retailer, Prouds aims to further improve the overall traveller experience in our shops as we welcome an average of 38 international scheduled flights on a daily basis and initiate growth opportunities that benefit brands, airports, and travellers alike by developing attractive shopping environments.
Looking ahead, our focus remains on driving sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing customercentricity and experience. We will continue to invest in digital technologies, expand our product offerings, and prioritise sustainability initiatives to meet evolving consumer preferences and market demands. Furthermore, we remain committed to fostering strategic partnerships, including those with our principals and suppliers, embracing agility, and capitalising on emerging trends to ensure long-term success and resilience in an ever-changing landscape.
Could you tell us more about any CSR initiatives that you have in place?
The Motibhai Group has always been at the forefront of community support, especially in times of need. Our strong commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is well reflected in the various community projects that we are involved in, including but not limited to:
• Bushells Fiji’s Biggest Morning Tea Campaign in partnership with the Fiji Cancer Society.
• Association with Foundation for Rural and Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIENDS) providing support in times of natural disasters and global pandemics.
• Teaming up with the Fiji National Blood Services.
• Oral health promotion, initiatives to improve oral health in the community.
• Burger King has been a proud supporter of the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENC) for the past eight years, recognising the vital role education plays in overcoming poverty and empowering communities.
What are you most proud of about Motibhai Group overall?
The Motibhai Group’s ongoing investment and expansion into new areas of the Fijian and regional markets reflects its commitment to the continued growth and development of the booming Fijian economy.
We are most proud of our commitment to excellence, innovation, and the positive impact we have on our customers, employees, and community. Through dedication and resilience, we have built a strong company culture, delivered high-quality products and services, and contributed to meaningful change.
Our success is driven by a passionate team, customer trust, and a vision for continuous growth and sustainability. With a proven track record of excellence, our group has won three coveted awards at the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards 2024. Further reinforcing our commitment to people and professional growth, we have been honoured with the Gold Award for HR Talent Development, among other HR accolades, at the 2024 Fiji Human Resources Institute Awards.
What does the next 12 months look like for Motibhai Group?
In Fiji, we embrace every opportunity that arises within airport environments, and we are always open to the possibility of tendering for new travel-retail outlets. We are currently exploring tenders that come up within the region, with a focus on expanding our footprint in key markets and capitalising on emerging opportunities.
Additionally, we have expansion plans aimed at diversifying our revenue streams and strengthening our position as a market leader in the travel retail industry in the Pacific by also looking at Papua New Guinea (PNG), where we currently have both departure and arrivals stores at Jackson International Airport. We also have tendered for a Prouds Store at another PNG airport.
