At the recent TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes, The Moodie Davitt Report spoke with DFP World CEO Matin A.M.S about the company’s expansion into Zimbabwe – a move he calls both a logistical triumph and a defining moment in the group’s frontier-market strategy.
As reported, DFP World recently secured the duty-free concession at Harare International Airport, marking a new chapter for the retailer and the country’s aviation sector. Central to the project is a principle Matin A.M.S describes as transformative: full brand approval.
“It will be the first duty-free and travel retail project in the country ever to be 100% brand approved,” he says. “Every single product and brand listed will have direct authorisation from the brand owner.”
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This approach sets DFP World apart from many regional peers. In much of Africa, duty-free stores often operate without formal brand consent, sourcing unofficially and leading to inconsistent standards and fragmented assortments.
DFP World, by contrast, aims to “integrate 100% of the retail activities with brand values”, ensuring product authenticity and stronger alignment with global partners.
The Harare project reflects the company’s long-term investment strategy. “Zimbabwe is the result of about six years of work in studying the place, legal aspects and logistics,” Matin A.M.S explains. The team waited until regulatory compliance, infrastructure and supply chains were fully in place before moving to execution.
Operating in a landlocked country brings logistical complexity, but DFP World’s multi-hub supply network is designed to meet the challenge. The group’s main logistics base in the Tanger Free Zone consolidates shipments, which are routed via Namibia before reaching Harare.
“The logistics are really working like a Swiss clock,” says Matin A.M.S, highlighting the precision planning that ensures both smooth product flow and adherence to the brand-approved framework.
He adds, “Travellers will feel the freshness and originality of a concept built directly in partnership with brand owners. This will be a totally different type of shopping experience compared to what they have ever seen in many African airports.”
For DFP World, Harare is not a one-off project but a template for sustainable, brand-centric growth across Africa, demonstrating that travel retail in emerging markets can match the standards of any major global gateway. ✈
