DFS Group COO Michael Schriver has described the highlights of 2012 so far for the industry leader as ‘a year of important accomplishments’ for the retailer.

 

Speaking to The Business in the latest ‘World’s Top 10 Operators in 2011’ report produced exclusively by The Business, Schriver said it had been a good year, with DFS having ‘transitioned the company to a new leadership team with Philippe Schaus taking up the reigns as CEO in August’.

 

He also pointed to DFS’ successful gain of the three core category concessions at Hong Kong International Airport ‘allowing us to return home to our roots’.

 

“Add to that the expansion of our Galleria at the Four Seasons in Macau and retention of two key North America concessions in Los Angeles and New York,” he said.

 

NEW TEAM MEMBERS

“If that wasn’t enough, we have been fortunate to welcome several new members to our team this year who will substantially strengthen our organisation for the future.”

 

[Left: DFS Group begins new concessions at Hong Kong airport in November 2012]

 

Responding briefly to a question from The Business for this month’s Top 10 Global Operators Report 2012 on whether DFS might consider establishing some retail operations in other destinations where the Mainland Chinese are travelling in good numbers – including Europe – Schriver said: “We continue to study the travel habits of the Mainland Chinese and locations that may offer additional opportunities for us.

 

“We are investigating a number of locations globally that have a strong concentration of PRC travellers and the economics associated with each of those locations. We have not made any final determinations on future locations at 
this point.”

 

See exclusive interview in the October issue of The Travel Retail Business.