The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) World Exhibition & Conference returns to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, from Sunday, 27 September to Thursday, 1 October. The global duty-free and travel retail event brings together brands, retailers, buyers, airlines, cruise operators and distributors for a week of exhibitions, seminars and networking.
This year’s event aims to examine the forces reshaping the channel, from geopolitics and economic uncertainty to changing traveller behaviour and artificial intelligence, with speakers including economist David McWilliams and journalist Charles Duhigg. The five-day event will kick off on Sunday with a blind football and wheelchair rugby tournament and cocktail evening.
Here’s the first of Global Drinks Intel‘s two-part preview of the trade show, looking at some of the exhibiting wine and spirits producers and brand owners.
Alcoholes y Vinos – Green Village Stand J67
Spanish distillery and winery Alcoholes y Vinos will showcase its Mont Blanc vodka brand (above) at TFWA Cannes, led by the mark’s recently-released, limited-edition Grande Époque. The extension has been distilled seven times and matured for three months in French oak.
The Mont Blanc range also includes Voyage, Pure Diamond, Cucumber & Mint and Grapefruit & Rose iterations. The stand will feature guided tastings and signature cocktails. Alcoholes y Vinos’s duty-free business development and marketing managers will be available to discuss partnerships and the channel strategy for Mont Blanc.
Anora Group – Yellow Village Stand G56
Finland’s Anora Group will showcase vodka and liqueur brand Koskenkorva alongside Skagerrak Gin, Nordic herbal liqueur Valhalla and aquavit marks Linie, OP Anderson and Aalborg – the latter of which has new flavour iterations. The company’s focus at the show will be on strengthening relationships with customers and distributors, introducing upcoming products and identifying new business opportunities.
CEO Kirsi Puntila, director of global travel retail & expansion Bo Madsen, senior VP Imre Avalo, members of the GTR team and global brand ambassador Mikael Karttunen – who will be serving cocktails – will be available at the stand.
Bacardi – Bay Village Bay 36
Bacardí will showcase a raft of recent additions to its spirits portfolio at TFWA Cannes, with Grey Goose’s Berry Rouge and Altius extensions taking centre stage at the group’s cocktail bar. Visitors can also try serves including the St-Germain hugo spritz and Patrón paloma, alongside a range of whisky experiences.
The company’s focus at the show will be on meeting retail partners, discussing priorities for the year ahead and gathering insight into the direction of travel retail. Bacardi’s GTR marketing director, Darragh Ryan, will be available to discuss the portfolio and the group’s channel-specific strategy.
Bottega – Blue Village Stand A11
Italian wine & spirits producer Bottega will showcase its alcohol-free range, including Bottega 0 White, Bottega 0 Rosé, Limoncino 0.0 and Elixir Amaro 0%, alongside a preview of its upcoming non-alcoholic spritz. On the alcohol side, there will be Amazonik Brut, Alexander Whisky and a selection of vintage sparkling wines to taste.
Shortly before the end of each day, members of the Bottega team will be mixing up low-alcohol moscato serve petalo on the rocks, lemon spritzes and negronis. The group’s export team will be at the stand, as will MD Sandro Bottega.
Casa Redondo – Red Village Stand K22
The Portuguese drinks group will put recently acquired coffee-cream liqueur Sheridan’s at the centre of its TFWA showcase.
“Any retailer thinking about the cream category over the next few years should visit us before leaving Cannes,” the brand owner says. Sheridan’s will be joined by Safari, Licor Beirão and Aperitivo Per Se. The stand will house a bar for sampling the range, while each day will close with music and finger food. Area sales manager David Leitão and public affairs & global partnerships lead Tiago Patrão will be available to meet visitors.
Choya Umeshu – Marine Village Stand S10
Japan’s Choya Umeshu will showcase its namesake liqueur range, including the three-year-old Extra Fruit (above), Extra Years and French Oak expressions. Visitors will be able to taste the full portfolio and try serves designed to demonstrate the plum-based liqueur’s versatility as a cocktail ingredient.
Choya Umeshu will use TFWA Cannes to meet existing GTR partners, develop new relationships and raise awareness of Japanese umeshu. The GM of the company’s overseas business department, Seiji Susuki, will be available to meet.
Flor de Caña – Harbour Village Eva
Nicaraguan rum brand Flor de Caña will showcase its age-statemented portfolio, led by the 15-, 18- and 25-year-old expressions. The brand, produced and distributed by Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua, will leverage the show to officially launch its 35-year-old iteration (above) and promote its updated branding.
Flor de Caña’s objectives at TFWA Cannes will be to strengthen relationships with clients, meet prospective partners and identify new business opportunities. GTR MD Rodrigo Bazan will be available to meet guests aboard the Eva yacht.
Gruppo Montenegro – Green Village Stand K60
As well as its namesake amaro, Italy’s Gruppo Montenegro will also be pouring rum brand Pampero (above), brandy mark Vecchia Romagna, Select Aperitivo, Limoncello Benvenuti and Edgar Sopper gin at this year’s exhibition. The company has redesigned its stand this year and will host a dedicated Pampero bar.
Gruppo Montenegro will use the show to strengthen relationships with customers and partners, showcase its full portfolio and identify opportunities to expand internationally. Chief commercial officer of international, Marco Seminaroti, and recently appointed head of GTR & Central-Northern Europe Rene’ Machon will be available to meet visitors.
Halewood Artisanal Spirits – Harbour Village Accama Delta
The privately-owned UK company will showcase its Whitley Neill gin, Johnny Cree single malt scotch (above), Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum, Bankhall British single malt and Aber Falls single malt. Halewood will use the show to highlight products in its innovation pipeline and to build and develop existing and new customer relationships.
Halewood’s head of GTR, Eamon Prunty, will be available to meet aboard the group’s Accama Delta yacht.
Hayman Distillers – Green Village Stand L39
London-based Hayman’s will return to Cannes next week with a stand in the Green Village showcasing its range of gins. The fifth-generation, family-owned company has been distilling gin in the UK capital since 1863 and is now present in more than 70 countries.
Following growth in the UK’s GTR channel, Hayman’s is looking to expand across the wider channel. Co-owner & fifth-generation family member James Hayman will be available to discuss the brand’s plans for travel retail.
Heaven Hill Brands – Green Village Stand K59
The US spirits group will showcase channel-exclusive Elijah Craig Bourbon 10-year-old (above) alongside a GTR-format Tequila Ocho Plata next week. Heaven Hill will host tastings of limited-availability bourbon and tequila expressions each afternoon before the show closes.
The company will also use TFWA Cannes to present GTR-dedicated products and to highlight examples of brand activations available to channel operators. MD of International Bryan Fallon, Americas GTR director Bill Kerry and GTR MD Salvador Blanco will be available to meet visitors.
Check back on Global Drinks Intel later this week for the second part of this TFWA World Exhibition & Conference preview.
