CityPlus warns Incheon Airport of potential perfume and cosmetics ‘monopoly’ in restructured tender – The Moodie Davitt Report

SOUTH KOREA. CityPlus Duty Free (City Duty Free) has written to Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) warning them of possible monopoly issues if the airport company allocates its vacant perfumes and cosmetics in Terminal 1 to The Shilla Duty Free.

As reported, the IIIAC auctioned the three T1 dealerships that Lotte Duty Free resigned in February. But he restructured them into just two contracts (see table immediately below). And this is where the crux of the complaint of the player of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) CityPlus lies.

Lotte has resigned from its DF1 (perfumes & cosmetics), DF5 (leather goods & fashion) and DF8 (various categories). The concessions, which were awarded to Lotte Duty Free in early 2015 after a series of successful offers, were to run from September 2015 to August 2020.

This map, courtesy of the IIAC, shows the location of the packages offered

Lotte Duty Free cited the excessive cost of contracts, not having renegotiated its terms. The retail giant claimed that its Incheon stores (hit by the Chinese THAAD-linked tourism slump, growing competition in the city center and excessive airport fees) had recorded losses of 200 billion KW ($ 184 million) since 2016.

The contracts would run a deficit of 1.4 trillion KW ($ 1.3 billion), the retailer said, if stores continued to operate for the full term in 2020.

The new tender combines DF1 and DF8 in one package. DF5 remains a special opportunity. By combining DF1, which has higher spending per passenger (SPP) and sales volume, with the lower SPP and sales potential of DF8, the IIAC hoped to create a more attractive proposition to bidders.

City Duty Free (CityPlus), shown here in Q1, says its business will be at risk if the consolidated beauty contract is awarded to Shilla [All pictures: Martin Moodie]

However, CityPlus Free senior managing director Allen Hong told the Moodie Davitt Report that the overhauled contract structure was unfair to small retailers and could hurt the consumer’s proposal. “We, CityPlus Duty Free, sent a document to the IIAC which warned of a possible monopoly for cosmetics / perfumes at Incheon Airport duty free shops if the most likely historic retailer (Shilla) wins DF1 for P&C, ”he said.

Hong noted that since 2001, the IIAC has always offered double concessions for the all-important category of perfumes and cosmetics. But if Shilla, which already operates DF2 (beauty products), gets the new DF1 combined contract, its market share for the category will be 90% or more in T1 – and 95% for T1 and T2 combined.

The Shilla Duty Free is already enjoying a powerful presence of cosmetics and fragrances in Incheon T1 (pictured) and T2. Another contract success would create unacceptable market share, says CityPlus.

This situation would be an “absolute category monopoly,” Hong said. Such a situation would cause “serious damage” to the welfare of consumers and threaten the survival of smaller competitors, he said.

“We have cautioned the IIAC to investigate this issue and prevent the retailer [Shilla] to win the DF1 concession, ”said Hong. “If the IIAC does not propose the appropriate measures to prevent a monopoly, we are prepared to take this matter to the Fair Trade Commission. “

Disagreement with the CityPlus claim

While The Shilla Duty Free declined to comment, the company will certainly disagree with CityPlus’ claim. The Fair Trade Commission will have no problem with the proposed structure, believe sources close to the company. The company could reasonably point to many other international airports that have only one retailer for a category (or indeed for all categories).

However, the Shilla Duty Free is unlikely to be the only bidder. Shinsegae Duty Free and industry newcomer Hyundai Duty Free (which is preparing to open a store in downtown Gangnam, Seoul later this year), have both expressed interest in the Moodie Davitt report.

Shinsegae Duty Free, already established in Q1 with a general cargo concession, is a likely bidder for the two available contracts

Perfect storm: Trade at Incheon International Airport has become unsustainable given the combination of sky-high guarantees and a collapse in Chinese tourism, Lotte says

Breakdown of licenses won by Lotte Duty Free (and others) at Incheon T1 airport in 2015; Lotte Duty Free has since left DF1 (P&C), DF5 (leather goods & fashion) and DF8 (various categories).

(Above and below) Diversion tactics: Daigou traders repackage large quantities of cosmetics (mostly bought in duty free downtown) before flying to China where the products will be resold [Pictures: Martin Moodie]

NOTICE TO AIRPORT OPERATORS: The Moodie Davitt Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching business proposals and for publishing results. If you would like to promote an expression of interest, request for proposals, or a full tendering process for any area of ​​airport revenue, simply email Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com.

We have a variety of options that will allow you to reach the broadest and most qualitative dealer / retailer / operator base in the industry – globally and immediately.

Likewise, the Moodie Davitt report is the only international business intelligence service and industry media to cover all airport, revenue-generating and other consumer services. We cover all non-aeronautical airport revenue including real estate, passenger lounges, parking lots, hotels, hospitals and other medical facilities, internet, advertising and related revenue streams.

Please send relevant documents, including images, to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com for instant, quality global coverage.

All of these stories are grouped together in our popular Tender News section (see homepage drop-down menu) which has been operating since 2003.

The Moodie Davitt Report will continue to bring you details on this important tendering process as they are announced.