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That's why Gebr. Heinemann works with ambitious partners. Here are some examples from LTC. Henry Ford once said: “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” With this in mind, Gebr. Heinemann fosters long-term partnerships with equally ambitious industry players. To remain innovative, Gebr. Heinemann teams up with partners who are also willing to push boundaries. Productive collaborations show what can be achieved when working together to establish new standards for making duty-free shops exciting, engaging, and inviting places for consumers. Gebr. Heinemann stands for reliable partnerships built on trust. We believe that such a partnership works best when both parties share the same values and vision. Over the years, we have learned that success is not only about achieving individual goals, but also about working together to realize shared visions. Here are some examples of how Gebr. Heinemann worked with partners in 2023, representative of many other partnerships.
Over the years, we have learned that success is not only about achieving individual goals, but also about working together to realize shared visions.
A Century of Success: Imperial Brands Reemtsma and Gebr. Heinemann
The partnership between Gebr. Heinemann and Imperial Brands/Reemtsma is rightly regarded as unique in the travel retail industry. It all began in 1923 when the first order was signed between Reemtsma — now a subsidiary of Imperial Brands PLC — and Gebr. Heinemann. Since then, a lot has happened in the world and in both companies, but the connection has grown.
Aleš Struminský, European President of Reemtsma's parent company Imperial Brands, sums up the recipe for success: “We have always approached opportunities and challenges with a shared long-term vision, which is what makes this partnership so successful and special.” When several Gebr. Heinemann stores were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company found an uncomplicated and cooperative solution to eliminate excess stock, working very closely with forecasting and replenishment. Opportunities are also quickly identified and acted upon, for example after Brexit, which meant a return to duty-free for the British. Thanks to Imperial Brands' unique portfolio of UK brands, sales in this segment have since increased — an opportunity seized.
On April 28, 2023, Imperial Brands invited employees from both companies to a fantastic celebration in Hamburg. Together, they made a toast to 100 years of cooperation. One of the eye-catchers at the party was a huge cake featuring the logo of Gebr. Heinemann. The logo connects the two companies in a special way, as Reemtsma once gave it to Gebr. Heinemann for the opening of the first store in Frankfurt in 1972.
Mondelez: Personalized Gifts in Amsterdam — and So Much More
Gebr. Heinemann offers travelers a spectacular assortment of products. In Amsterdam, the company takes a special approach to fulfilling this promise, as travelers can now personalize their gifts in a unique way. Using the latest technology, a printer allows shoppers to imprint their name or any other text onto the packaging of a Toblerone bar. The “Toblerone Printer” is just one of the many attractions in the shop-in-shop, which opened in May 2023. The store features a comprehensive selection of confectionery and travel retail favorites, and has a strong sense of place, paying homage to Amsterdam with a Dutch windmill-shaped gift station and a cookie section designed to look like a Dutch bakery.
The space was previously used for tobacco. When it became clear that tobacco sales would be increasingly regulated and tobacco would no longer be allowed on the shelves, the decision was made to convert it into a confectionery space. Top suppliers were invited to pitch and tasked with creating a customer-focused concept for the space. Mondelez's concept stood out for its sense of place, personalization, multibrand appeal, and digital interaction. Another important factor in the selection process was Gebr. Heinemann's successful implementation of numerous projects with the Mondelez team, demonstrating their category expertise. The initial results are promising: sales figures are developing very positively, and passengers are responding very well to the exceptional offer.
Jaya Singh, Managing Director of Mondelez International World Travel Retail, said the following about the partnership with Gebr. Heinemann: “We are grateful to our long-standing partner Gebr. Heinemann for working with us to bring our vision of increasing confectionery awareness to life. The result is a unique experience that travelers will remember long after they return home.”
Strong Alliance in the Liquor Industry Brown-Forman JD Single Malt
Face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term partnerships to thrive, as demonstrated by events such as the TFWA trade show in Cannes. In 2022, Brown-Forman presented the first Jack Daniel's Single Malt, attracting great interest from the trade. Given that American whiskey is typically blended, an American single malt remains a rarity.
Gebr. Heinemann was able to presell the whiskey to Heinemann x ME members a month before the official launch. The success was overwhelming, with over 1,000 bottles sold in just two weeks. The campaign shows the energy that can be unleashed when the right product is offered through the right channel.
Williams Grant & Sons: Hendrick's
Gebr. Heinemann also has a long-standing partnership with William Grant & Sons, a family-owned business that shares the same values as Gebr. Heinemann. Their iconic Hendrick's Gin brand is a constant source of refreshing ideas.
In the summer of 2023, a multisensory pop-up space opened at Frankfurt Airport. The first Hendrick's Gin Perfumery offered an edible cucumber fragrance and cocktail garnish called “Eau de Cucumber.”
In August, passengers at Terminal 1 Pier B West were able to experience the fragrance and enjoy it as a spritz over a delicious Hendrick's Gin & Tonic. Travelers could pick up a phone within the installation to hear the scent at the “Answering the Call of the Unnecessary” station.
Royal Salute for a Strong Bond
Gebr. Heinemann partnerships are always based on a shared vision of offering travelers something special. This was also the case at Sydney Airport, where the Royal Salute Collection was launched in partnership with Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail.
A spectacular Whiskey Zone pop-up showcased the brand's ultra-prestige category, offering rare and limited-edition expressions for a minimum retail price of 5,000 US dollars.
A spectacular Whiskey Zone pop-up showcased the brand's ultra-prestige category, offering rare and limited-edition expressions for a minimum retail price of USD 5,000. The collaboration marked a significant milestone, as Sydney became the first Gebr. Heinemann location worldwide to unveil the Royal Salute Art Edition. The launch aligns with Gebr. Heinemann's mission to position Sydney Airport as a key destination for luxury brands.