Oasis in an ice desert

Joe Bates with the latest from travel retail

Store focus: Iceland

For some mysterious reason the nearer a country is to the Arctic Circle, the higher its taxes on spirits. Prices in Iceland, for instance, are some of the highest in Europe.

Unsurprisingly, the arrival of a duty-free shop at Keflavik airport is rather popular with both locals and tourists. In fact the airport's main travel retailer, the imaginatively titled Duty Free Store, sells 50,000 litres of whisky a year.

Monthly price promotions on leading promotions, where the price is dropped just E2-3 (£1.40-2.10), lead to staggering sales increases of 200 to 400 per cent.

The company operates four stores – a large departure outlet, a sizeable arrivals store in the main terminal and two smaller shops in the south terminal.

Examples of prices on everyday malts include Bowmore 12 Year Old, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old and Highland Park 12 Year Old at E24.90 (£17.20); The Macallan Elegancia at E36.10 (£24.90), and the ever popular Laphroaig 10 Year Old at E31.20 (£21.50).

Prices on popular blends include The Famous Grouse at E16.20 (£11.20), Chivas Regal 12 Year Old (E32.40/£22.35), Jameson (E27.30/£18.85) and William Grant's (E14.80/£10.20).

More details on the full whisky selection can be found at www.dutyfree.is.

Both main departures and arrivals stores are scheduled for renovation and expansion

Opening hours: 24 hours a day
Contact details: www.dutyfree.is
Tel: +354 425 0410

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• By : Joe Bates
• In : Retail
• Issue : 55
• Page : 55
• Words : 461