Singapore Cruise Centre concession goes to DFS Group

Luxury travel retailer DFS Group has been awarded the master duty-free and general merchandise concession at Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC).

Winning the public tender process announced in June, DFS has a five-year contract covering SCC’s HarbourFront and Tanah Merah ferry terminals, with a two-year extension option.

It is the first time SCC has awarded a master duty-free concession, consolidating several contracts including liquor and tobacco, perfumes and cosmetics, fashion, travel accessories and confectionery into a single contract.

DFS will start trading on April 1, being allocated commercial space spanning 6000 sqft (557 sqm) across seven outlets at the terminals. The deal involves a reconfiguration of the main retail space at the arrival and departure areas of both terminals.

Singapore Cruise Centre CEO Christina Siaw says the tender process attracted participation from the world’s leading international duty-free concession companies. “We were highly impressed with the passion, innovation and attention to detail demonstrated by participants in the tender proposal and interview stages.”

She says passengers at the SCC terminals will soon have access to more retail space with a new store concept as well as new brands, marketing activities and services.

DFS will offer products from more than 150 brands and introduce food and whisky-tasting stations as well as eCommerce, collection and home-delivery platforms.

Outlets will undergo a phased renovation, introducing a revamped design inspired by the traditional seafront buildings nestled along Singapore’s coastline.

More than 6.3 million ferry passengers and 560,000 cruise passengers pass through SCC’s terminals annually. DFS has had a presence at SCC for two decades.