Interviews of the Year (II)

Expressing The Macallan’s 200-year journey through a fresh identity, performing arts and the power of travel retail

Amid The Macallan single malt Scotch whisky’s 200th anniversary celebrations, the brand’s Creative Director Jaume Ferràs and Edrington Regional Managing Director – Global Travel Retail Jeremy Speirs spoke to Dermot Davitt about the key anniversary themes, blending heritage and modernity and how the milestone is being marked in travel retail. Full story here.

View from the top as Ramesh Cidambi assumes the reins at Dubai Duty Free

On 1 June, Ramesh Cidambi, long-time Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Duty Free, took over executive leadership with his promotion to Managing Director. Remarkably, he became only the second leader of the world’s biggest travel retailer in a single airport since its inception in 1983, stepping into the giant-size boots of his legendary predecessor Colm McLoughlin (who later sadly passed away on 30 October). In this interview with Martin Moodie, Cidambi talks about his priorities in the months and years ahead, his philosophy on life and business and much more. Full story here.

Balancing brand choices and battling for profitability in airport food & beverage

The profitability of airport concessions in North America – and of the role that local, national and proprietary brands play in this – was a central theme of a compelling on-stage conversation at the Airport Food & Beverage + Hospitality Conference in Ontario, California (25-26 June). Full story here.

How fresh became an ancient and modern success story

The back story of fresh, the LVMH-controlled skincare brand, sounds on first hearing like a work of fiction. Founded by an immigrant couple in Boston as a small store selling hand-wrapped soaps, fresh grew within little more than a decade first to US and then international renown as a brand synonymous with transforming everyday routines into sensorial rituals.

Based on an obsession with natural ingredients, a craftsman’s approach to beauty and supported by the might of LVMH since 2000, Co-Founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg have created a global brand that resonates strongly with consumers worldwide for the integrity of its values. Full story here.