Hyderabad, Oct 28:
Duty-free outlet at Maldives’ Ibrahim Nasir
International Airport managed by GMR Group, has sold a bottle of whisky
for $39,000 (approximately Rs 21 lakh).
The Balvenie
Fifty limited-edition whisky, which has just 88 bottles available all
over the world, was purchased by a Chinese passenger at the airport,
said Neeraj Sharma, Brand Development Manager (Indian Sub-Continent) of
William Grant and Sons - makers of the fine Scotch whisky.
“We
allocated two bottles of Balvenie Fifty for Indian Sub-Continent. Both
bottles were kept at Male International Airport. A Chinese traveller
purchased a bottle for $39,000 two weeks ago. He also purchased Balveni
Forty for $5,200,” he told PTI.
Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is commonly known as Male International Airport.
According
to a press release issued at the time of its launch, Balvenie Fifty was
unveiled to celebrate master blender David Stewart’s 50th anniversary
with the company.
“Nothing for India. Because in
India bulk of the business comes from arrival shops (at airports). At
the arrival shop there are restrictions on quantum of purchase. So we
cannot put some of the expensive products at Indian duty free shops, he
explained.
According to a person familiar with
customs rules, a passenger can buy only up to $500 at duty-free outlets
at airports in India.
On Glenfiddich Single Malt
Whisky - the flagship brand of William Grant and Sons, he said, “We have
almost 45 to 50 per cent share in single malt business. It has huge
range within the brand. We are also launching Glenfiddich 125 shortly.
It should be around during Diwali,” he said.
Duty-free
retail will continue to be a prime driver for premium brands due to
huge difference of pricing over domestic market, he added.http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/marketing/balvenie-fifty-limited-edition-whisky-sold-for-39000-in-maldives-duty-free-shop/article4040556.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy
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