FDFA honours best of Canada at 2015 Gold Standard Awards

CANADA. The Frontier Duty Free Association announced the winners of its Gold Standard Awards 2015 at a ceremony held in Vancouver on Wednesday 18 November at its 30th annual convention.

The awards were sponsored by Retail Council of Canada, Travel Markets Insider, The Moodie Report, Frontier Duty Free Association and Americas Duty Free Magazine.

Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger wrote to convention delegates: “Duty free shops have become something of an icon for both Canadian and foreign travellers. Your members feature and promote Canadian-made products. In a sense you showcase our diverse culture and are often the final travel experience as international visitors leave Canada. I commend you all for striving to improve traveller experiences by continually improving your duty free shopping facilities at airports and at border crossings.

“In order to increase the number of US visitors coming to Canada, Destination Canada is forging ahead with its Connecting America campaign. And earlier this week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated our commitment to lift the visa requirement on Mexican citizens. These efforts should help increase visitation to Canada and will positively impact your business opportunities in the future.”

The full list of FDFA Gold Standard Awards 2015 is as follows:

Outstanding Land Border Duty Free Employee
Winner: Zina Arista (Niagara Duty Free)
Finalists: Kathy Clements (Peace Bridge Duty Free Store) and Carolyn Schwark (DFS Ventures – Emerson Duty Free)

Best Specialty Product – Jewellery, Watches, Handbags and Accessories
Winner: Moulflon Essential – Feathers Collection (Joanel – Bugatti Group)
Finalists: Accu Swiss Line (Bulova Watch Company) and Fossil Handbags (Fossil Group)

Best Specialty Product – Confectionery, Food and Souvenirs 
Winner: Maple Crème Cookies (Turkey Hill Sugarbush) 
Finalists: Milka Products (Distribution Fontaine) and Jelly Belly Products (Alfa Brands)

Best New Fragrance/Cosmetic Product
Winner: Gucci Bamboo (Distribution Fontaine)
Finalists: Very Sexual (Michel Germain Parfumes) and Escada Turquoise Summer(Distribution Fontaine)

Best New Spirits/Tobacco/Beer Product
Winner: Glen Deveron Single Malt (Bacardi)
Finalists: Stoli Vodka (Mark Anthony Brands) and Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve (Diageo)

Best Marketing
Winner: Peace Bridge Duty Free 
Finalists: Importations Guay Ltee and West Coast Duty Free

New Idea Award
Winner: Peace Bridge Duty Free
Finalists: Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free Store and Importations Guay Ltee

National Brand Integration Award
Winner: DFS Ventures (Emerson Duty Free Shop)
Finalist: Importations Guay Ltée

Supplier of the Year – Small
Winner: Michel Germain Parfums
Finalists: Citizen Watch Company of Canada and Scandinavian Tobacco

Supplier of the Year – Large
Winner: Turkey Hill Sugarbush
Finalists: Bacardi and Peller Estates Winery

Duty Free Distributor/Agent of the Year
Winner: Distribution Fontaine
Finalists: Peter Mielzynski Agencies and Remy-Cointréau Travel Retail Americas

Best Canadian Airport Duty Free Company
Winner: The Nuance Group (Canada)
Finalists: World Duty Free Group (Vancouver) and Aer Rianta International

Platinum Award – Category A
Winner: Boutique Hors Taxes de la Beauce
Finalists: Abbotsford Duty Free and Aldergrove Duty Free Store

Platinum Award – Category B
Winner: Queenston-Lewiston Duty Free
Finalists: West Coast Duty Free Store and Blue Water Bridge Duty Free Store