CHINA. Wangfujing Duty Free has captured new contracts with 14 brands during the opening of the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo (Hainan Expo), taking place in Haikou from 13-18 April.
Centred around the theme ‘Life is Blooming’, the Hainan travel retail newcomer is participating at the expo with a high-profile exhibition space featuring animatronic blooms, robot baristas and an impressive roster of both local and international beauty and spirits brands.
At the event, Wangfujing Duty Free held a signing ceremony for new partnership agreements with global brands, highlighting “the spirit of strong alliance, complementary advantages and win-win cooperation”. Brands include outdoor gear specialists Helly Hansen, Head and Aigle, as well as popular fashion labels Marisfrolg and Yinger Club, among others. The deals will see brands explore opportunities in the offshore duty-free business on the island.
The agreements represent a step forward in the travel retailer’s continued growth since opening the Wangfujing International Duty Free Harbour City last year. The shopping complex is Wangfujing Group’s first Hainan offshore duty-free store.
The retailer pledged to create a ‘tourism + shopping’ duty-free platform by combining its retail offerings with Wanning’s cultural and tourism features.
The 102,500sq m duty-free complex will be opened in three phases. As reported, the first phase was officially inaugurated in April 2023. The mall houses more than 400 international premium brands covering different categories, and the taxable area has more than 300 global and domestic brands.
The second duty-free phase will mainly introduce international fashion brands, while the third phase – dedicated to global luxury brands – is planned to open around 2025.
The retailer noted that the completion rate of investment attraction of the field has already reached 80%.
A Wangfujing Duty Free spokesperson said: “At present, we have completed the investment promotion work of the first phase of the project to achieve a breakthrough in the boutique category.
“GF North has been upgraded to introduce more Hainan flagship shops, the first shop in South China, and achieve a new upgrade dedicated to Hainan’s famous food & beverage brands, injecting vitality into the project’s F&B block.
“The planning of the second phase will combine the regional characteristics of Wanning’s tourism, culture and sports, and endeavour to build the largest high-end outdoor sports brand area, bringing consumers a dual visual and shopping feast.”
He continued: “High-end outdoor sports brands are planning to enter the field one after another around September this year, and duty-free boutique brands will also enter the field one after another at the end of this year, and are expected to be put into operation at the beginning of 2025, which will bring a double feast of vision and shopping for consumers.” ✈
