King Power extends Singapore Changi footprint

Harrods and La Perla: Two of King Power’s key brand partners at Singapore Changi Airport

SINGAPORE. King Power International, a division of Antares Cheng’s King Power Group (Hong Kong), has opened the latest in its series of branded stores at Singapore Changi Airport. And the company has said it is eyeing further expansion at the location.

In recent months King Power has opened a new La Perla outlet in Terminal 2, to follow the store it already operates in Terminal 3. It has also opened two Harrods stores, a Paul & Shark outlet plus a confectionery unit in the past few months.

King Power said that it has been “cautious with its bidding strategy, having chosen to focus on smaller stores with individual brands” after previously operating the main T1 fashionwear concession plus a T2 chocolate contract.

King Power Group Managing Director Travel Retail & Duty Free Sunil Tuli noted: “Needless to say, the business has been a bit slow in the last two years or so, but with measures taken to cut costs, rationalise product range and focus on a lot of detailed issues, we are now a lot stronger. Our strategy to expand will continue, but with caution. We are going to continue to look at growth, and are very happy to be in Changi Airport. We have a very good relationship with our landlords, and Singapore is a very important part of our business.”

King Power Group (HK) Managing Director Antares Cheng (left) with Travel Retail & Duty Free Managing Director Sunil Tuli

Tuli was instrumental in creating the King Power business at Changi Airport, where he previously ran the Weitnauer (now Dufry) duty free business for many years. The King Power operation is now overseen by King Power Singapore General Manager Annie Loo.

Tuli, who is also President of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, will be a speaker at the forthcoming TFWA Asia Pacific Conference in May in Singapore.

Tuli will examine what the future may hold for duty free and travel retail over the next 12 months across the Asia Pacific region, focusing both on the opportunities and the threats to the sector.