The 2020s
A new chapter
While the impact of COVID-19 on the travel retail industry was significant, ELC Travel Retail continued to perform well primarily due to the dramatic development of the business in Hainan during the pandemic. A new decade reveals a new chapter for ELC Travel Retail as traffic starts to come back across the regions and the division underlines its commitments to sustainability and social responsibility
2021
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) Travel Retail announces ambitious sustainability goals for the channel.
It identifies emissions, waste and energy as key areas of focus and will use a portfolio of solutions, both internally and externally, to create a lasting positive impact in travel retail and beyond.
“The Estée Lauder Companies has always taken its responsibility to its consumers, its communities and the world we live in incredibly seriously,” says Olivier Bottrie, then-Global President Travel Retail and Retail Development. “As one of ELC’s highest-growth channels, we in travel retail want to ensure we are also doing our part.”
In fiscal year 2021, ELC Travel Retail donated approximately US$1 million to social impact initiatives. It also announced a partnership with Florida A&M University, the top public Historically Black College/University in the United States, to create an exclusive talent and development programme.
Other projects ELC Travel Retail supported include: Aveda x charity:water, Origins Green the Planet, La Mer Blue Heart and the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Fund.
2021
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Travel Retail launches DECIEM. Industry disruptor DECIEM, also known as ‘The Abnormal Beauty Company,’ grew in popularity because of its consumer-focused approach to beauty marketing. The company was founded by the late Brandon Trauxe in 2013, who aimed to build a fully transparent and authentic beauty company. Its flagship ‘The Ordinary’ brand has gained cult-status for its no-nonsense marketing approach and high-efficacy skincare products.
2022
Despite the severe and sustained challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) Travel Retail goes from strength to strength. To accommodate the anticipated dynamic growth of its business, ELC opens a state-of-the-art distribution centre in Galgenen, Switzerland.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie is on location for the official unveiling. The grand occasion is graced by senior management, including Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jane Lauder, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Marketing and Chief Data Officer, Roberto Canevari, Executive Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Umair Ansari, Vice President/General Manager, Travel Retail, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Speaking live at the event, Freda said, “It goes without saying that it’s been a challenging two years for all of us all over the world. But the long-term outlook for prestige beauty is fantastic.
“And particularly the travel retail channel remains resilient and continues to drive strong growth for The Estée Lauder Companies. In fact, globally travel retail accounts for nearly a third of our business and we are extremely confident in the channel for the long term.
“The opening of our Galgenen distribution centre is a testament to this confidence and uniquely positions us to ever-changing retail needs in growth scenarios around the world.”
2022
After a remarkable 26-year career with the company, Olivier Bottrie retires. Maintaining the group’s tradition of management continuity in a channel where relationships are all-important, Israel Assa assumes the travel retail reins.
Formerly President, Commercial, Travel Retail Worldwide, the much-respected Israel Assa will lead ELC Travel Retail into a new post-pandemic era, building on a long-standing commitment to and belief in the channel.
The division has emerged from the crisis sharper and more partnership-oriented than ever as it seeks to leverage its leadership role to drive the channel to new heights.
From humble beginnings 30 years ago, the travel retail division has grown to become a cornerstone of ELC’s global business, one that reaches over three billion customers annually and generates some 27% of net sales as of fiscal year 2022.
Now, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, ELC Travel Retail can pause to celebrate a momentous landmark. And then accelerate into an exciting future.
