Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Metro Myanmar launches with brand new warehouse

    Metro Myanmar launches with brand new warehouse

    The launch of Metro Myanmar business marks the German wholesaler’s 36th international market.

    The company has announced a warehouse in Yangon, aiming to serve local professional customers in the fast-growing hospitality and tourism sectors.

    “The food wholesale industry in Myanmar offers big potentials for Metro,” said the firm’s COO and management board member Philippe Palazzi, “and we believe our engagement in the trade sector will contribute to the local economic growth including the agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors, and help upgrade the food wholesale infrastructure sustainably for the local community.”

    As distinct from its operations in other countries, Metro Myanmar will not run wholesale stores but provide a virtual shopping experience for customers through its e-commerce and delivery systems.

    Central to the wholesale operations in Myanmar is the 5800sqm warehouse situated in Thilawa Special Economic Zone outside Yangon. It is a modern logistics facility where incoming goods are received, stored, processed and packed in compliance with stringent quality and food safety standards for delivery to customers.

    Now right at the start of its operations, Metro Myanmar is already serving about 300 customers across the country that can now select from an assortment of more than 2000 food and non-food products. Customers place orders digitally through Metro’s website and mobile app, and the delivery is carried out with a fleet of modern temperature-controlled trucks.

    With local sourcing and food safety improvement a top priority for the country, the firm has been making continuous efforts to build up strong partnerships with local producers. These engagements include training as well as knowledge and expertise transfer for food suppliers and farmers across different regions and states in Myanmar. Over 90 per cent of the current workforce at Metro Myanmar, which is about 150 employees, is staffed by local talent.

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  • Pomelo secures RedMart’s Jim Boland

    Pomelo secures RedMart’s Jim Boland

    Bangkok-headquartered omnichannel fashion company Pomelo has appointed Jim Boland, former RedMart CFO, as its new CFO.

    Boland has successfully led finance organisations in fast-growing e-commerce businesses for more than 19 years in leadership roles at Amazon, Dell and Alibaba-owned RedMart. His appointment will see him aiming to build up Pomelo’s financial infrastructure to drive profitability while enabling rapid growth across the region.

    “I am delighted to join this innovative company, which has designed a business model strategically suited to grow fast and profitably,” said Boland. “As a digitally native, vertically integrated omnichannel brand, Pomelo presents an exciting opportunity to leverage my past experience with vertical integration, retail, and e-commerce, especially during the critical scaling up phase.”

    With Boland’s new role as CFO, Pomelo’s co-founder and former CFO Casey Liang is transitioning to Pomelo’s growth team, which encompasses the performance-marketing and business-intelligence teams, a cross-functional unit that will work closely with other teams to accelerate customer acquisition and retention.

    “As we continue in this period of rapid expansion, I am excited to foster more coordination between our creative and technical teams to further accelerate our growth rate and help more customers to experience Pomelo’s unique value proposition,” said Liang.

    Pomelo’s CEO David Jou expressed excitement at the hire as the firm pursues building the “first global fast fashion brand out of Asia”.

  • AirAsia launches cheap fares to Bali, a thriving tourism destination for many Australians’

    AirAsia launches cheap fares to Bali, a thriving tourism destination for many Australians’

    AirAsia is offering cheap one-way fares to a tropical Indonesian island, which has been tipped to take the top spot as the favourite destination for Australians. The budget airline announced its new four-time weekly flights between Perth and Lombok, east of Bali this week.

    As part of the announcement, AirAsia is offering one-way flights to Lombok from just $99. AirAsia has launched cheap one-way fares to Indonesia’s newest holiday hotspot Lombok, which has been tipped to take the top spot a favourite destination for Australians

    The budget airline announced its new four-time weekly flights between Perth and Lombok, east of Bali this week Jetsetters can snag the cheap flights until March 24, to travel between June 9 and October 26.

    Australian sun-seekers are expected to flock to the new destination, which has been described as ‘the new Bali’.

    Lombok, east of Bali, has gearing up to become the next tourism hotspot with promises of endless blissful beaches.

  • Apple’s AirPods 2 will help the ‘hearables’ segment to grow

    Apple’s AirPods 2 will help the ‘hearables’ segment to grow

    According to Counterpoint Research, wireless ‘hearables’ are the next big thing. The segment, which contains Apple’s AirPods and the Samsung Galaxy Buds, saw global sales of around 46 million units last year. But with the help of AirPods 2, this could catapult to 129 million units as early as next year.

    Samsung, Google, Bose, and LG are all expected to grow

    As noted by Research Director Pete Richardson, “2019 will be the year that hearables evolve into an important market.” For the most part, new releases from major brands will boost sales across the globe. However, the evolving digital habits of consumers are also expected to propel demand.

    The likes of Samsung, Bose, Huawei, and LG all hold relatively small market shares at the moment. But as interest in the segment picks up throughout this year and next, each one is set to experience relatively strong growth which should translate into larger market shares.

    New Google Pixel Buds and other releases from the likes of Amazon are expected to play an important role too. After all, these should integrate the likes of Google Assistant and Alexa, both of which are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

    AirPods 2 will propel the ‘hearables’ segment to new levels

    As mentioned in the opening paragraph, for the foreseeable future Apple is expected to remain the biggest driving force of growth. Rumor has it that the brand is preparing a second-generation of its AirPods which should integrate a variety of new features and potentially some small design changes.

    From afar, AirPods 2 are expected to look identical to the originals. But upon closer inspection, a new frosted glass-like coating should be visible. This, according to rumors, will improve grip and reduce the slipperiness, which means the new AirPods shouldn’t fall out of your ears so easily.

    AirPods 2 should also introduce always-on Siri, which will allow users to activate the assistant with the words “Hey, Siri.” This feature was actually first teased way back in September by Apple but still hasn’t been confirmed officially.

    Joining the improved Siri will apparently be some kind of water resistance and potentially some health-related features. More specifically, an earlier report suggested Apple was researching the possibility of a built-in heart rate monitor. However, this extra is far from guaranteed. One feature that does seem extremely likely at this point is support for wireless charging through a new charging case. Allegedly, this feature, which will charge both the case and AirPods simultaneously, will take the battery level from 0% to 100% in just 15 minutes.

    Also expected from the new wireless accessory is Apple’s W2 Bluetooth connectivity chip. This can currently be found inside the Apple Watch Series 4 and halves the power consumption with respect to the W1 chip. As a result, battery life improvements are to be expected.

    Of course, Apple’s AirPods are primarily meant for music and Apple is set to bring some improvements to the overall sound quality.

    Most AirPods buyers aren’t bothered about sound quality

    Rather ironically, despite the fact AirPods are meant for music, consumers aren’t buying them because of their sound quality. Counterpoint Research recently conducted an online survey of over 200 people regarding their preferences. In the case of AirPods, 68% of correspondents cited “comfort & fit” as a key reason for buying them. This was followed by “ease of use” and “portability,” which were mentioned by 56% and 44% of people respectively.

    As it turns out, just 41% of the people surveyed cited “sound quality” as a reason for buying AirPods. For comparison, this factor was the key driver when it came to Bose products, with a whopping 72% listing it. “Noise cancellation” was also important with Bose headphones as it was cited by 68% of people.

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  • Greater China Club Presents ‘A Taste of Guangdong Nostalgic Dining Experience’ at Chinese Dining Room Man Hing

    Greater China Club Presents ‘A Taste of Guangdong Nostalgic Dining Experience’ at Chinese Dining Room Man Hing

    Greater China Club’s classic Chinese dining room Man Hing is presenting ‘A Taste of Guangdong Nostalgic Dining Experience’ from 3 C 22 April 2019. A nostalgic menu of popular Cantonese dishes from the 1960s C 70s is being curated by veteran guest chef brothers Heung Chung-Kin and Heung Chung-Tat, bringing combined experience of over 90 years in classic Guangdong cuisine.

    Both in their 60s, the master chef brothers have a celebrated track record of cooking for Hong Kong’s rich and famous dating back to 1968.

    Elder brother Chef Chung-Kin, 67, helmed Chinese kitchens from The Oceania Restaurant, Furama Hotel and Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong to ANA InterContinental Tokyo, Grand Bay Hotel Zhuhai and Four Seasons Macau before becoming a tycoon’s personal chef.

    Younger brother Chef Chung-Tat, 60, rose to Head Chinese Chef at Great Eagle Hotel, Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant and exclusive Club Vendome at luxury Kowloon development Imperial Cullinan.

    “This vintage menu is a tribute to their vast knowledge of the roots of Guangdong cuisine, with a nostalgic menu recalling beloved Cantonese specialties from a charming era before Hong Kong became a global cosmopolitan powerhouse,” said Eric Ting, Founder and CEO of Bird Kingdom Group, managing company of Greater China Club.

    Guests can embark on a classic culinary journey back in time in the presentation of over 70 exquisite Guangdong favourites, from appetisers and soups to main courses, desserts and dim sum C many that once graced celebratory banquets but are rarely served today, requiring lengthy preparation and intricate skills.

    Once-popular starters include Deep-fried Chinese Egg Pudding with Yunnan Ham (HK$158), Crispy Chinese Milk Puddings Served with Sugar (HK$158) and Tossed Pork Intestines with Homemade Sauce (HK$138).

    Among soups, Braised Partridge Soup with Bird’s Nest (HK$188 per person) is a classic favourite combining partridge’s high nutritional value as a source of iron, selenium, vitamin B, potassium and magnesium with bird’s nest nutrients restoring health and helping chronic cases of cough and asthma. Also on the menu is Braised Fish Head Soup with Egg and Barbecued Pork (HK$148 per person); Double-boiled Winter Melon with Conpoy and Chinese Ham (HK$138 per person); and Double-Boiled Vegetarian Shark Fin Soup stuffed in Whole Pigeon (HK$488).

    Traditional main course favourites from the bygone era range from Sautéed Prawns stuffed with Chinese Ham and Bamboo Shoot (HK$288) to banquet classics Signature Crispy Chicken in Traditional Method (HK$588, limited supply daily), Sautéed Pork Stomach with Olive Kernel and Bell Pepper (HK$298, limited supply daily) C a classic test of slicing technique selecting most tender sections of eight stomachs per dish.

    Braised Pomelo Peel with Shrimp Roes (HK$188) has a uniquely soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture; and rare Braised Dried Giant Garoupa Skin with Thick Sliced Abalone in Oyster Sauce (HK$488, limited supply daily) is a tradition from Manchu Han imperial feasts, cooked with precious dried giant garoupa skin from Malaysia that costs over HK$50,000 per 9kg.

    1960s and 70s specialties extend to Sautéed Soft Shell Turtle Skin with Green Bell Pepper and Celery (HK$368); Deep-fried Caul Fat Rolls Stuffed with Shredded Pork and Eel (HK$188); Steamed Fresh Crab Claw in Superior Soup (HK$288, limited supply daily); Pan fried Shrimp Toast in Traditional Style (HK$288) and Braised Vegetarian Pockets Stuffed with Mushrooms and Vegetables (HK$168).

    Main dishes extend to Sliced Noodles with Crabmeat in Superior Soup (HK$88 per person), a Guangdong classic using deep-fried diamond shaped wonton wrappers; Fried Rice Noodles with Pork Liver, Barbecue Pork, Pork Stomach, Fish Maw and Chicken Kidney (HK$188); and Egg Noodles with Shrimps, Sliced Pork, Fish Maw, Squid and Barbecued Pork in Soup(HK$188).

    Among classic Guangdong dim sum are Steamed Buns Stuffed with Chicken, Black Mushrooms, Barbecued Pork, Shrimps and Salty Egg York (HK$68); Steamed Seafood Dumpling Stuffed with Superior Soup (HK$88 per person); Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Chinese Celery (HK$68) or Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Bamboo Shoot (HK$66); and the street-food staple, Pork Lard Buns in Traditional Style (HK$58).

    Completing the traditional menu are beloved retro desserts C from Cantonese Sponge Cake (HK$48) and Red Bean Rice Flour Pudding (HK$48) to Baked Egg Custard Pudding with Sago and Lotus Paste (HK$48).

    Greater China Club’s ‘Classic Guangdong Nostalgic Dining Experience’ continues a tradition of inviting guest chefs to showcase novel, authentic and exquisite regional Chinese cuisine, following previous presentations by star chefs from Beijing, Hangzhou and Chaozhou.

    Greater China Club is located at Unit A, 10/F, D2 Place One, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It opens from Monday to Thursday, Sunday and Public Holidays, 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight and Friday and Saturday, 12:00 noon to 1:00 am.

    Greater China Club offers Corporate and Individual memberships entitling members to exclusive offers at the Club’s dining outlets, waived service charges and exclusive benefits.  Priced HK$18,888 for corporate membership with 3 nominees and exclusive benefits, including 10% discount on food consumption at Umai and Rustico, 3 bottles of Champagne (HK$1,080 each), HK$15,000 cash vouchers which can be used at all restaurants under Bird Kingdom Group; and HK$6,888 for individual members with exclusive benefits, including 10% discount on food consumption at Umai and Rustico, 1 bottle of Champagne (HK$1,080), HK$5,500 cash voucher can be used at all restaurants under Bird Kingdom Group, while monthly membership fees (which can be used for spending in the Club) are HK$600 and HK$300, respectively.

    Members enjoy special benefits, but the Club is also open to guests and tourists at D2 Place, a revitalised industrial building now buzzing with eclectic bars and restaurants, named after its MTR exit at Lai Chi Kok.

  • Fung and JD launch Hong Kong’s first AI checkout

    Fung and JD launch Hong Kong’s first AI checkout

    JD has partnered with Fung Retailing Group to unveil Hong Kong’s first AI checkout solution in a retail store environment.

    The AI-powered checkout technology is a result of a strategic deal between the firms signed last year. It represents the first AI checkout experience featuring image recognition technology in the territory. This technology is currently installed at the AI Retailing Zone in two Circle K stores in Hong Kong.

    Designed to make the checkout experience as easy and hassle-free as possible, customers can complete checkout using the AI-powered solution in just four seconds with three simple steps, including placing the products on the counter, scanning, and paying via Octopus card.

    The advanced AI algorithm enables the checkout counter to recognise up to five products within one second with an accuracy rate of more than 97 per cent, reducing the overall checkout time by 30 per cent.

    “This is an important milestone for Fung Retailing as the first in the industry to unveil the first AI-powered checkout pilot experience in a convenience store environment,” said group MD Sabrina Fung.

    “This underscores our ongoing commitment to experiment with new technologies like AI and to build partnerships like the one with JD to enhance the end-customer experience, further transforming the future of retail for Greater China.”

    “AI will continue to play a critical role in transforming the retail landscape,” said JD VP Dr Bowen Zhou.

    “Retailers who are able to capitalise on this trend, will have a competitive edge among their peers. Leveraging Fung Retailing’s offline retail expertise and JD’s leading retail technology, this pilot project represents a critical first step in collectively realising our vision for smarter and more convenient retail.”

  • Hard Rock Bedding and Bath range planned

    Hard Rock Bedding and Bath range planned

    Restaurant and accommodation chain Hard Rock International is to partner with textiles firm Sobel Westex to produce a manchester range.

    The Hard Rock at Home collaboration is intended to give music fans around the globe the opportunity to fine-tune their living spaces with home goods inspired by music – including bedding, bath textiles, window treatments and beach towels.

    The Hard Rock at Home collection features luxurious bedding, including comforters, sheet sets, throws and decorative accent pillows with a variety of designs. Through the collection, fans can add country, rock and alternative music touches, as well as hip hop trends and pop accents.

    “We are excited to collaborate with Sobel Westex to bring these trendy bedding, bath and beach products to consumers worldwide,” said director of licensing for Hard Rock International Mark Linduski. “This fresh, unique collection of musically-inspired, designer textiles will appeal to customers of virtually every age range, music genre and lifestyle while aiding in our strategic initiative to expand retail distribution of the Hard Rock brand outside of our own retail properties.”

    The designer textile collection will debut at the New York City Spring Textile Market from March 18 through March 21, before launching to consumers this autumn.

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  • Zoff Hong Kong eyewear chain boosting Convenience

    Zoff Hong Kong eyewear chain boosting Convenience

    Zoff Hong Kong may have only six stores for now, but the Japanese eyewear brand is proving a standout for local licensee Convenience Retail Asia.

    Victor Fung, chairman of the listed Fung Group affiliate, says Zoff Hong Kong has enjoyed “remarkable success” since CRA opened the first store in November 2017 at Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing. The five stores opened since are all in high-traffic locations popular with trendy young clientele, including one at Langham Place.

    Zoff’s business model is to offer customers a constantly refreshed range of frames to suit all styles, high quality frames at affordable prices and made onsite within a fast turnaround time. Fung says this is ideal for the new generation of consumers, always on the go.

    Zoff stores carry more than 2500 different frames and new items are introduced biweekly.

    The chain has also launched themed promotions, including a selection with popular actress and model Kiko Mizuhara and collections themed on Disney, Star Wars and Andy Warhol.

    CRA has invested heavily in brand advertising for the new chain, including outdoor advertising, prize promotions and joint marketing initiatives with other brands within the Fung Group.

    While CRA did not detail the chain’s financial performance, the company noted in its annual results that Zoff had contributed to both revenue and profit growth.

    “The group is proud to be the only licensee for the Zoff franchise in the world,” said Fung. “This fast-fashion eyewear chain, with its eye-catching blue-and-white branding, is highly regarded among Hong Kong’s young generation. Under the group’s guidance, Zoff has truly energised the Hong Kong eyewear market since entering in late 2017.”

    More Zoff stores are scheduled to open this calendar year.

    “The group remains bullish about the prospects for Zoff. Despite a number of competitors entering the market, our first-mover status and Hong Kongers’ affinity for the famous Zoff brand continue to drive healthy growth,” he said.

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  • Malaysia’s KIP Group plans a few new malls

    Malaysia’s KIP Group plans a few new malls

    Malaysia’s KIP Group will establish three new malls within the coming three years, according to CEO Valerie Ong.

    The new locations in Raub, Kuantan and Sungai Petani will involve RM150 million (US$36.7 million) in gross development costs and cater to middle-mass-market demand. They are being located in growing markets where consumers still prefer physical buying over online purchases.

    “This means we will have a total of 12 shopping malls in our portfolio, including the six properties that had been injected to our listed entity, KIP Reit”, Ong said at the launch of the firm’s ninth shopping mall at Desa Coalfield Sungai Buloh.

    KIP Griup’s portfolio includes a shopping mall in Bangi and five KIP Marts in Tampoi, Kota Tinggi, Masai, Senawang and Malacca. It has also acquired Aeon Mall Kinta City, Ipoh in a RM208 million ($50.9 million) deal.

    According to Ong, Malaysia’s retail sector is expected to grow by 4.5 per cent to RM109 billion this year. She added that the Desa Coalfield mall has already achieved an 80 per cent occupancy rate in advance of its scheduled opening later this year.

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  • Henley & Partners Opens Australia Office

    Henley & Partners Opens Australia Office

    New office caters to burgeoning international demand for Australia’s investor migration programs, as well as interest from within Australia for alternative residence and citizenship options abroad. Global firm in residence and citizenship planning Henley & Partners has announced its expansion into Australia and has made several key personnel hires, the firm said in a media release.

    The office is located in Melbourne, and will be led by director Tony Le Nevez.

    «Australia is the number one resettlement destination for high-net-worth individuals. With our global presence and expertise in assisting these clients acquire alternative residence or citizenship, it makes perfect sense for us to open an office in Australia,» Dominic Volek, managing partner and head of Southeast Asia, said.

    Strong Regional Growth

    This has been a period of strong growth in the region for the firm, which recorded 48 percent year-on-year growth in Southeast Asia. It opened a Thailand office in 2018 to cater to the burgeoning demand for residence and citizenship planning services among HNWIs there.

    «We expect the interest and demand that we are seeing in Southeast Asia to continue with eight of the top 10 fastest growing wealth populations forecast to be in Asia over the next five years,» Volek said.

    Key Appointments

    • Tony Le Nevez, Director, Henley & Partners Australia

    Le Nevez has over 35 years’ experience in the migration services industry. He previously worked for the Australian Department of Immigration in Canberra, and at for the Australian foreign service in Bangkok, Athens and Vienna, where he was a senior policy advisor and First Secretary. He joined the private sector in 2006 and is a member of the Investment Migration Council.

    • Jacky Poh, Deputy Head, Henley & Partners Singapore

    A wealth management professional for over 10 years, Poh has worked closely with HNWIs to execute prudent investment strategies inclusive of discretionary portfolios. Poh works closely with the managing partner to ensure the smooth operations and resource management of the Singapore office. He is also focused on establishing and maintaining relationships with key clients and stakeholders to drive business growth, with an emphasis on progressive Southeast Asian markets.

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  • TradeGecko launches Founder Plan giving commerce startups the technology superpowers to build amazing businesses

    TradeGecko launches Founder Plan giving commerce startups the technology superpowers to build amazing businesses

    TradeGecko, a leading technology company that provides cloud-based inventory and order management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today launched its Founder Plan, expanding access to its powerful technology platform to early-stage commerce businesses. 

    The plan enables founders to integrate TradeGecko’s leading inventory and order management solution from the get-go, so that they can build their commerce businesses to scale quickly. This limits cumbersome and complex manual processes that may inhibit future growth, empowering entrepreneurs with the ability to level the playing field with bigger competitors. 

    Recent research by TradeGecko has shown that operational challenges are among the biggest headaches for commerce entrepreneurs. 31 percent of businesses under US$1 million still rely on spreadsheets for their inventory management, with another 24% using pen and paper and 19% not using anything at all. On average, 90 hours a month are spent on backend functions such as order and inventory management as well as product sourcing.

    From as little as US$39 per month, subscribers of the Founder Plan can access a fully automated system that consolidates operations management functions into one central location. This ensures that inventory levels, sales channels and accounting systems are always up-to-date and accurate. It also gives commerce businesses the power to add new sales channels, integrates with other business-critical functions and provides analytics to support decision-making.

    “At TradeGecko, no founder gets left behind. Our mission is to give founders the technology superpowers to compete in the global market. The Founder Plan is an accessible launchpad that enables entrepreneurs to scale, while ensuring they have the time and information they need to do what they do best – build amazing businesses,” said Cameron Priest, Co-Founder and CEO of TradeGecko. 

    The Founder Plan allows users to manage their total inventory starting with one eCommerce channel, integrated with accounting, manage sales orders and purchase orders, shipping and email support. It also gives access to TradeGecko Payments, TradeGecko Mobile App and TradeGecko Intelligence sales and inventory reports.

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  • Vietjet not operating any flights with Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts

    Vietjet not operating any flights with Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts

    Vietjet does not operate any flights with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. We are currently operating with a fleet entirely composed of new Airbus aircraft from the A320 family aircraft. The average age of our fleet is 2.82 years. We are also using latest generation of Airbus aircraft, A320-A321 neo.

    Furthermore, Vietjet’s operations meet the highest international standards with regard to safety and maintenance. In particular, we have complied with all of the regulations and met the latest standards which have been set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), including the approval of aircraft type for our operation.

    The safety for passengers is always Vietjet’s highest priority. Now we are closely monitoring the Boeing 737 MAX case and our decisions related to these aircraft will be made after the official conclusions and guidelines of the world’s aviation authorities and the CAAV. We are doing this to ensure the development of our modern fleet and to meet the highest quality and safety standards. Vietjet has well managed our fleet so far and our transport business plans are unchanged.

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  • DFS to Celebrate Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits Event in Singapore

    DFS to Celebrate Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits Event in Singapore

    DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, in partnership with Changi Airport Group, will host its eighth annual Masters of Wines and Spirits event in Singapore at the end of March. The most celebrated and prestigious event in the industry, Masters of Wines and Spirits will showcase a curation of 140 of the rarest and finest whiskies, wines, Cognacs and Champagne from around the world, all under one roof.

    The 2019 edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits will take place on Saturday, 23 March and Sunday, 24 March, bringing together esteemed guests from around the world. The event is an annual testament to DFS’ leadership in global travel retail, as well as highlighting the expertise of DFS’ merchants who spend a year of extensive research to selectively curate a world-class, bespoke collection of wines and spirits.

    Hosted at Infinite Studios, Singapore’s state-of-the-art studio, this year’s edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits explores the theme of “Masters at Work” – an homage to those who have acquired complete knowledge or skill in a subject, technique or artform and whose passionate commitment to their task continues to raise the bar for all others in the field. DFS celebrates six masters across a spectrum of backgrounds. Guests will be taken on an interactive and immersive journey through activations and experiences that explore each brand’s heritage and which ignite the senses.

    The six “Masters at Work” comprise: Brooke Supernaw of DFS as Master of Curation, Ewan Gunn of Diageo as Master of Whisky, Sarah Burgess of The Macallan as Master of Malt, Fabrice Papin of Château Lafite Rothschild as Master of Wine, Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five as Master of Cocktails and DJ Arthur Bray as Master of Music.

    “The eighth edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits will showcase another outstanding collection of more than 140 masterpieces from 60 of the world’s most legendary wine and spirits houses,” said Brooke Supernaw, Senior Vice President Spirits, Wine, Tobacco and Gifts, DFS Group. “Here at DFS, we take pride in curating an ever-growing collection of wines and spirits that become more exclusive, bespoke, rare or limited-edition each year, and which capture the heritage and craftsmanship of each brand.”

    The 140-piece strong curation – featuring collectable items such as the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan, The Macallan 72 Year Old in Lalique – The Genesis Decanter; a set of three extremely rare vintages, The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection; and an exceptionally unique bottle produced from the owner’s original stocks – Port Ellen’s 39 Year Old. The collection will also be showcased and celebrated at Changi Airport through a series of activations at Terminals 2 and 3 until the end of April.

    DFS’ Masters of Wines and Spirits 2019 Collection

    More than 80 Cognacs and Whiskies make up this year’s collection and include The Dalmore Constellation Vintage 1973 Drinking Cabinet, a very special bespoke and handcrafted cabinet commissioned by Richard Paterson, containing The Constellation Vintage 1973 (cask no.10). The Bunnahabhain 39-Year-Old Spanish Octave Finish, an exclusive limited edition piece that forms part of the new Bunnahabhain Element Series which is crafted around the importance of various elements impacting on the character of each Bunnahabhain whisky, and the DFS Exclusive, Caol Ila 35 Year Old boasting a fine freshness, cleanliness and precision for its age.

    The Glenfiddich 45-Year-Old, an exclusive blend for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits, honors a whisky-making tradition dating back to 1887 and is a true reflection of the passion and innovative spirit passed down through all five generations of the Grant family. Possibly the last ever cask of Karuizawa Single Malt to be bottled in Japan is the Karuizawa Single Cask 1995. Port Ellen 39-Year-Old is an elegant complex 39 year old Single Malt Whisky, unlocked from the heart of Port Ellen and expertly married from a selection of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry refill casks.

    Macallan presents The Macallan 72-Year-Old In Lalique – The Genesis Decanter, the oldest whisky ever released by the Macallan family in commemoration of the opening of its new Distillery and Visitor Experience. Presented in a bespoke limited-edition crystal decanter handcrafted by Lalique, this exceptional whisky celebrates the collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship. Also from the Macallan family comes The Macallan Fine & Rare Decades Collection. Created exclusively for DFS, the collection features five Fine & Rare vintages from 1938, 1947, 1954, 1965, 1976, each drawn from a single unique cask, denoting key historical events for the year.

    From the world of wine, DFS presents more than 60 collections including The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection, a rare opportunity to collect three of the great vintages produced by the estate in big formats and The Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum Collection, a unique six-vintage magnum set of exceptional vintages from 1988 to 2009.

    The Penfolds 2015 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon Imperial is one of the world’s most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons and a true representation of the Penfolds ‘House Style’ and has shown its ability to age with grace and finesse since the first vintage in 1964. All great wines begin with a great site, and the Continuum Tim Mondavi Library Vertical Selection is a unique collection offering an opportunity to enjoy a vertical flight of Continuum vintages from 2010 through 2015.

    Giving reason to celebrate is the Rare Le Secret Magnum Vintage 1997 With Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire from Piper-Heidsieck. Inspired by the muse of both Maisons, Marie- Antoinette, Queen of France, Rare Le Secret High Jewellery is royally embellished with a one- carat precious stone, interwoven golden bands set with 510 diamonds. Presented in a majestic box, this spectacular edition has been for more than 20 years in the cellar of Régis Camus, Rare  Champagne’s Cellar Master.

    DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions around the world. The Masters Series is a showcase of the pinnacle of DFS’ leadership and innovation in curating and creating exceptional experiences across its five pillars of luxury: Wines and Spirits, Beauty and Fragrances, Watches and Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, and Food and Gifts.

  • Barclaycard partners with Alipay to help UK merchants increase sales from booming Chinese tourism

    Barclaycard partners with Alipay to help UK merchants increase sales from booming Chinese tourism

    Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of the UK’s credit and debit card transactions, today announced a new agreement with Alipay, the world’s leading payment and lifestyle platform, which will allow retailers to accept Alipay transactions in stores across the UK.

    Building on a successful pilot over the past two years, the new agreement will enable UK retailers to take full advantage of the growing volume and buying power of Chinese visitors. In addition to the UK’s 393,000 Chinese residents and 95,000 Chinese students, tourists from China represent an increasingly important customer segment for retailers. VisitBritain is expecting 483,000 visits from China in 2019, up 43 per cent on 2017, with Chinese visitors expected to spend more than £1 billion this year, up 50 per cent, moving it well into the UK’s top 10 tourism market. The increase in market size is also demonstrated by the fact that the number of Alipay users in the UK has doubled in the last year.

    By accepting Alipay, the world’s most-used app in 2018 outside of social apps according to App Anni, retailers will be able to capitalise on the growing appetite of Chinese tourists to use mobile payments over cash while abroad. According to a 2018 survey conducted by Nielsen, the vast majority (93 per cent) of Chinese tourists said they would likely spend more in a store that accepted mobile payments. In addition, among the merchants surveyed that had adopted Alipay, nearly 60 per cent said that they had clearly seen growth in both foot traffic and revenue[5].

    The new agreement will enable UK retailers to accept in-store Alipay payments without replacing their existing point-of-sale system, allowing them to take advantage of the boom in Chinese tourism without disrupting their existing customer experience[6]. Retailers will also benefit from being at the fingertips of hundreds of millions of highly-engaged Alipay users, who will be able to search for outlets near their location to find out details such as opening hours, directions, and whether there are any discounts available.

    Alipay serves over one billion users worldwide together with local e-wallet partners, and this new agreement offers its Chinese users travelling in the UK the familiar mobile payment and lifestyle experience they enjoy at home, as well as Alipay’s competitive foreign exchange rate.

    Feedback from retailers has been incredibly positive; Barclaycard is already in discussions with around 70 clients interested in becoming early adopters.

    Rob Cameron, CEO, Global Head of Payment Acceptance at Barclaycard, said:

    “Thanks to the significant investments we’ve made in our platform, our clients have access to a growing range of payment types, each of which can help them increase market share by meeting the needs of new customers.

    “Our new agreement with Alipay gives retailers a vital tool to help them seize the revenue opportunity posed by the growth of Chinese visitors to the UK. At the same time, Alipay users will benefit from a more convenient and familiar in-store payments process – enhancing their overall shopping experience.”

    Roland Palmer, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Alipay, said:

    “Alipay is excited to announce that it will be working with Barclaycard to provide visitors from China with the mobile payment experience that they are already familiar with. Through this strategic partnership, Alipay will now be able to offer many more UK merchants the opportunity to connect and engage with a growing number of Chinese visitors. This is another step forwards in our vision to offer Chinese tourists a seamless travel and payment experience when travelling overseas.”

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  • GreyOrange to showcase new modular sortation system at ProMat 2019

    GreyOrange to showcase new modular sortation system at ProMat 2019

    Robotics and warehouse automation company GreyOrange will showcase its new FlexoTM modular sortation system and demonstrate upgraded versions of its Butler and PickPal on April 8-11, at ProMat 2019, the leading trade show for supply chain and logistics.

    Today’s modern supply chains are under immense pressure to improve productivity as businesses grapple with unpredictable demand and labor shortages to handle omnichannel distribution. The intelligent robotics solutions from GreyOrange address these challenges head on with high-level flexibility in terms of design that helps businesses adapt easily to changes in customer demand and market strategies while controlling costs.

    GreyOrange Co-founder and Group CEO Samay Kohli will speak on April 10 at 11:30 am at The Chief Robotics Officer Summit, organized by RoboBusiness. He will discuss how a new generation of robotics for warehousing that optimizes machine learning and AI, delivers the Flexible Automation that modern distribution centers need to maintain a competitive edge. The robotics systems from GreyOrange have the agility to deploy quickly, adapt on the fly to evolving operational demands and unlock new levels of productivity for applications in omnichannel Retail, ecommerce, 3PL and fast-moving consumer goods(FMCG).

    At Automate 2019, GreyOrange Boston R&D Labs Director and Head, Andreas G Hofmann will present a session on “Intelligent Robotics for Flexible Supply Chain Automation” on April 10 at 3:30 pm. He will highlight new robotic technologies that address challenging problems in warehouse automation that provide flexibility with a limited set of product morphologies. This allows for addressing rapidly changing warehouse needs while managing product customization costs. Automate is a leading automation solutions event by the Association for Advancing Automation, and is co-located with ProMat 2019.

    See the new GreyOrange FlexoTM modular sortation system at ProMat. Flexo enables destination sortation; inbound and outbound, in fulfilment, distribution and logistics centers.  Designed for flexibility, Flexo adapts to existing layouts, can easily scale and handle versatile payloads without constraints to future growth. Flexo is easy to deploy and is portable across facilities. Capable of operating 24/7, this system reduces cost per shipment and dependency on additional labor during peaks. Flexo components are designed to allow for fast implementation in as short as 15 days due to its modularity and standardization, and can be easily scaled to handle large peaks.

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