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Tag: Business

  • Incheon Airport breaks record with 2018 sales

    Incheon Airport breaks record with 2018 sales

    Incheon International Airport announced record annual sales of US$2.4 billion for 2018, beating the previous record set in 2017. The performance ranks Incheon as the world’s number one airport for duty free sales in 2018, ahead of Dubai International. The latter’s anchor retailer, Dubai Duty Free, posted 2018 sales of US$2.015 billion. Sales rose 14.8% year-on-year, driven by the successful opening of Terminal 2 in 2018 and increased passenger traffic from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Departing passenger traffic rose 9.9% in the year, Incheon International Airport Corporation told The Moodie Davitt Report. A total of 67.7 million passengers used the airport in 2018, including 33.9 million arriving and 33.8 million departing.

    Cosmetics & perfumes continued as the leading product category with a 40% share of the mix and US$953 million in sales. Liquor and tobacco combined took second place with US$540 million (23%).

    Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) said that the 2019 introduction of arrivals duty free shopping will boost the shopping offer.

    “With the introduction of the first arrival duty free in Korea, Incheon Airport will strengthen its competitiveness as the leading airport of the industry, satisfying customers through an advanced shopping environment,” IAAC commented.

    IIAC noted the retail performance of T2, which opened in January 2018. The terminal boasts outstanding beauty, liquor and tobacco flagship stores that feature exceptional design and digital and experiential components, the corporation said. Luxury boutiques such as Chanel and Valentino also played a role in the record-breaking performance.

    T1 performance was boosted by the addition of new retailers, Shinsegae Duty Free and Grand Duty Free. Both had minimised store closure periods during their respective handovers, IIAC said.

    Despite the collapse in Chinese tourism to South Korea from March 2017 driven by the THAAD row with China, duty free sales have maintained their upward curve throughout the ensuing period. Even in 2017, the nadir of the crisis, Incheon posted a 4.1% rise in duty free sales (admittedly well behind a 7.6% passenger increase).

    While Chinese tourism numbers are still well short of 2016 levels (-41.6% for the first 11 months of 2018), spending by daigou traders spurred the Korean duty free market to new heights last year. Incheon, while having a more balanced passenger spending profile than the overwhelmingly Chinese-dominated downtown stores, still benefited from that trend.

    What happens in 2019 following China’s introduction this month of a new e-commerce designed to crack down on daigou imports? That’s the question on everyone’s lips in Korean (and Asian) travel retail. Incheon International Airport Corporation will hope that a combination of a steady recovery in traditional Chinese tourism, daigou ingenuity in getting around the rules, and strong Japanese and Korean business will maintain the upward trajectory. The imminent introduction of the country’s first arrivals shops will help too.

    Higher sales in 2018 did not, of course, equate to higher profitability for the country’s duty free retailers, hurt by the high costs of attracting daigou shoppers. For Incheon International Airport, however, safely wrapped up in the safe haven of steep minimum annual guarantees, 2018 will go down as a stellar year.

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  • L’Oreal brings Cai Xukun and Eiffel Tower to Haitang Bay

    L’Oreal brings Cai Xukun and Eiffel Tower to Haitang Bay

    Known for reinventing extraordinary beauty experience, L’Oréal Paris invites all travelers to Haitang Bay Duty Free Shopping Mall for a first-of-its-kind Parisian experience.  On January 4, together with friend of L’Oréal Paris Mr. Cai Xukun (Kun), a 5-meter-high, bold red Eiffel Tower was revealed at the L’Oréal Paris pop-up, synonymous with East meets West: made-in-Paris chic and a tribute to the Chinese tradition of prosperous red.

    With over 120 million  interactions on Chinese Weibo, the special appearance of renowned young icon Kun attracted a large crowd of Chinese travelers coming to Haitang Bay.  At the event, Kun and Olivier Tessler, General Manager of L’Oréal Paris Travel Retail Asia Pacific, engraved “Kun ♥ L’Oréal Paris” on the iconic Color Riche Moist Matte lipstick, symbolizing for this powerful collaboration.

    Gallery of the event

    The pop-up iinvites holiday travelers to discover L’Oréal Paris’ accessible-luxury products for both men and women, appealing to travelers of all different types of aspirations. The pop-up  will open from January 4 until the end of the month, exclusively in Haitang Bay.

    “To be able to surprise Chinese travelers by bringing an Eiffel  Tower to Haitang Bay is definitely a first for me! L’Oréal Paris is my first choice of beauty brand, and I’m happy to share the brand story with my fans in such a vivid and striking way,” says Cai Xukun.

    “I am enthusiastic  about sharing an extraordinary Parisian experience with Chinese travelers in Haitang Bay! Together with Cai Xukun and CDFG, we are delighted to invite everyone to a celebration of every element of our brand’s DNA – Paris, beauty, creativity, fashion and diversity. Our goal is to lead the way in making beauty trends for all”, says Olivier Tessler, General Manager of L’Oréal Paris Travel Retail APAC.

  • Beijing approves blueprint for ‘Greater Bay Area’

    Beijing approves blueprint for ‘Greater Bay Area’

    Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng, the point man on Hong Kong and Macau affairs, recently gave the green light to the official document on the “Greater Bay Area” following extensive consultations with local governments, a Beijing source said. “No party or agenda, including even environmental protection, will be left behind by this all-inclusive blueprint,” the official said.

    More than three years in the making, the Greater Bay Area was first mentioned in a development action plan jointly outlined by China’s top authorities on economic planning, commerce and foreign affairs to create a new economic growth engine by pooling together Hong Kong, Macau and nine neighbouring cities in Guangdong province.

    The mega zone covers 56,500 square kilometres, has a combined population of about 67.6 million and accounted for 12.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2016.

    Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has taken part in discussions on the scheme since August last year, becoming the city’s first chief executive to join a leading group under China’s cabinet, the State Council.

    Authorities were now working on the implementation plan, Zhang said in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV which was aired on Saturday night.

    Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen would be the central cities in the bay area, and each had their own unique positioning, he said.

    Hong Kong will be the international finance, navigation and trade centre, as well as a transport hub. It will have the role of pushing finance, trade, logistics and professional services towards the high-end market.

    Macau will be an international tourism city and a platform for trade with Portuguese-speaking countries. Guangzhou will take a leading role as a national central city while Shenzhen will take a leading role as a special economic region and an innovative city, he said.

    The planners hope the advantages these four cities enjoy can complement each other and offset the challenges brought by gaps in the legal and economic systems.

    The international network and mature market economy of Hong Kong and Macau could have big potential when combined with the vast hinterland and market Guangzhou enjoyed, he said.

    “Under the new circumstances, Hong Kong and Macau still have their unique position and advantages that cannot be replaced,” Zhang said.

    He revealed for the first time that there were almost 100,000 Hong Kong residents and nearly 20,000 Macau residents who had applied for a new identity card that would grant them access to a wide range of social and public services on the mainland. The arrangement was introduced on September 1 last year.

    There were high expectations that Beijing would reveal the blueprint when Premier Li Keqiang said in March last year there would be an announcement soon. But the central government has since been embroiled in a trade war with its biggest trading partner, the United States.

    Sources said that the tussles over political interests and dominance among the Greater Bay Area parties was a reason behind the delay and meant the central government had to step in to coordinate.

    “But the most important question here is whose model to follow and whether the tussle is about Hong Kong converting mainland cities or the other way around?” said an academic who has direct knowledge of the blueprint’s planning.

    “Mainland cities are hesitant to follow Hong Kong’s model in case they lose official powers.”

    An internal study by an official think tank seen by the Post said the crux of the Greater Bay Area integration was about putting “one country, two systems” into practice but differences in economic, tax, customs and legal systems that would ensure Hong Kong and Macau’s high degree autonomy have remained key challenges.

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  • Courts Indonesia to close its store soon

    Courts Indonesia to close its store soon

    Courts Asia is to close one of its Indonesian megastores. “The group decided to close the Courts Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) City Megastore in Tangerang as it is historically not profitable and the group does not want to incur the high rental costs over the remaining lease term,” the retailer said in a statement. Courts Retail Indonesia will also buy the property it currently leases which houses the Kota Harapan Indah (KHI) megastore.

    Both properties were leased from Garwita Sentra Utama. Courts will forfeit a security deposit of Rp14.38 billion (S$1.379 million) and pay a penalty for early termination of the BSD site of Rp 38.7 billion ($3.6 million). The Singapore company will pay Rp97.56 billion (S$9.36 million) to purchase the other site.

    The KHI store has a total gross floor area of 21,800sqm, with about 24 years remaining on the lease.

    Courts said in its statement that the property reorganisation was part of an ongoing review of its store network.

    Having taken ownership of the KHI building, the company can consider options including downsizing its megastore and repurposing the remaining space for other commercial uses.

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  • DJI Introduces A Smart Remote Controller With Built-In Display at CES 2019

    DJI Introduces A Smart Remote Controller With Built-In Display at CES 2019

    DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, continues its tradition of making aerial technology accessible to everyone by introducing a powerful new remote controller for its drones at CES 2019. The Smart Controller features an ultra-bright display screen and controls optimized for DJI drones, allowing pilots to fly the newest drones without using a smartphone or tablet. DJI will also be exhibiting its full lineup of consumer drones and handheld imaging products at its booth at CES 2019, including the new Osmo Pocket stabilized camera, and will host exciting workshops, hands-on product demonstrations and more. Attendees can find DJI in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.


    Smart Controller Expands Pilot Options The DJI Smart Controller expands the ecosystem of accessories built around DJI’s industry leading drone technology. Using a crisp 5.5” screen built into the controller itself, the Smart Controller allows pilots to quickly get their drone in the air without the need to connect a mobile device. It can be paired with DJI’s newest drones including Mavic 2 Zoom and Mavic 2 Pro1 which use DJI’s OcuSync 2.0 video transmission system, displaying vivid images in Full HD resolution. Drone pilots can take advantage of its compact, highly portable design that has been optimized for use in direct sunlight. It features an ultra-bright display with an output of 1000 cd/m2, twice the brightness of standard smart phones. A customizable Android dashboard supports DJI GO 4, DJI Pilot2, along with various third-party apps such as editing programs. The DJI GO 4 app also touts several new features including SkyTalk, that allows pilots to livestream the drone’s camera feed to social channels including Facebook, Instagram and WeChat so that anyone can experience the thrill of flying a drone. Another new feature is DJI GO-Share which easily transfers imagery from the Controller to your mobile device. The DJI Smart Controller brings a new level of reliability when flying, with 2.5 hours of battery life and the ability to operate in adverse temperatures as cold as -4° Fahrenheit and as hot as 104° Fahrenheit.

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  • Shinsegae to sell Yunjac cosmetics at duty free

    Shinsegae to sell Yunjac cosmetics at duty free

    South Korean retail giant Shinsegae is launching an independent Yunjac cosmetics store at its Myeongdong duty free outlet. The cosmetics shop, which will open on February 2, retails Asian herb-based skincare products. Launched in October last year, it is Shinsegae’s first in-house cosmetics brand, targeting Chinese millennials. A statement from the company said the opening is ahead of schedule thanks to unexpectedly high demand, with sales exceeding last year’s expectations by a factor of four.

    Three Shinsegae Department Store branches currently host a Yunjac outlet, with more stores planned to open within Korea and abroad shortly. It is targeting sales of KRW100 billion (US$89 million) by next year.

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  • Property prices likely to continue downtrend in Malaysia: PropertyGuru

    Property prices likely to continue downtrend in Malaysia: PropertyGuru

    Property prices in the country are likely to continue their downtrend for at least the first half of the year (1H19), despite improving consumer sentiment and proactive government policies announced in the Budget 2019, online property company PropertyGuru said. It said in a statement that this is validated by the company’s Market Index, which shows that asking prices of homes in Malaysia continue to show a 2.3% drop year-on-year.

    The Market Index is an analysis of over 250,000 property listings aggregated and indexed. PropertyGuru said its online portal, which has over 1.3 million Malaysians searching for properties, has seen a surge of interest in the following property hotspots identified in the various states of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor.

    While there has been a dip in asking prices, it said the demand for properties in Kuala Lumpur is still strong with the most popular and highly searched areas being Bangsar, Mont Kiara and Cheras.

    It said the property types that are most searched in these three areas are condominiums, followed by apartments and townhouses, noting the reason for high-rises being the most preferred property type in Kuala Lumpur may be due to the more affordable entry price points.

    In terms of the price bracket, PropertyGuru said many are searching below the RM300,000 bracket which is not feasible for the locations that are preferred, since many of these locations are priced above the affordability range.

    The company said demand for properties in Selangor continues to be high despite declining prices, with properties in Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Subang Jaya topping the list in this order.

    It said properties that are most searched for in these areas are condominiums, followed by apartments and two-storey terrace houses, with many looking at transit-oriented development properties.

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  • Chun Yang Tea expands into Canada

    Chun Yang Tea expands into Canada

    Taiwanese bubble-tea brand Chun Yang Tea is launching its first store in Canada. With operations across Taiwan as well as in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia, the brand is now planning two new store locations in Toronto and one in Vancouver. While the Canadian market has been judged as saturated for bubble-tea retailers, Chun Yang claims its product is authentic and traditional, offering beverages made without any artificial milk powder to achieve a more natural taste.

    So far no information has been released as to exact launch dates, although the brand’s website claims the stores are “coming soon”.

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  • Sunshine department store Penang goes online via Shopee

    Sunshine department store Penang goes online via Shopee

    Penang department store Sunshine has launched on online shopping platform Shopee with expectations of doubling its income. According to Sunshine’s CEO Cynthia Hwang, the move to list initially 1500 products, as well as the brand’s in-house fashion label Iloveasap, on the platform would target 16 million users throughout the country while leveraging Shopee’s free shipping and Super Brand Day.

    “Further expansion into the online realm with the opening of an official store on Shopee will see a bigger contribution to the brand’s revenue growth,” she said.

    “As a whole, it is part of our aspiration to help to grow Malaysia in terms of providing more choices, better and easier accessibility for quality products and enable consumers to purchase from trusted sellers such as Sunshine Online,” added Shopee Malaysia category manager Tan Ming Kit.

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  • Uniqlo sales performs well globally, not in hometown

    Uniqlo sales performs well globally, not in hometown

    Fast Retailing Group has reported a decline in revenues for Uniqlo Japan against broader successes internationally in its first quarter. A sharp profit decline on sluggish sales of seasonal ranges during a warm winter in Japan has given rise to disappointing results in the Uniqlo brand’s home territory. Uniqlo Japan posted revenues of ¥246.1 billion (US$2.27 billion), a decrease of 4.3 per cent year on year, with first-quarter profit before taxes of ¥111 billion ($1.03 billion), down 5.7 per cent; and profit attributable to owners of the parent firm of ¥73.4 billion ($678.4 million), down 6.4 per cent. Online sales expanded favourably in the market, however, showing an increase of 30.9 per cent.

    Uniqlo International saw an operating profit far exceeding that of Uniqlo Japan, with revenues at ¥291.3 billion (2.69 billion) up 12.8 per cent. Uniqlo Greater China and Uniqlo South Korea both reported higher sales and profits despite the dampening effect of the warm winter. Uniqlo Southeast Asia & Oceania continued to report significant revenue and profit gains.

    The report said Fast Retailing’s consolidated business estimates for the financial year ending August 31 remain unchanged from the initial forecasts released last October, predicting an 8 per cent expansion in revenue and 14.3 per cent increase in operating profits.

  • L’Occitane adds Elemis to portfolio

    L’Occitane adds Elemis to portfolio

    Hong Kong-listed cosmetics retailer L’Occitane International is to buy privately owned beauty and skincare brand Elemis for about US$900 million. “This is L’Occitane’s largest acquisition since listing and a major step forward in building a group of premium beauty brands,” said CEO Reinold Geiger in a statement.

    The move is part of a strategy to boost L’Occitane’s sales in the UK and the US. In a statement, the company said the the deal will allow Elemis to expand into new markets and boost L’Occitane’s business in markets in which it is not so strong as yet.

    L’Occitane has agreed to buy the Elemis brand from Steiner Leisure, which owns the US business, and Nemo UK, which owns the European business.

    The deal, to be funded by cash and bank loans, will be closed in the first quarter of this year.

    L’Occitane, which listed in Hong Kong in 2010, currently has 3285 outlets in 90 countries, including 1555 stores it owns and operates directly. Last financial year it achieved a profit of €141 million on sales of €1.3 billion.

  • Samsung to introduce S10 on Feb. 20

    Samsung to introduce S10 on Feb. 20

    Samsung Electronics on Friday sent out invitations to its next unpacking event, where it is widely expected to unveil the next model in its Galaxy S smartphone series, the S10. The event is taking place on Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Samsung noted that it will “unveil new devices that promise to usher in new Galaxy experiences based on 10 years of innovations” in a press release, without detailing what phones will be showcased.

    The major question is whether the phone maker will unveil details of the foldable phone that it has been developing for the last few years. According to an article by the Wall Street Journal, the tech company plans to show a “fully functional foldable-screen handset” during the unpacking event. Samsung declined to confirm the claim.

    There is a possibility that the model could be briefly shown, like at the Samsung Developer Conference in November last year. A proof-of-concept version of its foldable phone was briefly introduced on stage at the event. The phone is often referred to as the “Galaxy Fold” and “Galaxy F,” but the electronics giant has yet to confirm the actual name for the highly anticipated product.

    Some leaders of Samsung’s mobile carrier partners said they have already seen the company’s foldable phones in closed door meetings at the Consumer Electronics Show that ended Friday.

    SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho said during his press briefing at the electronics exhibition that “Samsung did not open up the foldable phone to general visitors, but showed the phone to me,” adding “the phone is in good shape.”

    Park said the phone will be able to offer an improved media consumption experience.

    LG U+ CEO Ha Hyun-hwoi also said he had seen two foldable phones during his visit to CES booths, though he did not say whether they were from Samsung. Ha said they come in “various shapes” and added that they seem to be “early stage phones that will enable customers to experience various video and gaming contents newly offered on the 5G network.”

    Some other media reports, however, suggest Samsung may only show off three variants of its Galaxy S10 and hold off on its foldable phones until the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, which kicks off five days after the unboxing event.

    The Galaxy S10 is expected to come in a basic 6.1-inch screen version, a plus model with a larger 6.44-inch screen and a budget model with a 5.8-inch screen. A fourth variant equipped with 5G connectivity is expected to hit the market later in the year. The 5G-connected model is rumored to come with four cameras on the back.

    The Korean electronics giant unveiled its latest Galaxy S series a day before the massive mobile trade show held in Spain, but this year’s event comes about a week earlier than usual.

    It may be a move to put the spotlight on its S10 models for a few days before they get drowned out by stories about the foldable model they may intend to show off at MWC.

    The unpacking event in San Francisco, where its rival Apple is based, is expected to attract 3,000 people from global companies and the media, according to Samsung. A localized unpacking event will also be held simultaneously in London.

    Attracting global attention by coming up with an innovative design and feature upgrades is crucial for Samsung, which reported a sharp decline in earnings in the fourth quarter last year.

    Its operating profit in the October-December quarter fell 28.71 percent on year to 10.8 trillion won ($9.6 billion), according to a tentative earnings report the company released earlier this month.

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  • Starbucks opens its Coffee Sanctuary in Bali

    Starbucks opens its Coffee Sanctuary in Bali

    Starbucks has opened its largest Southeast Asian location in Bali. The 20,000sqft Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary builds on 16 years of innovation in design, customer experience and community impact for the brand in Indonesia, where there are 370 Starbucks outlets nationwide. Customers can enjoy Starbucks handcrafted core and Reserve beverages within the store’s locally-inspired design that celebrates Indonesian tradition.

    The store pays tribute to the role that Indonesia, the fourth largest Arabica coffee-growing region in the world, plays in the Starbucks business. Sumatran coffee has been a staple offering at Starbucks since 1971.
    “We began sourcing Indonesian coffees more than four decades ago and have always been struck by the sense of community and care for the coffee journey at every step,” said Starbucks Coffee Company CEO Kevin Johnson.

    View the gallery of the new outlet below (8 images) :

    “The Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary amplifies our passion for the coffee journey, our ongoing commitment to Indonesia’s rich coffee culture, and our tireless pursuit of fostering moments of connection between our partners and customers. The Coffee Sanctuary marks the 10th Starbucks Reserve Bar store in Indonesia, one of 185 stores around the world, with the majority in Asia. This is Starbucks at its best, and we are proud to open the doors of this unique experience in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets.

    Visitors enter the store through an arabica coffee farm, try their hand at coffee bean de-pulping and washing during harvest season, dry and rake green coffee beans, visit budding seedlings in the nursery, take in the store’s locally-inspired design featuring traditional Balinese craft and Indonesian art, and enjoy the more than 100 Dewata-exclusive handcrafted beverages, food and merchandise, including the Lavender Latte.

    The  Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary store’s expansive interior is inspired by traditional Balinese houses with free-flowing, connected rooms designed to promote discovery from one space to the next.

    “Bali has an envied reputation as one of Asia’s top travel destinations and Indonesia is one of coffee’s most extraordinary coffee origin regions,” said Starbucks Indonesia director Anthony Cottan said.

    “So we’re excited to invite customers here to ignite their senses and explore the seed-to-cup coffee journey at this unique Coffee Sanctuary. We’re very pleased to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Starbucks and [licensee] PT Sari Coffee Indonesia with this truly one-of-a-kind Starbucks store, inspired by and filled with the finest examples of Indonesian art, design and craftsmanship.”

    To support the future of coffee, Starbucks Indonesia has committed to donating 100,000 coffee seedlings to farmers annually.

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  • Look more inside to Shanghai Tang Pacific Place

    Look more inside to Shanghai Tang Pacific Place

    A “plethora of paints and fabrics that radiate warmth” are at the core of the redesigned Shanghai Tang Pacific Place boutique. Design house Stefano Tordiglione Design (ST) oversaw the executive design and project management of the revamped 154sqm space, which opened last November. The project took six months to complete. Shanghai Tang is a privately owned, modern luxury brand which fuses current fashion design concepts with Chinese-inspired elements steeped in history. It is renowned for its use of bold colours, often contrasting, in fashion and homewares.

    Taking the lead in fine tuning the selection of materials, fabrics and colours, the design team created what creative designer Carlotta Turini describes as “a multi-sensory shopping experience to mirror the richness and beauty of Chinese culture”.

    Among the features are the changing rooms and home section, with the use of famed Jim Thomson wallpapers, giving the design an ‘Asiatic flavour’, with alternative wall coverings and racks fine tuned to create a sense of comfort within the shopping centre.

    The womenswear area has curved walls and a soothing beige fabric contrasted with bright paint, while the menswear area is elegant, warm and cozy, designed with dark brown wood and clean lines.

    These areas are united through a relaxed central seating area featuring art deco furniture.

    “To promote fluid movement through the space, the walls have niches features to provide attractions to the eye throughout the corridor as customers move between retail sections,” says Turini.

    The team had to interpret the original design drawings, developing a unique concept that is now demonstrated throughout the store.

    Efficient project management was vital to the success and on-time completion of the Shanghai Tang Pacific Place redesign.

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  • November Singapore retail sales stagnant

    November Singapore retail sales stagnant

    November Singapore retail sales were static, rising just 0.2 per cent year on year after removing motor vehicles from the data. On a month-on-month basis, sales rose 1.4 per cent, again after disregarding motor vehicles. Perhaps the most interesting figure was the share of total retail sales which occurred online, reaching 6.6 per cent. In September, online accounted for 4.9 per cent of sales, in October 5 per cent. The November figure suggests the Singles Day shopping promotions on November 11 had a significant impact in Singapore.

    The worst-performing retail category in November Singapore retail sales was computers and telecommunications equipment, slumping 22.1 per cent year on year, which Statistics Singapore attributes to strong sales of phones in November 2017 due to the launch of new models.

    The optical goods and books categories posted sales declines of 4.6 per cent, while food retailers and supermarkets & hypermarkets fell by 3.7 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively.

    Department stores registered an increase of 8.7 per cent in sales, while medical goods & toiletries sales rose by 4.8 per cent.

    Turnover of fast-food outlets, restaurants and other eating places (such as cafes) increased between by 2.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent year on year in November. However, sales of food caterers decreased 2 per cent.

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