Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/699960
60 tobaccoasia CLOSING NEWS 卷尾新闻 Singapore Asia Duty Free Tobacco Sales up 8% As the 21st TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference drew to a close, TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen said that the success of the event underscored both the importance of Asia Pacific as a key focus for development, and the long-term opportunities presented by duty free and travel retail as a sector. New data from travel retail specialists Generation Research which showed that in 2015, for the first time since 2009, global duty free and travel retail sales fell. According to preliminary figures, sales in 2015 totalled US$62 billion, which was 2.3% down on the previous year. However, while sales had fallen in all categories except for fragrances and cosmetics, which grew by 2.3%, tobacco sales remained not far from level, declining by just 0.4%. This made it a relatively strong performer against other categories, such as confectionery and fine food, which saw a 4% downturn, and watches and jewelry which declined by an even more dramatic 13.2%. However, the picture in Asia is much rosier. Here tobacco sales rose by an impressive 8.5%, making it the second fastest growing category behind fragrances and cosmetics which saw an 18.5% increase. All other categories saw a downturn in sales. 'The duty free and travel retail sector has undoubtedly come under pressure, but there are still plenty of opportunities to explore for the tobacco sector, particularly in Asia where sales continue on a strong trajectory of growth," said Juul- Mortensen. This year TFWA Asia Pacific event saw a string of records broken. There were 2,905 visitors, attended the event, up 12% from last year, including representatives from 1,186 companies, up by 14% Of the total, 1,081 were key buyers (up 10%), from 273 companies, up 5%. A total 1,293 of those attending were agents, up13%. These were from 578 companies, an increase of 18%. US New Hire for USTC US Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC), today announced the addition of Declan Curran in a newly created position of director of leaf quality. Curran is a tobacco industry veteran and joins USTC from Phillip Morris International where he was the manager of processing and quality since 2006. He joined Phillip Morris USA/ Altria in 1999 as the supplier processing manager. "Declan has deep experience and understands leaf processing and quality," said USTC chief executive officer Stuart Thompson. "His responsibilities will include evaluation of our TFWA APE&C 2016 Declan Curran current leaf operations from the time of acquisition through shipment, improving product value, reducing green conversion costs, and overseeing the social responsibility in tobacco production program. We are very pleased to have Declan join USTC and add to the strength of our evolving organization. Declan has a proven track record of improving processes, product quality, and is the ideal candidate to help USTC grow and return patronage value to our growers.". "I am excited to join the USTC family," said Curren. "USTC is a new, progressive organization that is shedding old notions of 'stabilization' and moving forward as a premier supplier of US leaf to the tobacco industry." Italy Mark Aldridge joins Garbuio Dickinson Mark Aldridge will join the management of Garbuio Dickinson Group, headquar- tered in Treviso, Italy. With this step the course is set for the succession of the current managing director Mansueto Favaro. Favaro is still responsible for the Garbuio Dickinson Group and will step down from the management board after a joint transition period. Favaro founded Garbuio Mark Aldridge SpA in 1988 and successfully completed the acquisition of the British company Dickinson Legg in 2006. Since summer 2014, the Garbuio Dickinson Group is part of Hauni. Aldridge starts his new activities by the beginning of the third quarter of 2016 and comes from the British company Molins plc. where he has worked as managing director of the subsidiary Molins Tobacco Machinery since 2009. After his management studies Mark has held various positions in the tobacco industry during the last 25 years. Before joining Molins in 2003 as regional director for Asia, he had worked at Dickinson Legg in Winchester, UK as marketing and sales director from 1999-2003.