CANADA. Leading travel retailer ARI last night celebrated 25 years of business in North America with a special evening at the1769 Distillery in Montréal.
The ‘cocktail dinatoire’ was attended by many long-standing partners and supporters of ARI’s business in the region, including airport partners, local suppliers plus the retailer’s senior management and colleagues. Many staff have been with the business since before it was acquired by ARI (as United Cigar Stores) from Hachette in 1998.
ARI Chief Executive Officer Ray Hernan commented, “We are privileged and honoured to be at this stage in our journey. The partnerships and relationships that we have built over the past two decades is a striking testament to our colleagues and our teams here in North America.
“Together with our partners and colleagues, we have demonstrated all that is great about ARI and evolved in order to do what we do best – deliver an exceptional experience for each customer who passes through our stores. I have enjoyed reflecting on the past 25 years of growth in North America and would like to take this opportunity to thank our teams, partners and brands for their continued support and dedication, without whom none of this would be possible. ARI North America is an integral part of ARI’s heritage.”
ARI said that the future is bright for its regional business, with an extensive refurbishment planned for its Montréal-Trudeau International Airport store, a stand-alone Chanel store that opened in Vancouver earlier this month, and other pipeline projects.
“When we look for new opportunities, we need to ensure that they make sense for both us and our partners,” said ARI Business Relationship Director Jacques Dagenais. “Our approach is to be agile and innovative. A big focus for us is on our substantial range of local products across each of our locations, to create a unique Sense of Place for our customers. Quality and excellence are at the heart of all that we do. We may not be the biggest, but consistently strive to be the best.”
Speaking at the event, ARI Chief Business Development & Operations Officer Nuno Amaral commented, “A lot of the opportunities and growth in the past has been down to the focus, dedication, and commitment to building strong partnerships, and the phenomenal team driving those connections. We are very excited about the plans and ambitions of our team for the future in North America.” [A wider interview with Nuno Amaral will appear shortly on our platforms – Ed].
Last night’s event is the culmination of a week-long celebration for the team at ARI North America, which included an in-store event at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on Wednesday.
Travellers were treated to the joy of traditional local entertainment including Cirque tight-rope walking, plate-spinning and hula hooping, maple-syrup crepes and cocktails, all with the backdrop of traditional local music.
ARI’s recent appointment of Glen Morgan as General Manager for North America adds further industry expertise to the team.
“It has been an exciting start to my new role here,” said Morgan at last night’s event. “The team have been hugely welcoming and together, we are focused on not only celebrating the achievements of the past but focusing on the opportunities into the future. We have an incredibly committed and high-performing team in place, with big plans to deliver. It’s an exciting time here in North America.”
ARI first entered North America with a travel retail outlet at Montréal Mirabel Airport in 1998, before moving to the current airport in 2004. ARI currently operates travel retail stores in Montréal, Quebec City, Halifax, Winnipeg, and now Vancouver, with the Chanel boutique opening this month. ✈
