Wednesday 30 September 2015

Tyko adds Junior collection for Breo Along with new polarized lenses


Sunglasses have long been an obsession for Breo and the new ranges to be debuted at TFWA World Exhibition (Green Village K38) by Tyko Brands reinforce its commitment and investment to the travel retail market. With over 55 new SKUS being introduced in Cannes, including very on trend styles and new added features, Breo’s offer to the category is more competitive than ever.

The new SS16 Junior Eyewear range of sunglasses are the perfect purchase for safety conscious parents as they head of to the sun with children. Suitable from ages 3+, they have the same high specification as the Breo Adult range with 100% UV protection, a comfortable, sweat resistant coating and toughened lenses. Retails starting at a very affordable price point of £15, and offering a diverse collection of colours, this kid’s collection will be loved by children and parents alike.

A significant step-change to the Breo sunglasses range in SS16 is the introduction of polarized lens for some of the best selling frames including the wayfarer style Uptone, along with new sporty frames that particularly justify their use. Polarized lenses give improved contrast and visual clarity, reduce eyestrain and reflection and eliminate glare, making them perfect for outdoor activities including winter and water sports.  

At the forefront of the new polarized lens models is the aggressive, sporty Zenith frame. Its face hugging frame design is perfect for active, outdoor sports-wear, while the features and benefits of the polarized lenses make them ideal for the Winter Sports market.
Breo Edge
 






 
Breo Zenith
 




Another first is the use of a metal frame within Breo’s Resident frame range. The classic club master style frame has been a big hit and this new premium Resident Elite collection looks to expand the appeal, especially with its on-trend rose gold and navy colourway models.

Says Tyko’s Global Travel Retail Director, Martin Lovatt: “Sunglasses continue to show very strong growth figures in travel retail and while the market is becoming increasingly competitive there really isn’t very much available at the lower-priced end of the market that does not stint on quality eye protection – apart from Breo. We believe it’s a niche that is worth investing in and are very pleased with the brand development for SS16.”

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Perfumer's Workshop continues its dedication to the 'niche' fragrance category with a special promotional unit for AMOUROUD in travel retail

Fragrance specialist Perfumer’s Workshop International comes to TFWA World Exhibition (Yellow Village, G40) after a year focusing on the development of its ‘niche’ fragrance brand, Amouroud. With the category seeing encouraging growth over the last couple of years, and retailers opening up more space for ‘niche’ fragrances, Perfumer’s Workshop has developed a dedicated Amouroud promotional gondola for travel retail. “Since the launch of Amouroud at Cannes last year, we have seen a real change in attitude towards ‘niche fragrances.’ The category is developing; retailers are giving it more floor space, so developing eye-catching display tools are a main priority for us. We have been watching the growth of ‘niche’ fragrances for a number of years, and soon came to realize how much untold potential the category had,” says PWI founder Donald Bauchner.


Decorated in rich black and gold – replicating the striking Amouroud packaging, the promotional gondola will easily attract the attention of passing travelers. The compact unit allows numerous SKU’s and gives potential customers the opportunity to experience the wide range of innovative fragrances. “The response to our new Amouroud promotional gondola has been very favorable, with requests for customizable units for line introductions, which demonstrates that the ‘niche’ category is definitely gaining support. We are currently in talks with numerous Middle East shops, and a possibility in Europe, so we are very excited!” Bauchner continues.

The collection contains a wide range of new and innovative fragrances, all with strong character and long-last – several of which are pure Oud-based: Miel Sauvage, Dark Orchid, Midnight Rose, Oud du Jour, Silk Route, Agarwood Noir, Bois D’Orient, Santal des Indes, Oud After Dark, and Safran Rare. “Exhibiting at TFWA WE again is an important step in the development of our Amouroud brand; last year we were focused on its introduction, and getting feedback from as many key industry figures as possible. This year we are looking to build on its distribution, and continue to push the ‘niche’ fragrance category, as it has so much potential!”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About Perfumers Workshop International Perfumer’s Workshop International is a privately owned company, with distribution throughout the world. Company headquarters are located in New York.
In 1970, after ten years in the industry learning from legends such as Charles Revson and Leonard Lauder, Donald Bauchner formed Perfumer's Workshop Ltd., with his wife Gun. Armed with a vision to create a new company with a character and personality reflecting an 'underground' movement then surfacing, Perfumer's Workshop was born.
Early on, Perfumer's Workshop believed that the consumer was ready to deconstruct the fragrance business, stripping it of the pomp and formality that had permeated it since the beginnings of the 1900's. Its first breakthrough was a Bloomingdale's counter which transformed the idea for using essential oils, a mainstay of the youth and hippie culture, remade as a luxury product, an 'uptown meets downtown' spirit. It was the industry's first custom-blending fragrance concept. Perfumer's Workshop allowed the customer to create his/her own individual scent in a variety of fragrance
combinations. In its basic, simple packaging, this custom-blending opportunity actually empowered the consumer for the very first time, setting the tone for much of what was yet to come, foreshadowing so many of today's niche brands.

The Perfumer's Workshop custom-blending counters have been in department
stores and specialty shops throughout the United States and in many of the world’s most prominent and trend-setting stores for the past 45 years. Its original Custom-Blending Counters at Bloomingdales evolved into yet newer personal-interaction concepts - Perfume By Appointment, developed for Harrod's. Followed by Personal Perfumery, for Saks Fifth Avenue and for Nordstroms.

About AMOUROUD Shimmering and dreamy, provocative and dark, both light and warm, Amouroud is a Collection of olfactory memories, stories real and imaginary, translated with wood-notes, flowers, roots, and herbs into perfumes that capture a primal place of serenity, joy, and passion. Each fragrance maintains its beauty, signature, and character, all of which remain evident in the dry-down.

The Balvenie brings craftsmanship to life in World Duty Free store at Aberdeen airport

William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail Europe, Aberdeen International Airport and World Duty Free Group hosted an activity this month to showcase the link between The Balvenie, the world's most handcrafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and the practice and preservation of traditional crafts.





Over four days in September, highly-regarded kilt maker Beverley Scarlett took centre stage at Aberdeen Airport to demonstrate the traditional art of hand-stitched kilts. Having learned her craft from one of the last tailors and master kilt makers for the Scottish Regiments, Beverley was involved in developing the National Occupational Standards for Kilt Making and the SVQ in Traditional Handcraft Kilt-Making Skills.

In addition to the kilt-making display, tastings of The Balvenie Triple Cask range of travel retail exclusive whiskies were offered to departing passengers. The activity coincided with the Offshore Europe Conference & Exhibition, a biannual event that attracted over 55,000 attendees from the oil and gas industry to Aberdeen.

The promotion was a major success, with weekly sales of The Balvenie whiskies in the World Duty Free store up 228% versus the same period last year and well above the overall malt whisky sales increase of 27% at Aberdeen Airport.

William Grant & Sons director Europe travel retail Andre de Almeida said: “The character and exceptional quality of The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is due to the fact that the distillery retains a level of craftsmanship that other malt whisky producers no longer tend to employ. It is this unbreakable bond between the maker and its product that we wanted to showcase at Aberdeen Airport as it highlights the importance of the craft – whether making the best example of hand-stitched kilts or the epitome of craftsmanship: The Balvenie.”

The Balvenie Distillery is the only one to grow its own barley, have traditional floors for malting the barley, a team of coopers mending and preparing every cask, a coppersmith to tend the stills and a Malt Master to hand select its whiskies for bottling.

ENDS
Click on www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands

Friday 25 September 2015

LIGHTS OF COLOUR SPRING/SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION


The Furla SS 2016 collection recounts a journey through Italy in search of light and its endless shades. Nuances that cut through the new season creating graphic compositions in bold colour blockings for an eclectic day-into-night versatility.

Shell, onyx, acid green, turquoise, sienna brown and lots of deep red bond to playful artsy effects with an Op art twist, appearing on deconstructed shapes with a distinct gender-bender appeal. Its the lifestyle that counts, one filled with Furlas quintessential ease, joyfulness and Made in Italy quality.

The latter was pivotal in developing the collections practical inventiveness and two-in-one character for which detachable mini bags on roomy totes and clutches serve as both an extra pocket or as the perfect standalone evening style.  

More specifically, both the Furla Dama tote and the Furla Fantasia maxi clutch come with a detachable Metropolis bag on the outer flap while the Furla Artesia bag is characterized by a removable inner panel with slots for wallets, smartphone, coins and other everyday essentials.

Similarly, a charming micro Metropolis tempers the tautness of a bi-color Furla Zafiro work bag, a revisited mens style, while timeless shoppers feature multi-function double-layered pockets. All are laboriously crafted from full-grain calfskin, at times featuring a hammered deer skin effect or printed.

The iconic Furla Metropolis universe is enriched with a larger bi-color version featuring a geometric 3-D printed strap and with painstaking details such as hand-woven flaps and hand-knotted piping for the iconic small size.

Brand new and exclusive to travel retail is the YOYO bag, a Mini Crossbody with a zip top and chain strap available in Conchiglia, Jade, and Onyx. A combination of Ares and Pop Star Leather make the YOYO bag a trendy lightweight bag ideal for travel retail.

YOYO bag


Says Furla Global Travel Retail Director Gerry Munday: Im delighted that the SS16 offer will include another travel retail exclusive offer. The Piper Medium Dome has been incredibly well-received by our customers and the sell-through is superb. The Yoyo bag is equally perfect for travel retail and complements another amazing collection from Furla.

The footwear is a constant exchange between formal-informal, ultra-colored and enriched with precious artisanal details.

The presentation will be held at the Salone Dei Tessuti in a minimalist tunnel-like setting evocative of art installations where coloured panels, smoky mirrors and display columns enhance the 10 key shapes, colors, textures and details.

The new SS16 collection will be shown on the Furla stand (XXXX) at TFWA World Exhibition.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

Paul & Shark shows how men can “Travel Easy” with its new SS16 Collection

Luxury sportswear and lifestyle fashion brand, Paul & Shark exhibits at TFWA Exhibition this year from a new enlarged stand in the Riviera Village (RH08). Highlighting the SS2016 Men’s Collection, guests invited to the stand will be rewarded with a new limited edition polo shirt, personally embroidered, indicating the brand’s uniqueness and flexibility.





Drawing on its iconic DNA of traditional Made in Italy craftsmanship and fabric innovation, Paul & Shark once again offers a collection that offers unparalleled quality with unique designs.

The key, believes Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli, is to inspire and excite travellers as they explore the airport retail environment. Bonelli is confident that Paul & Shark’s new Travel Easy Care range from its Smart Casual collection will fit the bill – combining a casual, elegant look with fabric that makes it stand up to the pressures of packing and long journeys!

The Travel Easy Care range includes coats, gilets, shirts and trousers, created using a special treatment that softens the fabric and makes it easier to care for. More importantly, the garments are crease-free from dawn till dusk, ideal for the traveling man who is always on the go.

Catherine Bonelli comments, “TFWA World Exhibition is the highlight of Paul & Shark’s year. Introducing our new collection to existing and potential customers is a very exciting time for us. As our travel retail distribution continues to grow globally, it is vital that each new collection continues to  ‘wow’ and shows off the quality and uniqueness of Paul & Shark - this year we have definitely achieved this and I am confident that the Travel Easy Care line will stand out as a must-have essential item.”

Alongside the Smart Casual line, Paul & Shark will be featuring its core Sportswear line. With a broad colour palette ranging from classic whites and blues, to bolder limes and fuchsias, the brand’s heritage is transformed into a range of stylish, modern garments. With a rubber-coated linen double-breasted jacket, a classic Vichy print windbreaker, and a polyester and nylon 3D mesh jacket the line keeps pace with the very latest trends.

The Luxury Collection is a lavish range featuring high-quality materials - such as cashmere and silk - combined with expert craftsmanship. Designed for the most demanding of travellers, this collection embraces clean and sophisticated lines along with more traditional colours at the blue to dark brown end of the spectrum. Jackets are the stars of this line, with leather and cotton or cashmere and silk offerings that include technical details such as laser perforations. All knitwear is 100% silk, while the shirts are made from piqué cotton and the trousers from supima, the world's finest, incredibly soft cotton. 

Personalisation will feature on the Paul & Shark stand with its embroidery offering. Showing its flexibility and ability to customise; an intricate tooling machine will allow Paul & Shark to embroider a name or message of choice on the items offered.

“Offering embroidery both in Cannes last year and at TFWA Asia Pacific has proved a very powerful and effective method of showing potential and current customers the quality of our products,” continues Bonelli.  “We received such positive feedback that we just knew we had to repeat the offer this year. Our tooling machines take up so little space that they are easily incorporated into our stores, giving us a real uniqueness. It’s a tool that can easily be incorporated into airport retail and we are about to announce an activation with a key operator this summer.”

Tuesday 22 September 2015

The elit™ Andean Edition & JDO: Winners at The Luxury Packaging Awards 2015


JDO Brand & Design has been announced the winner of The Luxury Packaging Awards 2015, in the Special Edition Pack category, for their work on the ultra-luxury, elit™ Andean Edition.  The result was announced on Wednesday night (16th September) at a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.  Winners were chosen from an impressive list of finalists who were shortlisted at the ‘Winter & Company’ sponsored judging event in June.


The elit™ Andean edition is the latest and final release in the elit™ pristine water series.  First introduced in 2011 with the Himalayan Edition, followed by the New Zealand Edition in 2013, the elit™ pristine water series captures the brand’s unrelenting pursuit of liquid perfection as the vodka maker continues its quest to explore and bring to life the subtle tastes of exemplary vodka, beginning with the most pristine of all ingredients: water.
The limited edition vodka comes in a hand-cut crystal bottle, designed to refract light and enhance the liquid’s clarity.  Every exquisite bottle is sealed with a silver medallion overlaid with gold and crowned with a ruby depicting the elit™ by Stolichnaya® flame.  The bottle is then nestled in a sustainable Chilean Black Cherry wood case that is lined with leather.  JDO took inspiration from the native woods and the metal textile designs of the local Mapuche tribe who attribute their great health to Colico Lake’s pure water.
With only 250 bottles set for global distribution, this new, highly limited edition spirit is the jewel in the crown of a series of unique vodkas of unprecedented perfection and exclusivity.
Paul Drake, JDO creative director said, “It’s not often that you get the opportunity to work on such a prestigious brief and with such beautiful materials. We feel that we’ve truly been able to tell the story of this Andean edition elit™ pristine water series.”
Rob Cullins, CEO of Stoli® Group adds: “The final elit™ pristine water series needed to be the ultimate expression of the elit™ by Stolichnaya® brand and JDO has managed to capture this perfectly with their beautiful and impactful design.”
The elit™ pristine water series is 40% ABV (80 proof), retailing at EUR 3,000 per numbered bottle (250 bottles worldwide).

[ENDS]



About Stoli Group
Stoli Group (headquartered in Luxembourg) was established in 2013 as the division that is responsible for the production, management and distribution of SPI Group's global spirit portfolio - the iconic Stolichnaya® Premium vodka range, elit™ by Stolichnaya® and Moskovskaya®. With operational business units across 3 continents and distribution in 167 countries, the group is led by a multi-national management team with key office locations in Europe, USA and China.
With almost 1 bottle of Stolichnaya® Premium vodka sold every second, each one defines the benchmark for quality with a meticulously crafted liquid that meets the highest alcohol standards - Alpha Spirit. Distilled in the Group’s own ultra-modern raw alcohol distillery in Tambov, Stoli’s exceptional purity is achieved by controlling the process from grain to bottle using only the highest quality ingredients, quadruple filtration and only three times distilled.

For more information visit www.stoli-group.com and www.elitbystoli.com
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/elitbystoli and on Twitter @elitbystoli


www.elitbystoli.com – DRINK WITH CARE. STOLICHNAYA ELIT luxury vodka 40% Alc/Vol. Distilled from grain. ©2015 SPIRITS INTERNATIONAL B.V.,
STOLICHNAYA, STOLICHNAYA ELIT, ELIT, the triangle Logo and/or the bottle shape are ™ and/or ® of its owner.

Morgan & Oates continues to push its ‘Made in UK’ Unisex Scarfs at TFWA World Exhibition


Cashmere specialists, Morgan & Oates is exhibiting at TFWA World Exhibition (Mediterranean Village, P19) with its new Spring/Summer collection for 2016. Focusing on lightweight scarves and wraps in predominately bright colours and pastel shades, the new SS16 collection is perfect for travelers that want high quality, fashionable accessories. 




Having seen phenomenal success with its British made unisex scarves, which were first developed and launched at Cannes last year, Morgan & Oates has expanded the collection to include fancy checks, black checks and stripes. Made in the UK, the range offers only natural materials in a mixture of gentle checks, stripes and classic colours, in lightweight, summer Cashmere blends.

Kevin Galbraith, Sales Director Worldwide comments, “We have been extremely happy with the sales volumes and listings achieved with our unisex scarves, so much so we thought we would extend the range to include some different patterns. This beautiful niche product typifies our craftsmanship and ability to tailor products to our customer’s needs.”

Exclusive to travel retail, the unisex scarf range is priced for impulse and gift purchasing and is currently listed in Europe with Lufthansa and KLM. Sized at 50x200cm the blend of 10% cashmere, 90% merino results in a product that is ideal for those looking for luxury. 

"Morgan & Oates has been producing high quality textiles in the UK for the past 40 years and we are proud to be one of the most renowned and reliable textile manufacturers in the UK. We are one of the few brands in travel retail that produce products that are ‘Made in the UK’, which gives us a real unique selling point. At Morgan & Oates we are always striving to ensure that our products are unique, yet provide a quality that you cannot find anywhere else, Galbraith continues.

Morgan & Oates will also be exhibiting its new designs from its Cashmere & Merino collection. The addition of wonderful summer colours, including a Raindrop design and a fashionable Snakeskin design in softest grey, makes this collection a great summer addition to any fashion enthusiasts wardrobe.

In addition, Morgan & Oates will be showcasing:

100% Cashmere A thicker scarf, designed for the colder climes, these 100% Cashmere scarves are made in the UK and are offered in stripes, checks and a variety of beautiful colours including: dark greys, black, navy-up (unisex), orange, red and pink.

10% Cashmere/90% Merino Abstract Floral- Beautiful and stylish abstract designs available in a range of colours including: red/black and blue/cream. Available in a choice of two sizes; the ultra-fashionable larger wrap 204x70cm and the standard 180x60cm.

Pressed Silk Wraps- A smooth and shimmering appearance gives these wraps a real high end look. Available in a range of vibrant colours.

50% Cashmere/50% Silk or 50% Cashmere/50% Merino Available in a variety of stunning colours, these wraps are the perfect summertime gift due to their lightweight texture.

Galbraith adds, “Our 10% Cashmere/90% Merino pink/grey and black/brown Abstract Floral designs have been extremely successful. We have recently introduced a lovely blue design, which SAS are about to list on-board. For next summer we are adding further colours to this popular range, and we are positive that the new colours will be just as successful.”

Morgan & Oates already has a large airline client base including: British Airways, Emirates, Air France, Aeroflot and AVA. With a middle to upper price bracket, its products are targeted at travellers with disposable income. 

Industry expert Kevin Baker heads Marie Brizard’s new travel retail drive


Well known industry professional Kevin Baker has been named Global Travel Retail Director of Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits. 



Baker’s role is to develop and establish a Travel Retail business for Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits by creating and implementing a channel strategy aligned to the company’s new ‘BIG 2018’ strategy (Back In the Game). He will also manage the Middle East region.

Marie Brizard is by no means new to Travel Retail but the company – previously known as the Belvedere Group - has seen a complete restructuring of its business during 2014.

Says Baker: “Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits is embarking on an exciting new strategy for travel retail with a strong portfolio of both established and innovative new brands including Cognac Gautier (voted the World’s Best Cognac), Sobieski Estate Vodka, Marie Brizard Liqueurs, and the recently launched SHOTKA, amongst others.”

Baker brings a long and distinguished 30 years plus track record to Marie Brizard with huge experience on the brand, distributor and retailer sides of the TR fence. Most recently he was Global Head of Liquor and Head of Category Europe for Liquor, Tobacco & Technology for The Nuance Group based in Zürich. This followed a directorship with distributor World of Patria International where he was responsible for the development and distribution of the company’s premium brands. 

Baker is probably best known, however, for his 20 year experience of global and regional sales and marketing with premium spirits brand companies Brown-Forman and Diageo.

Says Baker: ”Joining Marie Brizard in this very exciting period for the group is a tremendous opportunity for me to exercise all the skills I have gained over the last 30 years – many of which have been in travel retail. I am very much looking forward to taking on the challenge and catching up with old friends, colleagues and sparring partners (!) in Cannes, next month.”

Monday 21 September 2015

Accolade Wines to showcase its recently acquired Chilean Wine brand Viña Anakena at TFWA World Exhibition


Accolade Wines has cemented its position as the leading New World supplier of premium, commercial and value wines by becoming the first company to have a footprint in all major New World wine regions, thanks to its latest acquisition of Chilean brand Viña Anakena. 




Launching to Travel Retail at TFWA World Exhibition (Red Village, J02), Viña Anakena already has an outstanding reputation as a producer of world-class, distinctly Chilean wines and is a significant exporter with a presence in 50 domestic markets, including the United States.

Commercial Travel Retail Director, Rupert Firbank, comments, “We are thrilled to introduce this latest addition to our travel retail portfolio. The range is perfect for the travel retail market as it includes wines at a number of price points that are suitable to a variety of passenger profiles, allowing us to target all channels within global travel retail. With the knowledge and distribution channels Accolade has in the travel retail wine category we are confident that we can mimic –if not better- the success we have seen with previously acquired brands Geyser Peak, Mud House and Grant Burge Wines.”

Viña Anakena was founded in the late 1990s by two friends, Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez, in Alto Cachapoal, in the cool foothills of the Andes Mountains, south of the Chilean capital Santiago. Their goal was to craft elegant, innovative and distinctly New World wines that reflected their origin and Chile´s potential as a producer of world-class fine wines. Their goals were achieved with Viña Anakena’s wines widely acclaimed by consumers, wine writers and the trade. The acquisition includes all the brands and inventory relating to Anakena labels, a 3000 tonne winery, a vineyard near the winery, Cellar Door and VIP tasting room.

Viña Anakena, Managing Director, Ricardo Letelier added “Accolade has a track record of looking after and growing brands. The 160 year-old Australian Hardys’ brand is at the heart of the business, and is the number one selling wine in the United Kingdom. Accolade has demonstrated through its acquisitions of Geyser Peak in 2012, Mud House in 2014, and Grant Burge Wines early this year, that it not only preserves the unique identity and heritage of its brands but can bring its global expertise to bear to grow brands that it brings into the company.”

Anakena’s founders, Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez, are glad to see the brand and assets they founded enter a new growth phase with Accolade at the helm. “We are proud of our country and national wine industry and for over 15 years have enjoyed building the high quality wines and assets of Anakena. As we pass the business onto Accolade we look forward to seeing the great wines of Anakena available to more consumers in more countries.”


~~~~ ends ~~~~~~~
Accolade Wines Background
Drawing on the proud heritage of Hardys, one of the first wineries established in Australia over 160 years ago, Accolade Wines has matured into a global wine company whose brands sell in over 100 countries. Our portfolio features some of the world’s best-known brands including Hardys and Banrock Station (Australia), Flagstone and Kumala (South Africa), Echo Falls and Geyser Peak (California), and Mud House and Waipara Hills (New Zealand), amongst others. Headquartered at historic Reynella, South Australia, we employ more than 1500 people in Australia, the UK, mainland Europe, North America, Asia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.
Our vision is to be the world’s leading provider of New World, premium, commercial and value wines. For more information about our people, our brands and our business visit us at www.accolade-wines.com.


Stoli® Group Names Lars Vestbirk as Marketing Director - International


Luxembourg, September 2015 Stoli® Group today announced the appointment of Lars Vestbirk as Marketing Director - International, effective immediately. Lars has been promoted from his current capacity of Global Brand Director, and will continue to lead the development of Stolichnaya® Premium Vodka and elit™ by Stolichnaya® around the world.

Vestbirk is a drinks industry veteran, with over 9 years’ experience in international spirits brand management. He graduated from Copenhagen Business School in 2007 with a Master in Business Administration and Commercial Law, which included time spent at the Australian Graduate School of Management MBA course and London Metropolitan University.

Previously Vestbirk has held various marketing roles with Belvedere Group amongst other handling Danzka Vodka globally. 

Joining SPI Group in 2012 as Global Marketing Manager, he progressed to Global Brand Director, leading the global brand strategy with highlights including the successful launch of THE Vodka Campaign the Stoli® Night Limited Edition program and implementing a globally consistent BTL strategy. 

Rob Cullins, CEO comments: “Lars has done an outstanding job in leading the Stolichnaya brand platform over the past few years. I’m very pleased to recognize his efforts and contributions to the Group, by having him lead our International Markets’ brand strategies and marketing resources.”

About Stoli® Group
Stoli Group is part of the SPI Group (headquartered in Luxembourg) with operational business units across 4 continents and distribution in 175 countries, led by a multi-national management team.
With almost 1 bottle of Stolichnaya® Premium vodka sold every second, each one defines the benchmark for quality with a meticulously crafted liquid that meets the highest alcohol standards - Alpha Spirit. Distilled in the Group’s own ultra-modern raw alcohol distillery in Tambov, Stoli’s exceptional purity is achieved by controlling the process from grain to bottle using only the highest quality ingredients, quadruple filtration and only three times distilled.
For more information visit www.stoli-group.com and www.stoli.com
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/stoli and on Twitter @Stoli

‘Watches galore’ for Scorpio Worldwide


New brands and new collections strengthen company’s position as inflight’s leading supplier of watches

Watches have always been one of the main focuses for travel retail distributor Scorpio Worldwide, and this continues at TFWA World Exhibition (Mediterranean Village, P08), where it will be showcasing its portfolio of exciting time pieces.




A main focus for Scorpio will be the extension of its hugely successful Aviator F Series to include a Vintage Collection that pays homage to 1940s and 1950s pilot watch styles. Stunningly designed, the collection is packaged in a dark green box, which replicates the colour of B52 Flying Fortress aircraft. The 44mm case and high quality leather strap give this watch a modern on trend look, yet the intricate details of the dials and numerals keeps traditional Aviator fans happy.
Chairman, Stuart McGuire comments, “Aviator has stood out as our biggest selling brand for the last five years, offering exceptional quality and value. In order to maintain and grow the brand’s popularity we have regularly updated and extended the range over this time to ensure that we continue to provide our customers with on-trend, fashionable watches. This latest collection takes the brand to a new level of sophistication.”
The Aviator range also sees the extension of its familiar styles, with the development of four new watches – 2 for men and 2 for women. Introducing mesh bracelets for the men’s range, with a quality steel bracelets that do not require post purchase size adjustment and interchangeable straps for women, the four watches offer new dial colours detailing, which give the Aviator range a broader demographic appeal.
Following on from its successful launch at TFWA Asia Pacific, Scorpio Worldwide will be continuing to push its Yamaha Factory Racing VR/46 Collection by TW Steel watches at Cannes this year. With listing already confirmed with many high profile airlines, the limited edition collection that is exclusive to inflight brings quality and style, but with an accessible price.
Also new from TW Steel is a selection of their world famous Canteen watches.  This global lifestyle brand is well known for being “Big in Oversize Watches” and Scorpio has a selection of 45mm gentlemen’s watches, some of which are exclusive to Travel Retail.  Defined by the signature hook/crown cap and two steel dots on the leather strap, these watches are instantly recognisable.
Scorpio Worldwide is also thrilled to announce the launch of a range of inflight exclusive watches by Daisy Dixon. With 16 styles, including 2 with interchangeable straps, the range offers unique individual floral designs, double wrap straps and coloured dials. Originally a pure online brand, Daisy Dixon has built up a large following, becoming well-known for its supermodel named watches. With packaging that has been designed specifically for inflight, the fashionable watches are partnered with either a matching half bangle, or two changeable straps. With a retail pricing from £55 the Daisy Dixon range offers high fashion for low cost, making it an ideal gift item for a trend loving traveller.
Bringing back the highly fashionable Superdry brand to inflight, Scorpio Worldwide is also showcasing a new range of urban watches. With four silicon and two multifunctional styles and two silicone Nato strap models to choose from, the watches are ideal for urban, young travellers. With a retail prices from £25-£55, they offer a great value price point for such a pure fashion brand.
“The introduction of the new brands like Daisy Dixon and Superdry to our portfolio reflects our ambition to offer customers a one-stop shop for watches, allowing them to select from a variety of brands and price points to cover multiple demographics and passenger needs,” continues McGuire.
Seven new models also join the popular Karen Millen range. With new pastel tones and different colour plating, the new watches offer customers on-trend colours and a choice of beautiful designs.
A totally revamped Beverly Hills Watch range is a further addition to Scorpio Worldwide’s extensive portfolio. With new packaging, colours and totally new designs, which include Nato straps and vibrant colours, the new range keeps its classic styles and affordable prices, but adds a desirable twist of style.
Scorpio is also pleased to announce the introduction of its own range of watches; Chocks Away and Lady Luck. These feminine watches are inspired by the Vargas ‘pin-up’ girl artwork from the 1940s, and are available in a range of colours.
Last but by no means least, TFWA World Exhibition sees Scorpio Worldwide launch the 10 best-selling domestic watches from Timberland to inflight, including the star of Timberland’s portfolio: the Heinniker, and also the Bartlett.
“The continued introduction of new, on-trend watches is vital to ensure that Scorpio retains its position as the leading supplier of watches to the inflight business. We continually monitor trends to ensure that we have a portfolio that reflects them, resulting in a diverse range that gives our customers a great choice of stylish, quality brands,” McGuire adds.