LEADING AMERICAS OPERATORS: DUTY FREE AMERICAS Unlock the full potential...
of these countries [outside of the US] will recover, particularly in LatAm. But we need Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia to recover. We are betting that in the next couple of years, things will improve and at that time we’ll be in a much better place in terms of pricing.” On the subject of new
Duty Free Americas recently signed with beauty brand Foreo to be stocked at the retailer’s Macau store.
“We invest a lot in these small
cities,” adds Falic. “We’ve become one of the largest employers and we’re proud of it. We believe in America and we’re going to continue investing in the Americas, but we think the US is still important to us. We’re still going to grow on the border and in the airports.”
Recovery needed Of course, DFA’s business in the Americas will always be impacted by the strength or weakness of the US dollar, something which Falic says has been a problem within the last year or so. “A strong dollar is always
difficult for us and it’s always a disadvantage... We hope that some
“We will grow. We have to grow. We think this year, we’ll grow a little less than last year. We’ll see.”
Leon Falic, DFA
opportunities, TRBusiness probed Falic on the RFP launched by Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport for a non-exclusive duty free retail concession, in December. “I’m interested in any airport
tender,” responds Falic. “I look at everything. Yes, we are looking at Houston at the moment.” However, Falic explains that
wherever possible, DFA prefers to be the exclusive operator to fully ensure there is enough ‘business’ to go round. “We like to be exclusive and there’s
got to be enough business there for us to look at it. There’s got to be enough flights, routes, passengers etc. We like to invest and create really nice stores, so we want to make sure that they do well.”
Asia opportunities? While Falic is fairly open on the subject of the Americas, he remains more reluctant to talk about specific opportunities in Asia. “Bids come up and we’ll continue
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to look at them,” he says. “We do have a presence in Asia now so if an airport like Changi comes to us and asks for something that we are good at, then we’ll bid for it. I’m not sure we’ll be looking at bids at Hong Kong
To receive a full digital copy of the March issue, plus 12 monthly print editions and the critically acclaimed TRBusiness Top 10 International Operators Report, please visit
www.trbusiness.com/subscriptions A DFA Luxottica store, which opened at Punta Cana Airport in the Dominican Republic last year. 32 TRBUSINESS
DFA has a successful business in Macau, at the famous shopping mall connected to the Venetian Hotel complex.
Airport though.” Bidding for new business in
periods of political and economic uncertainty obviously carries an element of risk and Falic is conscious of making any solid predictions at the moment. “I would say the world is uncertain
right now. I can’t really predict much today. There’s a lot of moving parts to consider. Obviously, Brazil, Mexico with the new administrations; Venezuela with what’s going to happen over the next few months and how that’s going to recover... We’re in Haiti, Haiti’s in turmoil right now. US trade [tensions with China]; Brexit is a big thing, which will affect a lot of our vendors, so there’s a lot going on.” However, as Falic has made
clear in numerous interviews with TRBusiness, ‘the show must go on’ and he feels confident that regardless of macroeconomics, people will still continue to travel. “One thing I can tell you is planes
are full and borders are being crossed today like never before. That’s what I need. “Macroeconomic factors: we’re
not going to change them and we’ll have to live with whatever happens. Those powers are much greater than ours. We just need passenger traffic and passenger flow and so far we are getting it. That’s what we are focused on. If I look at the news all day long I’ll never do anything. We really try not to pay too much attention.” When asked if the uncertainty
and fragility of some economies will prevent DFA from growing sales and revenue this year, he speaks plainly. “We will grow. We have to grow.
We think this year, we’ll grow a little less than last year. We’ll see.” «
MARCH 2019
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