JAPAN. Central Japan International Airport Co (Centrair) will open a 90sq m duty free store dedicated to Japanese liquor in January. It will be located close to Gate 20 in airside departures.
The shop, under the name Sorano Sakagura, will offer sake, shochu and other drinks that represent Japan. The Moodie Davitt Report understands it is the first airport duty free shop solely dedicated to Japanese liquor in the country.
The company stated: “In recent years we have seen an increase in overseas interest in Japanese liquor culture. Centrair is responding to the needs of international travellers with the opening of a new Japanese liquor speciality shop, a valuable addition to our duty free selection.”
In other news, Centrair has released Tabi Ale, a craft beer produced exclusively to mark the airport’s 15th anniversary. It is a partnership with Ise Kadoya Craft Beer, with Centrair staff involved in the process from planning to manufacturing. The name ‘tabi’ derives from the Japanese for travel.
A 330ml bottle will go on sale on 22 November as the airport launches its Christmas market, through to March 2020.
Centrair recently revealed first-half results (to September) for fiscal year 2019/20, with duty free sales climbing by +12% to Y14,075 million (US$129 million). Passenger numbers rose by +13% to 6.99 million with international traffic up +16% year-on-year at 3.5 million.
