On Monday next, the newly established Shannon Group plc will announce the relaunch of Shannon Duty Free, taking it back to its original title but with a new look. Established almost 70 years ago, it is the first and oldest duty-free in the world. From humble beginnings it went on to offer top international product ranges. It all began with a small kiosk in the terminal building at Shannon, where souvenirs, Irish linen goods and other locally produced goods were sold by Kitty Downes.
From such inauspicious beginnings, a blueprint was created for the worldwide, multi-billion euro duty-free industry we know today. As a Duty Free shop it went from strength to strength in the following decades, continuously adding quality brands and merchandise from around the world. It will now be supplied by the international retail group Heinemann.
