Latest news with #DutyFree
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
DFS confirms Auckland, Queenstown closures
DFS' Auckland store will continue operating until the end of September. Photo: Supplied Luxury travel retailer Duty Free Shoppers has confirmed it will close all stores in Australia and New Zealand by the end of September. Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) told RNZ its Sydney store would remain open through 10 September, while its Auckland and Queenstown outlets would continue operating until 30 September. The move was part of a broader effort to streamline global operations in response to what the company described as "challenging economic conditions". "This decision reflects challenging economic conditions and is aligned with DFS' broader strategy to optimize global operations," the company said in a statement. "We are immensely grateful to our employees for their hard work, passion and contributions, and to our partners and customers for their loyalty over the over the years." Founded in Hong Kong in 1960, DFS pioneered the concept of tax-free shopping. Now part of the French luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the company operates in major airport terminals and city centers, offering high-end fashion, beauty products, accessories, jewelry and alcoholic beverages from more than 750 brands. DFS' Queenstown store will continue operating until the end of September. Photo: Supplied DFS first entered the Oceania market more than 30 years ago, becoming a fixture for international tourists seeking tax-free luxury goods. The Auckland store opened in the 1990s, operating out of the historic Custom House in the heart of the city's central business district. In late 2022, DFS expanded to Queenstown, one of New Zealand's premier tourism destinations. The closures reflect a broader shift in trading conditions across the Asia-Pacific region, as the travel retail sector continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery, changing consumer patterns and economic headwinds. DFS did not disclose how many employees would be impacted by the closures of its Australia and New Zealand stores but confirmed that support would be provided to staff. "We are unable to provide the number of employees affected, but we can confirm that transition support is in place for them." the company said in a statement.
Khaleej Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai chocolate mania: 2.5 million bars sold at airports in 6 months; top brands revealed
Grabbing a quick treat at the Dubai Duty Free before flying out? As millions of travellers pass through the airports, they consume millions of chocolates, in turn generating millions of revenue. In just the first half of 2025, Dh165 million worth of Dubai chocolates were sold, Dubai Duty Free CEO Ramesh Cidambi told Dubai Eye. As much as 2.5 million bars of these UAE-based chocolates were sold, which accounted for 40 per cent of all confectionery. As these brands are UAE-based, the money goes back into the economy, Cidambi pointed out. Take a look at the main brands that consumers got their hands on in the first six months of 2025 – L'ocali, FIX, Bateel, Al Nassma, Samha, I love Dubai. FIX The brand became synonymous to the term "Dubai chocolates" when it launched the viral pistachio kunafa chocolate which took the world by storm. Globally, customers clamoured for a taste of the dessert sensation, several brands created dupes, but the authentic taste remains a UAE exclusive. Fix once teamed up with Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan to craft a 'one-of-a-kind chocolate flavour tailored to his personal taste and love for a special ingredient, Halawt, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert. The brand has since gone on to launch a new tropical flavour, named 'Time to Mango.' L'ocali This Dubai-born brand combines two key elements of UAE — heritage and luxury. With a collection of dates covered in 24k edible gold, it captures the UAE experience of finesse through-and-through. The brand sells a range of chocolate coated dates, dates with fillings such as pistachio, rose, and even orange peel. It also boasts a range of gourmet chocolate which "captures the essence of Dubai opulence," along with Belgian truffles and Swiss chocolate. Bateel While Bateel opened its first cafe in Riyadh in 1991, it subsequently opened its first one in UAE in 1992. Much like the historical bond between Saudi Arabia and UAE, this chocolate brand is closely linked to the Emirates, with its headquarters located in Dubai. According to its website, the word 'Bateel' refers to the young offshoot of a date palm that can be used to grow into a new tree. True to name, the brand is one of the pioneers of art of mixing the dry fruit with sweets, and Bateel says it "invented the date chocolate" in 2000. From Gold Leaf date set to a Gulf Map set, the brand wraps dates in decadence; but it does not focus only on the dry fruit. Bateel has a range of artisanal wrapped chocolate from Brazil to the Dominican Republic, suitable for gifting, along with cookies that draw inspiration from flavours such as date dhibs and milk chocolate sesame praline. Beyond chocolates, the brand forayed into the broader food sector with Cafe Bateel in 2007, now a popular spot among UAE residents. The menus "combine Middle Eastern essence with Mediterranean diversity." In 2023, Bateel launched Bateel El'an, a new culinary concept with cafe culture in a more compact format. Al Nassma Al Nassma's chocolate is famously made from a specific ingredient steeped in UAE tradition – camel milk. As Bedouins rode on the ship of the desert, these creatures became their companions and source of food too, with camel milk long serving as an important source of nutrition in the sands of Arabia. Founded in 2008, Al Nassma is the UAE's first camel milk chocolate brand, established by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to Reuters. In its early years, the brand said it aimed to be "the Godiva of the Middle East". It boasts a range of uniwue, "hollow figures" along with "caravan boxes", pralines, and chocolate bars. Samha Samha's chocolate-covered dates are also made from camel milk. The brand was launched in 2019 by Prime Chocolate, the parent company of Al Nassma, to diversify Al Nassma's travel retail offerings. The bite-sized portions are a common sight at birthdays, gatherings, and children's parties – creating a core 'UAE' memory for the multiple nationalities that call the Emirates their home. Samha has also embraced the pistachio kunafa flavour, with its own camel milk twist. While Al Nassma focuses on broad camel milk-based chocolate products, Samha is a specific niche, capitalising on the country's love for dates, camel milk, and pistachios. Thought pistachio kunafa was the most unique combination? You might have to think again. The 'I love Dubai' brand offers pistachio baklava chocolate, along with gahwa crunch and halwa rahash. The brand offers local UAE flavours, with gahwa – the Emirati dialect word for Arabic coffee – being a symbol of UAE hospitality. Rahash, also known as halwa, is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from sesame seed paste, and found in various forms, such as plain, with pistachios, or as a filling in chocolates. It has a nutty, fudge-like texture and is a popular dessert to combine with tea or coffee. Meanwhile, baklava is a sweet made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and syrup or honey.
Al Etihad
02-07-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Dubai Duty Free posts record half-year revenue of Dh4.118 billion
2 July 2025 19:13 DUBAI (WAM)Dubai Duty Free on Wednesday announced record half-year sales performance posting a 5.34 percent year-on-year increase with turnover reaching Dh4.118 billion ($1.128 billion) for the first six months of 2025, exceeding last year's previous record turnover for the first half of the year by Dh208.95 million ($ 57.24 million).The airport retailer recorded robust growth in April, May, and the first half of June, with sales buoyed by a surge in travel over the Eid holiday and the early summer travel Duty Free Managing Director, Ramesh Cidambi, said, 'We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025. Whilst we await the final passenger numbers for June 2025, the spend per passenger is likely to be better than last year's June. This performance is a testament to our team's hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.'The company remains optimistic for the second half of the year, with preparations underway for a busy summer and a traditional busy last quarter.'We are looking forward to an equally busy second half of the year. Plans are very much in place for the opening of three luxury boutiques in Terminal 3 Concourse A, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier,' Cidambi Liquor, Cigarettes & Tobacco, Gold, and Confectionery retained the top five category positions. Perfume sales reached Dh744.24 million ($203.90 million), contributing 18 percent of total revenue and showing an increase of 5 percent over the same period last followed with sales of Dh513.37 million ($140.65 million), while Cigarettes & Tobacco saw a 12.24 percent increase year-on-year with sales of Dh439.91 million ($120.52 million).Gold sales amounted to Dh416.90 million ($114.22 million), contributing 10.12 percent of total revenue and an increase of 6.14 percent. Confectionery in particular continued to demonstrate strong growth, achieving Dh412.52 million ($113.02 million), marking a 62.70 percent increase over the same period last year and accounting for 10 percent of total notable increase was seen in Cosmetics, which rose by 3.36 percent to Dh201.51 million ($55.21 million), contributing 4.89 percent of total trends across terminals continued to increase, with duty-free sales in Terminal 3 increasing by 6.37 percent for the first half of the year, while Terminal 1 rose by 5.25 percent. All key passenger regions showed positive sales during the first half of the year, with Europe up 16.89 percent, the Russian region up 4.41 percent, the Indian-sub continent up 1.02 percent and the Middle East up 8.15 percent.
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Correct' way to eat a Toblerone leaves chocolate lovers floored
A chocolate fan has blown people's minds after revealing the correct way to eat the pyramidal Swiss chocolate bar after people have spent years trying to break the pieces apart with their teeth It seems connoisseurs of chocolate have been savouring their Toblerone bars incorrectly - but fear not, for there's an approved method to munching on the pyramid-shaped Swiss delight. The prominent chocolate brand, adorned with vibrant red and yellow branding, has sweetened the world since 1908, and remains a global favourite. Many indulge in the treat during special moments such as Christmas or snag one from Duty Free while jet-setting. Even after decades of relishing in this chocolate luxury, it appears a great number of us are still unaware of the right technique to detach the delectable segments. Chances are you've been wrenching the pieces outwards or gnawing at the bar, hoping for a break. Given the firmness of the segments, this can require quite a bit of strength. Yet, there's an effortless method that makes separating them a piece of cake. A culinary enthusiast has uncovered the optimal strategy to claim a segment. Sharing his revelation on social media, the father gave his audience a detailed peek at a Toblerone bar and disclosed: "So apparently this is how you're supposed to break your Toblerone." The demonstration showed him effortlessly snapping off a single piece by pinching two triangle tips together with his thumb and forefinger. Instead of yanking the pieces apart, the trick is to press them inward. In a blink, you're blessed with your chocolate chunk. The comments section brimmed with astonishment, including one bewildered person who exclaimed: "There's no way I'm only finding this out now I usually put my whole mouth around it and everything." Another concurred and remarked: "I just shove it in my mouth and risk the roof of my mouth being scraped." An additional person contributed: "The amount of times I nearly broke my teeth and this was how you do it." Meanwhile, another individual confessed: "I feel so dumb for doing it the hard way all my life." Yet, some were baffled that this wasn't common sense. "How does nobody know this? ," one questioned. While another asserted: "I've always pushed them like this and thought it was common knowledge." A third chimed in with agreement: "I thought this was common knowledge." Nonetheless, when the widely followed Chef Koudy revealed the trick on his TikTok, many admitted they'd rather stick to their laborious methods. "Second is better because you're not touching the piece next to it," one user opined. Another penned: "Second one is better, at least he did not touch the other bar with his fingers."
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Toblerone fans are only just realising 'correct' way to eat the chocolate bar
A chocolate lover has blown people's minds after revealing the correct way to eat the pyramidal Swiss chocolate bar after people have spent years trying to break the pieces apart with their teeth It seems chocolate fans have been eating their Toblerone bars all wrong - and their is a correct way to eat the pyramid shape Swiss chocolate treat. The iconic chocolate brand with bold red and yellow branded, has been around since 1908, and contains to be popular around the world. Many food lovers enjoy the bars as an extra special treat on special occasions like Christmas, or pick one up at Duty Free when travelling. Despite the years of enjoying the delight, it seems that many people don't know how to pull the pieces apart. You have probably been breaking pieces off by pulling them to the outside. Or jamming your teeth on to the bar in hopes it will break apart. As the pieces are tough, this can take some serious power. However, there is a simple an easy way to pull them apart with easy. A food fan has revealed the best way to grab a piece. Posting on social media, the dad gave his followers a close-up look at a Toblerone bar and said: "So apparently this is how you're supposed to break your Toblerone." He can be seen easy breaking off a singular triangle by using his thumb and index finger to pinch the peaks of two triangles together, and it easy breaks off. Rather than pulling the pieces apart, you want to push them together. Within seconds you have your piece of chocolate. People rushed to comment, as one shocked individual shared: "There's no way I'm only finding this out now I usually put my whole mouth around it and everything." Another agreed and said: "I just shove it in my mouth and risk the roof of my mouth being scraped." Someone else added: "The amount of times I nearly broke my teeth and this was how you do it." While another admitted: "I feel so dumb for doing it the hard way all my life." However, others were confused how people were not aware of this. "How does nobody know this?," commented one person. While another added: "I've always pushed them like this and thought it was common knowledge." A third agreed: "I thought this was common knowledge." But after viral chef, Chef Koudy, also shared the revelation on his TikTok page, a number of people said they prefer pulling the pieces apart the harder way. "Second is better because you're not touching the piece next to it," commented one. Another wrote: "Second one is better, at least he did not touch the other bar with his fingers."
