Category concessionaires advance cooperation talks in the Philippines

The Moodie Podcast
Chim Esteban talks about the informal alliance between Duty Free Philippines’ category sub-concessionaires


PHILIPPINES. The three category sub-concessionaires to Duty Free Philippines – Landmark Management, CMP and EDF – are advancing their informal alliance, first announced via The Moodie Report in May.

As revealed, Landmark Management Ltd, which operates fashion and perfumes & cosmetics, and its counterparts in liquor and tobacco (CMP) and confectionery (EDF), have created an ‘umbrella partnership’ under the name Pacific Travel Retail Partners.

The intention is to protect and strengthen their individual and collective positions in the market and possibly to expand into other countries. As reported, the partnership is also willing to explore potential co-operation with foreign travel retailers, both within and outside the Philippines.

Landmark Founder & President Jose “˜Chim’ Esteban, acting as the spokesman for the group, told The Moodie Report in Manila last week: “Discussions are moving forward continuously, we’re still looking at various ways to strengthen this relationship.”

(Left to right) Landmark Management Founder & President Jose ‘Chim’ Esteban (left) with Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo ‘Enchong’ Formoso, The Moodie Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and Manila International Airport General Manager (Major General) Jose Angel A. Honrado at Ninoy Aquino International Airport


Asked whether the alliance could evolve into a single retail entity, Esteban said: “It’s a possibility. Right now we have a few projects that we are working on together in terms of the store renovation projects [of Duty Free Philippines]”¦ which is a good first step.”

Landmark is offering a limited perfumes & cosmetics range at T3 but this will expand significantly next year


Ninoy Aquino International Airport T1, where Duty Free Philippines and its partners will revamp the flagship store


Esteban said he was excited about the retail opportunities that lie ahead in the Philippines as Duty Free Philippines progresses with its ambitious store development programme (including, as reported, a full opening next year of the long-delayed Terminal 3 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2012. For Esteban that landmark is particularly poignant as he was the first General Manager of Duty Free Philippines back in 1987.

“We really feel that there’s an opportunity for quantum growth,” he said. “We’re happy to see that the new team at Duty Free Philippines [led by recently appointed Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo “˜Enchong’ Formoso -Ed] is pushing us hard.

“We have plans in the works for all three terminals”¦ including finally opening the T3 stores in a major way,” he said. “So everything will come together in the next 12 months. Fiesta Mall [Duty Free Philippines’ off-airport Arrivals shopping complex] is also going to go through some face-lifting and improvement – we are doing things in various places to improve the offer and environment there.”

NOTE: An interview with Chim Esteban will appear in the October issue of The Moodie Report Print Edition, as part of a major feature on Duty Free Philippines, published to coincide with the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.

Landmark’s elegant perfumes & cosmetics offer at Ninoy Aquino International Airport T2 (above) and the Fiesta Mall below



Landmark Management is also the fashion & accessories sub-concessionaire for Duty Free Philippines


CMP has worked closely with the top brands to raise the standard of liquor retailing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport


Confectionery, handled by EDF, is huge business in the Filipino duty free market


Chime Esteban (right) with Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo ‘Enchong’ Formoso


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