Page 34 - TFWA World Exhibit 2023 Special Edition

INSIDER

La Petisquera- Mannah Group to enter Border Duty Free in Brazil

in major project John Gallagher reports

“La Petisquera,” the well-established
South American travel retailer founded by
the Mannah family in 1970, is entering the
Brazilian border duty free business in Foz
do Iguaçu. The company has a long history
of successful operations in Paraguay, in
Ciudad del Este with border and airport
shops, and currently operates four
downtown stores in the city. The Mannah
Group also operated the Departures and
Arrivals Duty Free Shops at the Silvio
Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion
for several years.
Under the brand “La Petisquera Duty
Free do Brasil,” the new duty free shop will
begin operations with an 1870sqm (20,000
sq. feet) exclusive shopping precinct within
the Dreams Park Entertainment Center
in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu. It
is expected to go live early in the second
quarter of 2024, offering all core duty free
categories to cater to tourists mainly from
Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and their
families.
Dreams Park, located on the main
highway from the city of Foz do Iguaçu
to the city’s airport, opened a little more
than a year ago. La Petisquera will anchor
the new retail section of the project. The
Park is being developed as a major tourist
destination in the region with a wide range
of entertainment activities, which include
a 5-Star Hotel, Wax Museum, Dinosaur
Theme Park and an extensive range of food
and beverage outlets including a Harley
Davidson Restaurant & Bar and an Ice Bar
to name just a few.
The Mannah Group’s Mohamad of our company to become an even more shops in 10 Indian airports.
“Alejandro” Mannah, one of the founding significant player in the Duty Free / Travel Mannah said, “The tourists who come
members of the Ciudad del Este border Retail business in the region.” to this region tend to be regional, but we
shopping area, says that the Brazilian The Mannah Group has formed a are seeing more and more from North
border shop regulations around the ‘Lojas joint venture company with senior industry America, Europe and further away. Our
Francas’ concept presents a significant leaders to execute the project successfully. team will make sure we will have the right
opportunity for his company. The joint-venture members are Sanlar product selection for all visitors.”
“Along with our partners, we are Holding AG, founded by Carlo Bernasconi, A spokesperson for Dreams Park
developing a world-class Duty Free a duty free industry veteran bringing commented, “We are pleased to have been
environment in Foz do Iguaçu. This is one expertise in shop design, merchandising, able to find the perfect duty free partner
of the most important tourist and shopping and international management standards. for our ambitious plans to develop Dreams
destinations in Brazil, which is visited by Pablo Lesme, a senior duty free and Park as the most exiting entertainment and
several million travelers on an annual basis. consumer business executive in the region, amusement destination for visiting travelers
People come here in cars, buses and planes brings in depth knowledge of the local duty in this highly popular tourist destination,
from Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and free market and will be responsible for the Foz do Iguaçu. With ‘La Petisquera’
beyond. Now in addition to great and varied management of the company. The joint- bringing the best brands and retail offers in
tourist sites, we can give them a great venture is further joined by Mazenta Retail an exciting shop environment, we believe
shopping experience. We believe this is Private Limited, an emerging travel retail Dreams Park will deliver an unparalleled
the next logical step towards the evolution company from India, operating duty-paid shopping and entertainment experience.”

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TFWA 2023 cover-37.indd 34 9/19/2023 12:50:44 PM