FRANCE. Lotte Duty Free has signed an agreement with William Grant & Sons to deepen their partnership and accelerate joint growth in the global spirits market.
Held during the TFWA Exhibition in Cannes on 29 September, the signing brought together Lotte Duty Free CEO Kim Dong-ha and William Grant & Sons CEO Doug Bagley, alongside key representatives from both companies.
Built around a Joint Business Plan for 2027, the agreement sets out shared priorities across four areas: strategic growth and global market expansion; product portfolio and commercial collaboration; retail excellence and brand experience; and joint business planning and future opportunities.
The collaboration brings together the partners’ respective strengths across products, customer experience and global markets, creating a platform for mid- to long-term growth and new business opportunities.
A key focus will be priority products from The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, covering core ranges, limited editions and travel retail exclusives (TREXs), alongside joint sales and promotional initiatives.
Plans also include exploring differentiated product and service concepts, from Lotte Duty Free exclusives and gift packs to personalised gifting.
Expanding customer touchpoints is another area of focus, covering both online and in-store sales channels.
The partners plan to launch dedicated e-boutiques for The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, where permitted by law, alongside continued development of their Incheon Airport flagship stores. Experiential formats including tastings, masterclasses, VIP programmes and premium events will form part of the broader customer engagement strategy.
The collaboration also will tap Lotte Duty Free’s global network to identify new business opportunities, from pop-up activations to expanded brand visibility at key locations, including Incheon Airport, Lotte World Tower, Singapore Changi Airport and Lotte Duty Free Melbourne.
The companies will also explore potential collaborations across Southeast Asia, with Singapore and Vietnam among the markets under discussion, and will conduct regular business reviews to evaluate strategic priorities and key initiatives over the mid to long term.
Lotte Duty Free CEO Kim Dong-ha said, “This agreement marks an important step in establishing a foundation for long-term collaboration with William Grant & Sons across products, retail, digital and global business.
“By leveraging Lotte Duty Free’s global network and diverse customer touchpoints, we will continue to deliver differentiated products and brand experiences while creating new growth opportunities together.” ✈
