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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Cebu Pacific, AirAsia launch new domestic routes

    Cebu Pacific, AirAsia launch new domestic routes

    Low-Cost carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia, Inc. started operating new domestic flights. The Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific launched a direct flight between Cebu and Busuanga, which is the gateway to Coron, Palawan. The operation of the Cebu-Busuanga flights is being carried out by Cebu Pacific’s wholly owned subsidiary Cebgo.

    “The first flight departs Cebu at 7:25 a.m., and arrives in Francisco B. Reyes Airport at 9:00 a.m.; while its return flight leaves Busuanga at 9:20 a.m. and arrives in Cebu at 11:00 a.m.,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement on Monday.

    “The second flight leaves Cebu at 10:25 a.m., and lands in Busuanga at 12:05 p.m.; while its turnaround flight departs at 12:25 p.m. and arrives at 2:10 p.m.,” it added.

    Apart from the new Cebu-Busuanga route, Cebu Pacific, along with Cebgo, flies to 37 domestic and 27 international destinations

    Meanwhile, Philippines AirAsia started offering its thrice-daily service between Manila and Bacolod on Monday.

    For the Manila-Bacolod route, the first 80-minute flight will depart Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:20 a.m., and the last one will depart Bacolod at 9:30 p.m.

    “We are excited to celebrate this milestone and to paint the Negros Island skies red. AirAsia’s presence in the region will make air travel more affordable not just for Negrenses but for everyone who wants to explore this part of the country,” AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricardo P. Isla said during the inaugural ceremony at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport on Monday morning.

    Bacolod is the 11th domestic destination that AirAsia Philippines operates out of Manila. Overall, the carrier has more than 500 domestic and international flights weekly coming from its hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu and Kalibo.

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  • Air Asia flies to Okinawa

    Air Asia flies to Okinawa

    AirAsia announced, Wednesday, a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha, strengthening its position as the Malaysian carrier with the most connections and capacity in Japan.

    The four times weekly service via Taipei commences 22 January 2020 (subject to regulatory approvals), and will be AirAsia’s sixth international destination in Japan, after Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Nagoya (via Bangkok).

    AirAsia X Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail said: “Our rapid expansion into Japan continues following the launch of services to Fukuoka and Tokyo Narita earlier this year. Okinawa is an island paradise that offers a different Japanese experience for leisure travellers, including white sandy beaches with clear blue waters, some of the world’s most famous diving spots and unique Ryukyuan cuisine.

    “Like Fukuoka, we are building the foundation for more AirAsia flights to serve Okinawa in the near future, strengthening our regional network and allowing more travellers to discover the unique cultural heritage of this amazing destination.”

    Members-only fares from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha start from RM239* one-way on standard seats and MYR899* one-way on the award-winning Premium Flatbeds, available on airasia.com from today 31 Octoberat 1200 (GMT+8) until 2 November 2019 for travel between 22 January 2020 and 27 March 2020.

    Guests from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha are not required to obtain a visa during their one hour fifteen minutes stopover in Taipei and may return to their seats after clearing a quick security check of their carry-on bags and inflight belongings.

    Okinawa is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures comprising 160 islands in the East China Sea. With its unique cultural heritage and local cuisine, Okinawa has long been a holiday destination for the Japanese, while its subtropical climate, coral-fringed waters and relaxed way of life attract throngs of international tourists looking for an alternative to the hustle-bustle of major cities in mainland Japan.

  • Sheng Siong profits up on network expansion

    Sheng Siong profits up on network expansion

    Singaporean supermarket chain Sheng Siong has reported a 16.4-per-cent year-on-year increase in net profit to SG$20.6 million (US$15.1 million) for the third quarter.

    The increase is largely attributed to an increase in gross profit arising from the growth in revenue, slightly improved gross margin, and higher other income – but was partially offset by higher operating expenses and net finance expense.

    “We are pleased that we have opened two new stores at Block 182 Woodland Street 13 and Block 602A Tampines Ave 9 with retail areas of 8500sqft and 9000sqft respectively while another store at Block 202 Marsiling Drive which we have secured will be operational by the first quarter of next year,” said the group’s CEO Lim Hock Chee. “Going ahead, we will continue with our efforts in expanding our retail network in Singapore, especially in areas where our potential customers reside.

    “Besides placing focus on nurturing the growth of our new stores in Singapore and China, we remain committed to enhancing the gross margin and lowering input cost by improving the sales mix with a higher proportion of fresh produce and deriving more efficiency gains in the supply chain.”

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  • The Clash De Cartier Studio pop up to visit Singapore

    The Clash De Cartier Studio pop up to visit Singapore

    French luxury goods conglomerate Cartier is launching its Clash De Cartier Studio experience pop-up in Singapore at STPI from November 15 to 17.

    The one-weekend-only event will be the brand’s first and largest ever pop-up activation within the Southeast Asian country. An Asia Tatler report noted “the pop-up invites guests to discover their own alter ego as they explore the experiential space,” and that it will “feature similar themes of literature, music and art, albeit with subtle references to the locality” as did the original installation when first launched in Paris earlier this year.

    Visitors to the pop-up will be guided to either the “Bookstore” or “Record Store” to receive personalised Haiku poems typed out by typewriter or listen to a special Clash de Cartier playlist in futuristic “sound showers” respectively.

    The pop-up also features a cafe lounge area with clashing Eastern and Western decor.

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  • Galeries Lafayette Shanghai opens with three-week long festival

    Galeries Lafayette Shanghai is mid-way through a three-week-long opening celebration featuring art, technology, European brands, and celebrities.

    After a high-profile opening ceremony, the new store at L+Mall in the Pudong financial district is now hosting a campaign titled Let’s Celebrate Fashion featuring a rolling program of events, limited-edition collaborations and exclusive products.

    A spokesperson for Galeries Lafayette’s China partner I.T Group described the new store as “a piece of the romantic Paris grafted onto the modern cityscape of Shanghai … with quintessential Parisian style”.

    “The store stands out with the chic setting of a Parisian street, where customers soak up the immersive lifestyle of the City of Light as they saunter through consignment stores, alongside landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and street-side bistros.”

    Galeries Lafayette Shanghai features ornamental patterns designed by French graffiti artist André Saraiva which boosts the dramatic setting of the space. Saraiva’s motifs include the Eiffel Tower and a French bistro.

    Galeries Lafayette Shanghai has also collaborated with French fashion house Paco Rabanne as an official partner for the opening. In an immersive, experiential journey, visitors can pose for photos in an interactive snapshot booth and share them on social media.

    A Creative Theme Park co-presented with Ryodan by Seiya Nakamura 2.24 Inc is another opening feature. Inspired by traditional children playgrounds in Paris, the pop-up exhibition draws together eight emerging designers, who were given creative carte blanche in their own renditions of current fashion trends. Brands participating in the theme park include Fumito Ganryu, We11Done, Random Identities by Stefano Pilati, Namacheko, Stefan Cooke, Koche, Feng Chen Wang and Mame Kurogouchi.

    To mark the 120th anniversary of Galeries Lafayette, the Shanghai store features a recreation of the glass walk and Art Deco dome of the Paris store where visitors can take selfies with Parisian landmarks.

    Galeries Lafayette Shanghai is open daily

  • Cebu Pacific extends China network

    Cebu Pacific extends China network

    Cebu Pacific continues to expand its reach in mainland China with two new direct services between Clark and Guangzhou, Puerto Princesa and Hong Kong, making it the first airline in the Philippines to fly these routes.

    The new routes are in line with the carrier’s plans to expand its route network in China, following the introduction of flights between Shenzen and Manila earlier this year.

    Starting from 11 November, flights between Clark and Guangzhou are scheduled to operate four times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday). The flight departs Clark at 2335 while the return flight departs at 0315 on the next day.

    Guangzhou is a wholesalers’ haven for retail and popular consumer goods, making it an ideal destination for e-commerce micro-retailers and startup business people. For leisure travelers, the city appeals to foodies eager to experience world-renowned Cantonese cuisine.

    “With direct air service between Clark and Guangzhou, it will be easier for entrepreneurs and businessmen in the e-commerce space to meet up with suppliers, said Cebu Pacific vice president for commercial Alex Reyes. “They can conveniently attend mega-trade events such as the popular Canton Trade Fair.”

    “Chinese tourists will also gain access to the attractions that Luzon has to offer. From Clark, the Mount Pinatubo adventure trek is within a few hours drive away,” Reyes added.

    Cebu Pacific currently offers 27 flights weekly between the Philippines and mainland China, with direct between Shanghai, Manila and Cebu; as well as Manila and Beijing, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Shenzhen.

    Flights between Puerto Princesa and Hong Kong will start 17 November 2019, and passengers can choose from four weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday).

    Flight 5J 5306 departs Puerto Princesa at 1535 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; and at 1605 on Saturdays. The return flight, 5J 5307 departs Hong Kong at 1930 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; and at 2000 on Saturdays.

    On the same day, CEB will launch its previously announced Clark-Puerto Princesa flight. Together, these two new routes increase capacity to Puerto Princesa by 7%.

    Palawan has consistently made the lists compiled by renowned travel publications of the world’s best and most beautiful islands. Puerto Princesa serves as the gateway to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage, as well as pristine beaches and other natural attractions such as El Nido, San Vicente and Port Barton.

    With the new Puerto Princesa – Hong Kong service, CEB connects Hong Kong to five destinations in the Philippines, more than any other carrier. Currently, Cebu Pacific flies 55 times weekly between the Philippines and Hong Kong, with direct flights to and from four of the airline’s major hubs–Manila, Cebu, Clark and Iloilo.

  • Crate & Barrel Singapore closing down store

    Crate & Barrel Singapore closing down store

    Crate & Barrel Singapore will close its flagship store at Orchard Gateway.

    The 25,000sqft five-story outlet has operated at the location for five years, but will close on November 10. That will leave the US home furnishing brand with just one store, at Ion Orchard, however, the brand’s e-commerce platform will continue to trade.

    A statement released by Crate & Barrel Singapore revealed intentions to expand into Malaysia, adding that this “will help increase our brand visibility and representation in today’s retail marketplace, specifically in the Southeast Asia region”.

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  • Indonesia AirAsia names new chief executive

    Indonesia AirAsia names new chief executive

    Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) has named Veranita Yosephine as its new chief executive.

    IAA parent AirAsia Indonesia states in a stock exchange disclosure that Yosephine succeeds Dendy Kurniawan, who is now the president commissioner on its board of commissioners. The change was made at a shareholder’s meeting on 24 October.

    Yosephine’s LinkedIn profile states that she was the airline’s deputy chief executive since July. Prior to that, she served as sales director at Kraft Heinz between March 2017 and June 2019.

    Kurniawan joined AirAsia in May 2014 as chief financial officer at Indonesia AirAsia X (IAAX), before being promoted to chief executive seven months later. Sometime in September 2016, he was then named the Indonesia group chief executive overseeing both IAA and IAAX.

    Cirium had sought comments from IAA on the change in leadership, but it had not yet responded.

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  • Cebu Pacific, AirAsia launch new domestic routes

    Cebu Pacific, AirAsia launch new domestic routes

    Low-cost carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia, Inc. started operating new domestic flights.

    The Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific launched a direct flight between Cebu and Busuanga, which is the gateway to Coron, Palawan.

    The operation of the Cebu-Busuanga flights is being carried out by Cebu Pacific’s wholly-owned subsidiary Cebgo.

    “The first flight departs Cebu at 7:25 a.m., and arrives in Francisco B. Reyes Airport at 9:00 a.m.; while its return flight leaves Busuanga at 9:20 a.m. and arrives in Cebu at 11:00 a.m.,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement on Monday.

    “The second flight leaves Cebu at 10:25 a.m., and lands in Busuanga at 12:05 p.m.; while its turnaround flight departs at 12:25 p.m. and arrives at 2:10 p.m.,” it added.

    Apart from the new Cebu-Busuanga route, Cebu Pacific, along with Cebgo, flies to 37 domestic and 27 international destinations.

    Meanwhile, Philippines AirAsia started offering its thrice-daily service between Manila and Bacolod on Monday.

    For the Manila-Bacolod route, the first 80-minute flight will depart Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:20 a.m., and the last one will depart Bacolod at 9:30 p.m.

    “We are excited to celebrate this milestone and to paint the Negros Island skies red. AirAsia’s presence in the region will make air travel more affordable not just for Negrenses but for everyone who wants to explore this part of the country,” AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricardo P. Isla said during the inaugural ceremony at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport on Monday morning.

    Bacolod is the 11th domestic destination that AirAsia Philippines operates out of Manila. Overall, the carrier has more than 500 domestic and international flights weekly coming from its hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu and Kalibo.

  • Ha Long casino operator mostly dependent on lodging income

    Ha Long casino operator mostly dependent on lodging income

    The operator of The Royal Casino in Ha Long Town posted VND8 billion ($345,000) in Q3 post-tax profit, mostly from its lodging business.

    This is the first quarterly profit that the company, Royal International, has made, even though all four quarters last year ended in the black, its third-quarter financial report shows.

    However, the company’s casino business still suffers losses. January-September casino revenue at The Royal Casino, the largest in the northern Quang Ninh Province, was just VND60 billion ($2.6 million), or 36.8 percent of the total, with the rest coming from its hotel and villas.

    As the casino business is seasonal, the revenue generated from it is unstable as it depends on the number of players and on luck, the company said.

    Another reason is the increasing number of casinos in neighboring countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, scattering potential gamblers.

    The company plans to find a partner this year to invest in a 33-story twin-tower hotel to increase revenues from lodging, as well as karaoke, massage and other services.

    In the first nine months of this year, Royal International’s revenue was VND163 billion ($7 million), less than half of the year’s target.

    It suffered a loss of over VND70 billion ($3 million) after-tax, compared to a profit of VND18 billion ($776,000) in the same period last year.

    The company’s still some distance away from achieving its target of VND38 billion ($1.64 million) in after-tax profit for the whole year.

    Vietnam has seven casinos, six of which are open only to foreign passport holders

     The government still treats gambling as a social evil, although it has loosened its restrictions on it in recent years.

    Last year the government approved a three-year trial project allowing Vietnamese residents to enter a casino on Phu Quoc Island on a pilot basis if they can meet certain conditions.

    Vietnamese who want to gamble must be over 21 years, earn a minimum of VND10 million ($430) a month and have no criminal record or objections from family. The entry fee is VND1 million ($43) for 24 hours or VND25 million ($1,077) a month.

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  • Vietnam aircraft fleet to quadruple in 20 years

    Vietnam aircraft fleet to quadruple in 20 years

    Vietnam’s aircraft fleet, at 200 now, will quadruple by 2038 as air travel demand increases and the market sees new players.

    These figures were cited by Darren Hulst, aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s marketing director for China & Northeast Asia, at a recent press briefing.

    The current number of aircraft in the country is set to double in the next two years. Single-aisle aircraft are set to be the main type used for Vietnam’s domestic and regional flights, Hulst said.

    He noted that aviation growth has been rapid in Vietnam for several years now. In 2009, all Vietnamese airlines provided 800,000 seats a month, but by this year, the figure had reached 3.3 million.

    In the last five years, the number of passengers taking flights has tripled and the number of aircraft doubled, he added.

    Southeast Asia will need 4,500 new aircraft by 2038, and Vietnam is set to account for a large portion of that demand, Hulst said.

    Vietnam now has six domestic carriers and three companies that have applied for aviation permits.

    Last year, Vietnam’s 21 state-run airports served 103.5 million passengers, up 11 percent year-on-year, and the figure is set to rise to 112 million this year, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

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  • Myer revamps homewares offer in the Sydney flagship store

    Myer revamps homewares offer in the Sydney flagship store

    Myer on Friday opened the doors to a refurbished homewares and electronics department in its Sydney CBD store.

    The new floor contains 20 shop-in-shop concepts from leading brands, including Scanpan, Le Creuset, Delonghi, Breville, Riedel, Fissler, Salt & Pepper, Maxwell & Williams, and Coles & Mason, as well as the world’s largest shop-in-shop from Dyson.

    “We are so thrilled with the new homewares department, with it’s modern and easy to navigate shop-in-shop format,” Alison Muir, the general manager of Myer’s Sydney store, said.

    According to Myer’s general manager for home and entertainment, Dean Austin, the floor has the largest choice of homewares in Sydney’s CBD.

    The new offering comes as the department store retailer sheds “unprofitable” brands, such as Apple, which it stopped selling in May, as part of a broader turnaround.

    The department store managed to pull back a modest improvement during FY19, its first year under chief executive John King, despite shifting consumer behavior.

    While total sales fell 3.5 percent to $2.99 billion, and comparable sales fell 2.9 percent, the business managed to reduce its expenses by roughly $33 million over the year in rent and wages.

    This focus on more profitable sales led to a net profit after tax of $33.2 million; 2.2 percent up on the year prior.

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  • China’s Tan Mujiang opens first store in USA

    China’s Tan Mujiang opens first store in USA

    Chinese wooden-comb manufacturer Tan Mujiang has continued its international expansion with the opening of its first flagship store in the US.

    The store dubbed as H0006 is located at Flushing Main Street in New York City and carries combs made from natural materials by traditional Chinese handicrafts with “beautiful shape, smooth lines, exquisite texture, rich colors and fine hand feel”. It is Tan Mujiang’s second store in North America after Toronto, which opened in May.

    The manufacturer said it has obtained more than 80 patents since 2013 and has been providing supplies to more than 1200 shops in China and nine flagship stores in Southeast Asia, Toronto and New York.

    The company says it plans to popularise its brand by operating franchised stores worldwide. It also plans to increase its investment in overseas market promotion by participating in grand international exhibitions and will promote products on popular social media internationally.

    Tan Mujiang also sells through Amazon and eBay.

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  • Lotte Duty Free wins Changi Airport Group liquor & tobacco concession

    Lotte Duty Free wins Changi Airport Group liquor & tobacco concession

    Changi Airport Group has awarded its liquor & tobacco concession tender to Lotte Duty-Free. The company will succeed DFS Group when the concession contract expires next year.

    The awarding of the liquor & tobacco concession ends a fierce contest between some of the world’s leading travel retailers, including Gebr Heinemann and The Shilla Duty-Free.

    Changi Airport Group (CAG) said it undertook a detailed evaluation process after tenders closed on August 26.

    With experience operating concessions in markets including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Vietnam, Lotte Duty-Free is the first new operator to take what is a key CAG concession which was with DFS Group for 40 years. DFS decided not to bid to renew the business, saying it was not commercially viable, and following a similar withdrawal from Hong Kong International Airport two years ago.

    The contract awarded to Lotte is for a six-year term commencing on June 9. The tenancy contract covers all 18 liquor & tobacco stores across Changi’s four terminals, spanning more than 8000 sqm of retail space.

    “The Liquor & Tobacco concession is one of the largest at Changi Airport and it presents unique opportunities for marketing innovation and customer engagement,” said Lim Peck Hoon, executive VP, commercial at CAG.

    “Lotte put forth the strongest and most compelling proposal overall. It is aligned with CAG’s vision to offer passengers a seamless omnichannel retail experience and new retailtainment initiatives leveraging smart technologies. Lotte also demonstrated a keen understanding of the market environment with a sound business plan supported by a competitive financial bid and backed up by solid business fundamentals.”

    Lotte Duty-Free has promised to offer a wide selection of liquor products and brands to Changi’s passengers. All liquor and tobacco stores will be rejuvenated to attract both connoisseurs and new consumers. The company will also feature different boutique concepts and zones presenting the latest and exclusive products in the market.

    CEO of Lotte Duty Free, Kap Lee, said: “I express my deep gratitude to Changi Airport Group for acknowledging Lotte Duty Free’s strength and strategy. Winning the Changi Airport’s liquor & tobacco duty-free concession is of great significance in terms of establishing a bridgehead to achieve our vision of “Global No.1 Travel Retailer”. Lotte Duty Free will put its continuous efforts to grow as a global brand with Changi Airport.”

    According to CAG, the transition towards the start of the new concession will be planned carefully with both the incoming and outgoing tenants. Renovation works in the stores will be conducted in phases to ensure that customers continue to enjoy a high standard of service.

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  • Japan and South Korea battle for Vietnamese retail market

    Japan and South Korea battle for Vietnamese retail market

    South Korean companies are engaged in a fierce battle with Japanese rivals in the Vietnam retail market, which has emerged as a “post-China.”

    According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Vietnam retail market has been growing rapidly, with an annual average growth rate of 10.9 percent between 2013 and 2018.

    Currently, South Korea and Japan lead the market in all areas, including convenience stores, department stores and online shopping.

    Lotte Group has had a presence in the Vietnam retail market since 2008 and has invested US$390 million so far.

    Currently, the company has 14 shopping malls, one department store, and two duty-free shops operating across the country.

    Japanese rival Aeon entered Vietnam in 2011 with a capital of $190 million. Since then, it has built and operated shopping malls in three centers: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Binh Dương.

    Besides Aeon, Japanese companies such as 7-Eleven, Fuji Mart are also operating in Vietnam.

    The channels that are growing rapidly in the local market are convenience stores and e-commerce.

    In particular, the growth of the convenience-store market is steep due to rapid urbanization, rising income levels and the expansion of the young consumer population.

    IGD Research ranked Vietnam as the top country among the fastest-growing convenience store markets in Asia by 2021.

    The South Korean convenience store chain GS25 entered Vietnam in January last year when it opened a store in Ho Chi Minh through a joint venture with SonKim Group, a Korean company that has emerged in the region.

    It currently operates about 50 stores but plans to expand to 70 by next year and to 2000 over the next decade.

    South Korea’s BGF Retail, which operates the convenience store chain CU, also recently signed a master franchise contract with Vietnam’s CUVN to start making inroads into the Vietnamese market.

    Japan’s 7-Eleven entered Vietnam in 2017 and is currently operating 24 stores. It aims to build 1000 new stores, mostly focused for now on Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It followed Circle K and FamilyMart which have gained considerable traction in Ho Chi Minh City.

    South Korean conglomerates such as Lo

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