With the Great British Summer in as full a flow as is ever likely (no rain outside Moodie HQ here in London for at least 24 hours), the world’s greatest tennis players are currently serving, smashing and in some cases grunting their way through the Wimbledon Championships just down the road, writes Rahul Odedra. Wimbledon
People
Supporting a remarkable life cycle
Of all the charitable endeavours we hear about in this industry (and we try to support most), there aren’t many of greater merit than that being undertaken by Fraser Dunlop, Global Head of Food for World Duty Free Group. For those of you who don’t know Fraser, he is the man who defied practically all the
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Miscellaneous
A tribute to the man in the pin-stripe suit
Whenever an annual event such as TFWA Asia Pacific comes around, there are inevitably moments when one remembers those who are no longer with us. One such individual is Richard Ashworth, who passed away in January after many years outstanding service to this industry, working variously for Jardine Matheson, Allied Domecq and Camus, before later representing
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People
The Moodie Blog: Dan heads down under
Australia’s gain, the Middle East’s loss. That’s just one of the conclusions to come out of today’s news that Dan Cappell is leaving Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) to join Australia Pacific Airports (APAM) in Melbourne. As ADAC Chief Commercial Officer Mohammed Al Bulooki rightly noted, Dan has made an outstanding contribution to the UAE
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People
Farewell Kathleen Ann Viray Ilagan, OFW and heroine
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are rightly revered in the Philippines, considered as heroes and heroines. And whenever I am at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, I realise why. It’s not just about their economic contribution, it’s also about humanity. One simply cannot be untouched by the alternating emotions of the Arrivals and Departure halls,
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People
Bumping into an old acquaintance at Gatwick
Better late than never. I’m at Gatwick Airport, heading out to the Duty Free Show of the Americas, three days later than originally planned and now delayed further due to a technical issue onboard. At this rate I may get there in time for the exhibition breakdown. I’d already been tapping away at my keyboard
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Events
A Foundation of fizz to support a fallen friend
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion. – Dylan Thomas Word reaches The Moodie Blog that Scorpio Worldwide Managing Director Ian Cowie is raising much-needed funds for the British Heart Foundation in honour of one of travel retail’s great
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People
Why it’s time to support a woman who supports so many others
Yesterday in Beijing I had the immense pleasure of catching up with Shell Xue, who heads cleft charity The Smile Train in China. Shell and her small, amazingly dedicated team, have changed the lives of over 270,000 Chinese children in recent years, including 28,447 cases last year. No child on this planet should have to
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People
Bionic Bull back on his feet
Meet travel retail’s first bionic Bull. Stuart Bull, long-time International Consultant for Mars International Travel Retail, is now back on his feet after what he describes as a ‘bi-lateral knee replacement’. In confectionery terms, both the Bull knees, worn out after his younger-day exertions as a marathon runner (at which he was highly adept) and
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People
Vintage Joel returns to Bordeaux
He’s aged as well as any of his company’s great Cognacs and his spirit is every bit as fine. We’d call him a VS quality simply because it stands for Very Special but he’s actually more of a Louis XIII, an ultra-premium blend of integrity, humour, kindness and charm. He’s a man with Cognac running
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Events
Above and beyond the call of Duty (Free Philippines)
Meet the Coffee Table Committee at Duty Free Philippines. These are the amazing people who worked around the clock over the past few weeks with me and The Moodie Report production team (heroic sub-editor Jon Elphick and top-notch designer Ray Heath) to produce ‘Duty Free Philippines 25 Years – Aquino to Aquino’, a coffee table
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Events
The way we were
In researching our forthcoming Coffee Table Book to celebrate Duty Free Philippines’ 25th anniversary – ‘Duty Free Philippines 25 Years – Aquino to Aquino’ – I came across many old industry photos that present compelling and often poignant memories of the past quarter century. By coincidence I entered the travel retail industry the same year
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Events
Swimming, running and riding The ‘Moodie-thon’
Word reaches The Moodie Blog of some extraordinary efforts being put in around the world for the second Moodie Multi-National Marathon, due to take place between 15 and 18 June. As reported, teams of six from travel retail companies will each run one-sixth of a marathon (7.03km), with members being able to take part anywhere