Interview: DFA's Dov Falic on a “first of its kind” opening for The Macallan in Americas travel retail at Panama Tocumen ... - The Moodie Davitt Report

A suitably celebratory moment as Duty Free Americas and Edrington Americas Travel Retail executives perform the traditional ribbon-cutting rites. Pictured left to right are Edrington Americas Travel Retail Customer Marketing Manager Diego Rey and Regional Commercial Manager Jennifer Fujitani; Duty Free Americas Vice President Dov Falic; Edrington Americas Travel Retail Commercial Manager Anthony Dieppa; and Duty Free Americas General Manager Tocumen International Airport Yorvis Campines

PANAMA. Duty Free Americas (DFA) has partnered with The Macallan to unveil the single malt whisky brand’s first-ever shop-in-shop in Americas travel retail.

Yesterday’s opening at Tocumen International Airport Terminal 2 in Panama marks the latest chapter in a long-term collaboration between DFA and the Edrington-owned distiller, following the November 2021 launch of The Macallan Boutique with DFA at New York John F. Kennedy Airport.

The Macallan shop-in-shop is adjacent to DFA’s exclusive Chanel shop-in-shop. “This is a clear statement that DFA is the place to shop when it comes to luxury products in Tocumen,” says Duty Free Americas Vice President Dov Falic (see interview following the main story).

The new shop-in-shop allows Tocumen Airport travellers to explore The Macallan’s range of single malts in a sophisticated setting, showcasing the core range as well as travel retail-exclusive releases and limited-edition expressions.

Duty Free Americas President Leon Falic said: “We’re delighted to expand our partnership with Edrington and offer The Macallan’s prestigious whiskies at this elegant new shop-in-shop at Tocumen Airport.

“It’s an especially exciting launch as it represents a first in the Americas travel retail channel for The Macallan, continuing the momentum of our joint efforts on opening the first and only The Macallan Boutique in the Americas travel retail at JFK Airport – a landmark opening itself.

“With a shared commitment to delivering excellence and the highest-quality whisky, our partnership with The Macallan is moving from strength to strength as DFA continues to play an integral role in The Macallan’s expansion strategy into the Americas.”

The Harmony Collection brings together a series of travel retail-exclusive expressions, adding allure to the shopping experience at the Panamanian gateway

Senior representatives from Duty Free Americas and Edrington celebrated the opening at an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday (14 August). Attendees included Duty Free Americas Vice President Dov Falic; and from Edrington Americas Travel Retail, Regional Commercial Manager Jennifer Fujitani, Commercial Manager Anthony Dieppa, and Customer Marketing Manager Diego Rey.

Edrington Global Travel Retail Regional Managing Director Jeremy Speirs commented: “The opening of The Macallan’s first shop-in-shop in Americas travel retail further strengthens our partnership with Duty Free Americas, building on our successful collaboration for The Macallan Boutique at JFK Airport.

“The stunning space will enable travellers at Central America’s busiest airport to learn more about The Macallan’s history and craftsmanship, as well as discover channel-exclusive products and limited releases.”

Question & answer with Duty Free Americas Vice President Dov Falic

The Moodie Davitt Report: How much does it mean to DFA to be entrusted as the partner in The Macallan’s first Americas travel retail shop-in-shop?

Dov Falic: It’s an honour and privilege to partner with The Macallan. This is not our first project together and definitely not our last. We have more to come with The Macallan as we expand our partnership.

It also emphasises the importance of LATAM and emerging markets for the producer. Panama is an airport with 20 million+ passengers with tremendous growth and potential. Most of LATAM doesn’t have access to many of The Macallan variants due to strict allocations.

This shop-in-shop will be the central location for all of LATAM customers to be able to shop exclusive items and a wide range of The Macallan products.

The shop-in-shop plays well to the accelerating premiumisation trend in the region

What can you tell us about the space – and The Macallan offer within it?

The Macallan shop-in-shop is adjacent to our exclusive Chanel shop-in-shop. This is a clear statement that DFA is the place to shop when it comes to luxury products in Tocumen.

The Macallan will offer a wide range of exclusive products that can be found only in other shop-in-shops in the world. We are the only one in LATAM.

Dov Falic (centre) with Edrington Americas Travel Retail executives Regional Commercial Manager Jennifer Fujitani and Commercial Manager Anthony Dieppa

Tell us about the relationship between DFA and The Macallan/Edrington, which clearly has been a long-term and fruitful one.

Our partnership with The Macallan is moving from strength to strength as DFA continues to play an integral role in The Macallan’s expansion strategy into the Americas.

This new shop-in-shop continues the momentum of our joint efforts on opening the first and only The Macallan Boutique in the Americas travel retail at JFK Airport. With a shared commitment to delivering excellence and the highest quality whisky, DFA really is part of the extended team of The Macallan and we’re excited for our long-term future together.

Just on that note, how has the JFK boutique performed since opening?

Extremely well, this gave us the confidence to look to do more in other locations.

The Panama opening continues a fruitful relationship between the two companies. In November 2021, Duty Free Americas unveiled The Macallan’s new retail experience (pictured above and below) at New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport Terminal 7. It was the first opening of the brand’s global boutique programme in the Americas.

How would you describe the single malt market in Panama travel retail and the LATAM region? And based on that, how high are your aspirations for this shop-in-shop?

The single malt market in LATAM has been showing tremendous growth. Our sister company Global Wine & Spirits Colombia has shown us the growth consistently. LATAM has a very established whisky palate. For many years blended whiskies have been dominating. However, as premiumisation continues to grow, we keep seeing single malts and especially The Macallan growing.

After the difficulties of the past few years due to the pandemic, how has the market rebounded, not just in spirits but overall in this region?

Premiumisation has been at the forefront of the recovery, we are fully back and way ahead of where we were in 2019. ✈