Latest news with #DutyFree
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai Duty Free records outstanding May sales of Dhs724.7mln
The month of May continued the positive sales momentum for Dubai Duty Free as it announced extraordinary sales of Dhs724.7 million (US$198.5 million). This marks a 12.5% increase over May 2024, and the highest monthly sales figure recorded this year. Notably, May 2025 is the second-highest sales month ever for a non-December period, trailing only behind November 2024, and ranks ninth among the all-time top 10 sales months when including December figures. Commenting on the May figures, Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said, 'May continued the strong growth story of 2025 and I am especially happy that the increase in sales was seen in many of the major categories. As of May 31st, our revenue has exceeded Dhs3.5 billion (US$1 billion), reflecting a year-to-date growth of nearly 6.5%. These positive results are a direct reflection of the commitment and excellence shown by our entire team of staff.' The 12.5% sales growth for May is expected to outpace passenger traffic by 7-8% (based on DDF's internal estimates and pending DXB figures), which averaged approximately 242,000 passengers per day. Daily sales averaged Dhs23.3 million (US$6.38 million), driven by strong performance metrics: penetration rose to 28% (up from 26.3% in May 2024), and average spend per departing passenger climbed to US$46.7 – an increase of US$3 year-on-year. In May, sales growth was strong across all major product categories with Confectionery up 81% with Dhs73.9 million (US$20.2 million) sales, boosted by the continued success of 'Dubai chocolate'. Perfume sales reached Dhs132.8 million (US$36.4 million) showing an almost 15% increase over the same month last year. Cosmetics were up 10.8% with Dhs35.2 million (US$9.6 million) sales, Cigarettes and Tobacco climbed 14.4% generating Dhs77.6 million (US$21.3 million) in sales. Gold sales were up 11.65%, reaching Dhs70.7 million (US$19.4 million) and Precious Jewellery saw notable 31.75% increase with sales of Dhs20.2 million (US$5.5 million). Liquor sales rose to nearly 4% to Dhs89.9 million (US$24.6 million) and Electronics recorded a 5.4% increase with Dhs41.7 million (US$11.4 million) sales. The Fashion boutiques also performed well, recording a 4.7% increase over May last year with sales of Dhs71.3 million (US$19.5 million). In total, these increases contributed to over Dhs80 million (US$22 million) in additional sales compared to May 2024. Among the concourses, Concourse B in Terminal 3 led the growth with a 17.5% increase, followed by Concourse D in Terminal 1 at 10.7%, Concourse A rose by 7.8% and Concourse C by just under 1%. Terminal 2 Departures recorded an exceptional 20.8% year-on-year increase, while Arrivals shops across all three Terminals posted a combined growth of 6.25% following the completion of its renovations and refurbishment. All key passenger regions showed positive sales with Europe up 25.9%, the Russian region up 14%, the Far East up 5.2%, Middle East up 14% and the Indian-sub continent up 4%, despite recent travel disruptions. For further information, please contact Bernard Aquino, Marketing Department, Dubai Duty Free or call Tel: +9714-6019232 or email:
Mint
7 days ago
- Mint
Spirited Picks: What India's alcobev insiders buy when they travel
Peak travel season is upon us. People you know, or barely know, are putting out shiny Stories from all over. Chances are your bags, too, are packed. And as a spirits enthusiast, you're probably wondering what bottles to snag — at Duty Free or your destination. If that's indeed the case, we've got reccos from some of the most tuned-in names in India's alcobev ecosystem. As owner of Pass Code Hospitality, which runs 20 restaurants and bars across the country, and co-founder of homegrown agave brand Maya Pistola Agavepura, Rakshay Dhariwal is always sampling new stuff — and recco-ing spirits. The latest addition to his sizeable tequila collection is a sotol from Flor del Desierto, picked up in Thailand. Sotol is a traditional Mexican spirit, like mezcal or tequila, but distilled from dasylirion, a spiny, desert-dwelling plant in the asparagus family. 'This one's a pechuga-style sotol,' says Dhariwal, referring to a rare distillation method in which meat, typically chicken or turkey breast, is added to the still during a final distillation, often alongside fruits and spices. It adds body and complexity, says Dhariwal. The 'Snake Pechuga' he bought includes rattlesnake meat in the distillate, along with local botanicals. 'It's got outstanding flavour and aroma,' he says. If a serpent in your drink feels like a step too far, he suggests the more conventional Fortaleza, a tequila he calls 'one of the smoothest I've ever had.' Flor del Desierto. Currently holidaying in Vietnam, Uday Balaji is all praise for Sampan Rum, an agricole-style rum made by Distillerie Indochine near Hoi An. 'It's made entirely from sugarcane juice and has this lovely fresh, floral character,' says the Coimbatore-based whisky educator. For those heading to Southeast Asia, he also recommends keeping an eye out for Glenglassaugh Portsoy, a coastal single malt from the Brown-Forman portfolio. 'I feel it's a much-overlooked gem,' says Balaji of the peaty dram. 'I've come across it at several duty-free outlets in the region, especially at Changi Airport and in the Philippines.' Also on his radar, if Europe happens this year, is Smogen, a bold Swedish whisky. 'It holds its own against several Scottish single malts,' he says. Glenglassaugh Portsoy. Mayukh Hazarika's Cherrapunji is one of India's standout gins — smoky, rainwater-distilled in Meghalaya, and infused with botanicals from the North East, including second-flush tea from the Lushai Hills in Mizoram. But gin isn't the only thing Hazarika likes to sip after a long day. At times, he turns to Calvados or Armagnac. 'I've mostly picked up the Calvados Chateau du Breuil and Pays d'Auge, from Berlin, and they never disappoint.' The Chateau du Breuil, he says, is smooth and rounded; the Pays d'Auge, sharper and more structured. For Armagnac, he turns to Janneau, which is soft, slightly spiced, and always dependable. If you're in Holland, he recommends picking up Rutte, a 'benchmark' gin distilled at a 150-year-old facility in Dordrecht, about 100 km from Amsterdam. Rutte. Kasturi Banerjee's Maka Zai, launched in 2021, was one of India's first homegrown craft rums. Since then, the former banker has expanded her portfolio with Mesma, a limited-edition barrel-aged expression that leans on aromatic complexity. When she's travelling, Banerjee makes a point of seeking out local spirits, especially rums that experiment with indigenous ingredients. 'I look for flavoured rums, especially those using indigenous fruits or spices, and how distilleries are experimenting with not just traditional Asian crops like sugarcane, but also less common ingredients like cashew.' She is particularly fond of the agricole-style Samui Rum, which is distilled by the Magic Alambic Rum Distillery (La Rhumerie de Samui) on Koh Samui's quiet southwest coast. Dos Maderas Luxus, a rum aged in the Caribbean and then finished in casks that previously held 20-year-old Pedro Ximénez sherry in Jerez, Spain, is another favourite that she picked up in the UK. Her latest find is Rosemullion Honey Rum, from Frankfurt. Made in Cornwall, the rum is infused with local honey and herbs. Her whisky picks are rooted in Ireland, and she especially recommends Redbreast for its elegance and Connemara for its gentle peat. Redbreast. Vinayak Singh, co-founder, Dram Club As co-founder of Dram Club, a community for spirits lovers, Vinayak Singh often leads whisky tours to Scotland, and never returns without a bottle of Highland Park 18. 'It's consistently good… I have no idea why it's overlooked.' Another label that never fails to impress is Octomore. 'We recently had a tasting of the super heavily peated Octomore 9.3 — it was a big hit.' Both brands, especially the Highland Park, are often available at duty-free shops in Southeast Asia, says Singh. Highland Park 18.
What's On
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
The viral Dubai chocolate has a pop-up in DXB Terminal 3
The viral Dubai chocolate is calling… If you thought the FIX craze had faded, you thought wrong, because the viral Dubai chocolate is now selling exclusively at the airport, and the people are all here for it. Social media reports are telling us that this cute and colourful whimsical pop-up is located across from Cartier and is impossible to miss. That's right – FIX Chocolate is hosting an exclusive pop-up in DXB Terminal 3 after capturing the hearts and and bank accounts of travellers scouring Duty Free. The wrapped up there this April, but the heartbreak was too loud, and now they're back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIX Dessert Chocolatier (@fixdessertchocolatier) You might also like 5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: May 26 to 29 While they have a whole host of delicious flavours, a limited number are available at the airport – Can't Get Knafeh Of It, both the milk and dark versions, Pick Up A Pretzel, also the milk and dark versions, and Mind Your Own Buiscoff, the luxurious biscoff flavour. And while one may fear being faced with sold out signs, they're restocking constantly so you won't miss out. After taking social media, Dubai and then the whole world by storm, the insanely indulgent bars are still in high demand. It's no surprise the viral chocolate is near impossible to get your hands on and everyone has jumped on the bandwagon – even the royals. Earlier last year, we saw the FIX Chocolate x Fazza collaboration, a uniquely crafted, specially created Halawat Dubai flavour. Besides this iconic flavour, some of our personal favourites are Can't Get Knafeh of it, Pick Up A Pretzel and Butter To Be Safe Than Salty, all decadent bombs of flavour and sugary goodness that will send you to Nirvana. There are loads more, but these are the best Pick up a bar or two on your way out of the country for a sweet holiday – and some serious flexing rights. @fixdesertchocolatier Images: Supplied/ Socials
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Double your hand-luggage on Ryanair, easyJet and more with this simple hack
A woman has shared her 'genius' travel hack to make sure you can bring as much hand luggage on board as possible - and you'll never have to pay for extra luggage when flying A savvy traveller has been hailed for her ingenious hack to double up her hand luggage without incurring extra charges when she flies. Known as @lifeofjazz_ on social media, the clever globetrotter divulged her ultimate tactic for breezing through airports with just carry-on baggage to bypass the hassle of checking bags. Initially, she makes sure her carry-on is within the airline's size and weight restrictions to avoid issues at check-in. But then she shared: "I have a few tricks that I do when travelling with only hand luggage. Number one, I put a bag inside a bag. You see this bag [referencing her video], there's another bag inside of it. I usually go to Boots or Duty Free, and get a bag because they are not allowed to touch anything inside something you've bought already within the airport." After loading the duty-free bag full of her own goods, Jazz deploys another bag. She continued: "I have a crossbody bag, obviously that's fine, it's tiny. Then I have my small suitcase, make sure you roll everything within your suitcase so it can fit." To further streamline her travel experience, Jazz suggests getting on the plane promptly to ensure your belongings fit snugly in the overhead locker rather than wrestling them under the seat, reports Belfast Live. Commenters on her post approved of the hack, with one remarking: "I do the duty thing too. Get a cheeky meal deal from boots and ask for the biggest bag." Echoing this sentiment, another chimed in: "People also don't realise you don't need to use those plastic bags for toiletries, you can use your own see through makeup bag, doesn't matter how big." There are other tricks that passengers may want to deploy to increase the amount of carry-on luggage they can bring, although it's worth remembering that whether or not you're able to bring it all on depends on how lenient or observant the airline staff are feeling on a given day. One commenter suggested a classic trick - the pillow suitcase. They wrote: "I always bring a pillow case put some clothes in." Jeenie Weenie has become a viral sensation on TikTok since hanging up her cabin crew outfit to become a content creator fulltime. More than 11million people follow her on the video platform where she shares her tips and insights for life at 30,000 feet. The American flight attendant recently sat down with the Mirror and shared her number one tip for flying now that she does so as a paying passenger rather than a professional. Jeenie employs the 'pillow case hack' to make her flight a little comfier, and to bump up the amount of handluggage she can bring onboard. "I always travel with my own pillow, because the airlines' ones are too small. I travel with my big one, I stuff it with my soft items. Your jackets, sweaters, sweat pants. You'll have more space in the hand luggage. I've never seen a flight attendant take it off a passenger," the former Emirates flight attendant explained.".
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duty Free International (SGX:5SO) shareholders have endured a 35% loss from investing in the stock five years ago
The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Duty Free International Limited (SGX:5SO), since the last five years saw the share price fall 58%. Even worse, it's down 13% in about a month, which isn't fun at all. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Duty Free International became profitable within the last five years. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics may better explain the share price move. The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. On top of that, revenue has declined by 33% per year over the half decade; that could be a red flag for some investors. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Duty Free International, it has a TSR of -35% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Investors in Duty Free International had a tough year, with a total loss of 9.1% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 19%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 6% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Duty Free International better, we need to consider many other factors. Even so, be aware that Duty Free International is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
