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Nordic Travel Retail Group Chairman Erik Thomsen (left) presents the Retail Initiative Award to Scandlines’ Bjarne Raby |
NORDIC REGION. Ferry and border store retailer Scandlines last night captured the inaugural Nordic Travel Retail Initiative Award as the annual Nordic Travel Retail Seminar drew to a close in Copenhagen.
Scandlines won an online vote among members of the Nordic Travel Retail Group (NTRG), for its creativity and achievements as an industry innovator over the past ten years. The company, once purely a ferry operator, opened the now thriving border store at Puttgarden on the German-Danish border in response to intra-EU duty free abolition.
The company secured 45% of the votes, with the two other nominees, Copenhagen Airports and Inflight Service, receiving 31% and 24% of the vote respectively. Scandlines Purchasing Director Bjarne Raby accepted a special certificate from the NTRG board on behalf of his company.
NTRG Chairman Erik Thomsen said: “The award was timely, as it is now ten years since intra-EU duty free abolition, and we wanted to recognise those companies that have stood out for their creativity and who have driven the business forward since then. This award also recognises the influence of former Scandlines Retail and Catering Manager Henrik Tornager, who was instrumental in driving the business post-abolition, and who left the company in April.”
He added: “The Puttgarden border shop, which was followed by another shop at Sassnitz, has been one of the biggest successes of the regional business. One of the most fantastic creations has been the “˜Shopping Club’, which has a stunning 110,000 members.”
The award and dinner followed a fascinating delegates’ tour of Copenhagen Harbour, which was preceded by the Seminar itself.
Among the highlights of that event was a strong panel discussion about the current crisis and future direction of the regional trade, involving The Nuance Group Sweden General Manager Karl Walter, Inflight Service Europe CEO Gustaf Ljunggren, Valora Trade Travel Retail Division Director Dan Kongsted and BAT International Head of Trade ETR Mark Murray.
Ten years on from the abolition of intra-EU duty free, this and other sessions focused on how the next ten years may look for the regional business.
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(Top left) Former Danish Vice Prime Minister Marianne Jelved reflects on 1999; (top right) Danish Consumer Council Executive Director Rasmus Kjeldahl; (Below) The closing panel (left to right) with Valora Trade Travel Retail Division Director Dan Kongsted, Inflight Service Europe CEO Gustaf Ljunggren, The Nuance Group Sweden General Manager Karl Walter and British American Tobacco International Head of Trade ETR Mark Murray. |
Other speakers included Finnair Senior Vice President Christer Haglund, former Danish Vice-Prime Minister Marianne Jelved, Fremforsk Head of Research Marianne Levinsen, and Danish Consumer Council Executive Director Rasmus Kjeldahl.
The keynote speaker was retail analyst Bill Webb from the University of the Arts in London. The seminar was moderated by The Moodie Report Deputy Publisher Dermot Davitt.
MORE STORIES ON NORDIC TRAVEL RETAIL
Nordic Travel Retail Group launches new website; introduces industry initiative award – 14/05/09
Nordic Travel Retail Seminar agenda takes shape; heavyweight panel to assess future of the trade – 04/05/09
Nordic Travel Retail Group re-elects board – 15/04/09
Nordic Travel Retail Seminar looks to the future – 26/03/09
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