The best retail businesses at Auckland Airport have been acknowledged for their performance at the annual Auckland Airport Retail Excellence Awards 2013 – with the top award of Retailer of the Year going to Icebreaker.

 

Based at the international terminal, the specialist merino wool fashion retailer is operated by Kiwi Discovery which also owns and manages several specialist and food and beverage stores at AKL.

 

Icebreaker opened at the airport in 2010 and has since become the number one seller globally for the Icebreaker brand, even outselling high profile stores in New York.

 

Richard Barker, Auckland Airport’s General Manager Retail, says: “During 2013 Icebreaker demonstrated yet another year of exceptional customer experience and sales and brand awareness, as well as actively participating in both marketing and retail excellence initiatives with enthusiasm.”

 

Kiwi Discovery’s prize of NZ$50,000 ($42,900) worth of marketing, research and training support was given to Managing Director Yong Chan Lee (see main image, pictured on right) by Adrian Littlewood, Chief Executive of Auckland Airport (on left).

 

HIGH GROWTH IN 2013

The 2013 calendar year saw 12 of AKL’s retail businesses achieve sales growth of over +20% higher than the previous year, with many more achieving double-digit sales growth.  Across the busy Chinese New Year period, one retailer achieved sales growth in excess of +80% compared to the same period the year before, says the airport.

 

AKL’s retail awards, which are in their fourth year, are organised by Auckland Airport to recognise outstanding team players, exceptional performance and great customer service at over 100 stores, cafes and bars based at the airport. In total, the event saw 12 awards presented this year (the main ones shown below).

 

The programme includes airport facilitated mystery shopping, customer service and sales training, co-operative marketing programmes and cultural awareness initiatives.

 

“Auckland Airport has been voted best airport in the Australia/Pacific region for five successive years and we must acknowledge the role the retailers play in helping to maintain this position,” says Barker.