BROWN SPIRITS REPORT: WILLIAM GRANT & SONS


As reported by TRBusiness last year, discussion over the possible opening of Japanese duty free arrivals shops has resurfaced, following an unconfirmed report from the Japan Times newspaper suggesting the country’s transport ministry would ‘recommend’ the arrivals shop change this year (although as TRBusiness noted at the time, this doesn’t mean they will be introduced). Airports reported to be supporting


the step change in legislation included Sendai International Airport and Kansai International Airport. TRBusiness understands from


a Japanese airport source [at the time of writing] that there are no immediate updates with regard to movement on any possible legislative moves on the issue.


Glenfiddich Cask Collection “With arrivals shops possibly opening up in Japan as early as 2019, the Olympics happening in 2020 and a casino due to open before that, it is vital that WGS has a share in the duty free business to prepare for long term growth,” says Hamilton. WGS Business Development


Manager Jack Tan echoed Cottrell’s statement by emphasising the importance of raising WGS’s share in the duty free business as a platform for longer-term growth. This follows an announcement


from Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe, last year to delay an expected raise in goods service taxes from 8% to 10% to October 2019. Hamilton acknowledges that an


important priority for WGS Asia Pacific remains a new packaging refresh for global travel retail exclusive The Glenfiddich Cask Collection. This also remains a key priority for other regions. Across the Pacific into the US,


Richard Bush, Regional Marketing Manager for the Americas, says last year’s launch of the Glenfiddich Cask Collection of single malt whiskies – comprising Select Cask (1ltr), Reserve Cask (1ltr) and Vintage Cask (700ml) – remains a hit in travel retail. “Regionally, Select Cask has been


a very strong seller for us across the Americas,” he confirms. The product also includes a special edition twin pack for travel retail that


MAY 2017


gives consumers a 15% discount on the cost of purchasing two litres of the liquid. “Because the saving is built into


the pack cost, they just pass it onto the consumer,” Bush says. The newly packaged innovation


is due to be available in global travel retail channels from June. For the firm’s single malt business in the region, the progress has also been buoyant.


WGS and Nissan Terrano promotion at Hyderabad.


Ending on a positive note “We were quite pleased with our results in 2016,” he says. “We managed to end on a positive note, despite the challenges in the region such as currency and political issues in Latin America that were certainly challenges to the business. “Malt continues to perform


extremely well for us; certainly in the Americas region we can see malt growing more quickly than blend, although blend has always been an important part of our portfolio and continues to be.” Grant’s Family Reserve was


singled out as an important performer, as well as the C Carbon and O Oxygen skus from the Grant’s Elementary Range. Looking ahead, Bush says the signs


for the first three months of this year are also promising. “We’ve seen some green shoots in


Latin America; people are starting to travel and spend a bit more, so we’re guardedly optimistic that we will have a good year.” As attention centres irrevocably on the young, upwardly mobile,


millennial consumer, WGS is using the aformentioned Monkey Shoulder – the triple malt incantation matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks – as a draw to entice new customers. “The brand platform is made for


mixing – it’s introducing a whole new generation of drinkers to whisky in a way that is different from the way they thought about it,” adds Bush. “The beauty of the product is


not only that it is mixable, it is also delicious, not only on the rocks but straight up. I believe it is something that is going to draw a lot of new people into the category and it’s the right price point to get people into malts.” «


“We’ve seen some green shoots in Latin America; people are starting to travel and spend a bit more, so we’re guardedly optimistic that we will have a good year.”


Richard Bush, Regional Marketing Manager – Americas


The Glenfiddich Cask Collection is a key sales grabber across the regions. TRBUSINESS 153


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