The other day a huge parcel arrived at Moodie Report HQ from Dubai Duty Free. As I was away from the office my colleagues puzzled over what this large object could be. Had I won a major prize in a Dubai Duty Free raffle? Was it a giant-sized invitation to the retailer’s next sporting event?
People
The fruits of one man’s labours
From Jeremy Belcher of Bardinet Vins & Adet Seward Export comes the lovely and moving story of a new wine that is about to be released in travel retail – Navasqüés Garnacha ‘100’ Navarra 2009. Jeremy is a top guy and one of the most knowledgeable people on wine that I know. The new wine
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Miscellaneous
Scaling Mount Difficulty
Some 16 weeks ago, on the 9th of June, the date of my cancer diagnosis, my wife and I drank a bottle of Mount Difficulty Pinot Noir from my native New Zealand. Later we signed and dated the label. Both the wine’s name and its origin seemed particularly apt for the struggle that we knew
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Events
All change at TFWA?
It’s good to see TFWA open up on the subject of proposed changes to its statutes governing the role and eligibility criteria of the association’s President. In a refreshingly candid interview with me this week, Philip Gerzon (above), Managing Director of Gerzon Duty Free, speaking in his capacity as a Member of TFWA’s Management Committee
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Events
Back on the dreadful dreadmill
I’m back on the dreaded treadmill (affectionately known as the ‘dreadmill’) in preparation for a couple of forthcoming challenges in my life. One is The Moodie Multi-National Marathon next March. As reported, the event, sponsored by M&M’s – is a unique initiative designed to bring together the international travel retail community behind a good cause,
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Events
Nuance on track (and treadmill) for supreme fund-raising effort
How’s this for a heavyweight team set to participate in the forthcoming Moodie Multi-National Marathon? • Roberto Graziani • Chris Wood • Andrea Belardini • Alex Anson • James Turl • Clara Helmlinger Yes, it’s a team from The Nuance Group and it’s absolutely great to see the company’s President and CEO Roberto Graziani (pictured above) leading a fellow management team
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Events
Welcome to the ‘Trinity Walk’
You’ve heard of The Trinity Forum, now welcome to The Trinity Walk. In this case the industry ‘Trinity’ compromises three suppliers representing three categories – confectionery (Martyn Westbury, Mars), fragrances (Jan Kristiansen-Binder, Coty) and liquor (Peter Ayling, Taittinger). This real-life Trinity partnership will be undertaking a 3.5km mile walk in Cardiff on Sunday 12 December
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Events
Hand in Hand for Haiti takes shape
Great news reaches The Moodie Blog from Haiti, where yesterday saw an important landmark for Hand in Hand for Haiti. As reported, the travel retail industry-funded charity is building a school in the town of St Marc, to help the reconstruction of Haiti after the tragic earthquake in January this year. In June Hand in
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Miscellaneous
Closer to the bone
Comin’ from the heartbeat. Nothin’ but the truth now Everything is sweeter, closer to the bone – Kris Kristofferson Every time I find an excuse to be fearful I discover a reason to be strong. My recent Blogs on the medical challenges I face seem to have struck a chord with many people. The feedback has
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Events
M&M’s stay cool in marathon preparation
Meet the M&M’s marathon team, pictured in intensive training for the Moodie Multi-National Marathon to be run between 4-7 March 2011. Confectionery house M&M’s has kindly agreed to sponsor this unique event, which will see travel retail teams from all over the globe putting together six-person teams to run a combined marathon and help raise
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Miscellaneous
Going Gaga
The beauty bloggers went into overdrive earlier this week, as Women’s Wear Daily broke the news that Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – better known by her stage name, Lady Gaga – had signed a fragrance licensing deal with Coty. Lady Gaga and that, ahem, tasteful meat ensemble It’s certainly a major coup for Coty, which
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Airports
The dancing of the Northern Lights
“People always ask me how do you drink Scotch? I reply, ‘You’re either left handed or right handed’.” Meet Willie Tait, Master Distiller and Isle of Jura Ambassador at the Whyte & Mackay owned malt whisky maker. Willie was on hand at London Heathrow Terminal 5 this week as part of the airport company’s excellent
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Miscellaneous
A fateful roll of the dice
Two men. Two fates. Two vividly contrasting sets of emotions. This week I underwent a medical procedure known as an endoscopy, a miracle of modern science in which a camera is fed down your throat complete with forceps to photograph and if necessary biopsy a particular organ. All that’s missing is Steven Spielberg directing and