Commitment, Collaboration, and Partnerships Are the Foundation for Success

Driving Industry Debates on Stage

Being an active voice, leading by example, and sharing knowledge are key to success. In 2024, high-level company representatives of Gebr. Heinemann contributed to debates and provided food for thought at many global industry events and international conferences. When having the opportunity to actively shape the discussion on stage, Gebr. Heinemann always strives to add value to the debate and for the respective audiences. Among other issues, representatives of Gebr. Heinemann addressed key topics at ACI events such as the relevance of nonaeronautical revenues for airports and the importance of retail for the overall passenger experience. Further, Gebr. Heinemann provided insights into trends and innovations, for example at the ETRC Business Forum or the MEADFA Conference, and was present on stage at sales channel-specific events such as the DFNI Cruise Conference.

The Power of Partnerships

Industry events and conferences not only provide a platform for dialogue, but also give Gebr. Heinemann the opportunity to demonstrate the power of its partnerships. The company combined forces with a variety of joint venture partners across the globe to create a strong visibility at several leading events and conferences. Gebr. Heinemann teamed up with its partners Unifree and ATU in Turkey for the ACI Europe Conference and General Assembly as well as for a global cruise conference. Both events took place in Istanbul. Together with its joint venture partner Big Five Duty Free, Gebr. Heinemann also had a strong presence in Johannesburg at the ACI Africa Conference with a great booth, which was used for several meetings with key stakeholders.

Expansion of Commitment

Gebr. Heinemann believes in the power of collaboration. Industry associations drive dialogue not only among industry stakeholders, but also with governments and regulators. The Heinemann group of companies underlined its commitment to key associations in 2024 by expanding and strengthening its engagements, both financially and through the personal commitment of company representatives on many association boards. As a globally operating group of companies, Gebr. Heinemann strives to play an active role in organizations that foster collaboration and change, and that protect and promote its business in the regions and sales channels in which it operates. Company representatives are members of the board at several national, regional, and international associations.

Leading by Example

Gebr. Heinemann actively supports industry topics and campaigns. Illicit trade, counterfeiting, and intellectual property theft are threatening the duty-free industry and every stakeholder along the value chain. Therefore, Gebr. Heinemann promotes the industry's Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the issue and seeks engagement with government officials, regulators, and enforcement authorities to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the industry's zero-tolerance approach.

Engaging with stakeholders and taking a stance in all these ways is and will remain key for the company, as exchange and collaboration will help the group to deal with changing environments, tackling new challenges, and making the most out of new opportunities. It simply strengthens the foundation for long-term success – for Gebr. Heinemann and everyone involved in the travel retail value chain.