On location in Mumbai – A warm welcome from Ospree, TFS and Mitti Café

4 April

Namaste.

I’ve arrived in Mumbai for an eight-day business trip and what an amazingly warm welcome I received after touchdown at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, gateway to the city and Maharashtra state.

As I stepped off my Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong at around 1.30am, there were Nagesh from Ospree Duty Free and Royston from Travel Food Services to greet me.

First stop before Royston arranged for me to be whisked through immigration and customs faster than India cricket ace Jasprit Bumrah’s quickest ‘slingshot’ yorker was the Ospree Duty Free arrivals store. There, Assistant Store Manager Vivek was my expert guide as we toured this impressively expansive, well-ranged and nicely merchandised 24,000sq ft store.

Vivek, a dedicated Moodie Davitt Report reader, is also an exemplary professional with a deep knowledge of consumers trends and the Ospree Duty Free offer
Nagesh’s smile, wider than the state of Maharashtra, sums up the warmth of my welcome
Royston from Travel Food Services has hospitality running through his blood
A nice shot with (left to right) Royston from Travel Food Services and Nagesh, Vijay and Vivek of Ospree Duty Free
Ospree Duty Free welcomes APTRA India conference delegates to Mumbai

Vivek told me he’s been reading The Moodie Davitt Report every day since he started in the business a decade or so ago, catching up with brand launches, product trends and, yes, my Blog, to aid his knowledge in serving Ospree’s shoppers, something he does so well.

That kind of feedback simply makes my day. Way back in 2002 when I launched what was then The Moodie Report, many people questioned my decision to make it subscription-free, arguing that it couldn’t succeed as a business.

However, thank my lucky stars, the premise of a ‘no padlocks, no password – fast, factual, free’ proposition meant that anyone from Brand Ambassador to CEO could access the site and to hear confirmation of that fact from Nagesh was encouraging vindication.

Penetration levels are around 12% in the Ospree Duty Free walk-through store with an ATV of about US$100

This top-class wine offer reflects surging interest in the category across India

Arrivals duty free is big business in India, particularly for liquor which, dominated by Scotch whisky, accounts for around 65% of the mix.

Early morning is a busy period for arrivals and I watched on as plenty of passengers stopped to fulfil their two-litre liquor allowance.

Perennial favourites Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal continue to sell strongly but single malt whisky has surged in popularity within India, a dynamic reflected in an extensive and eclectic range.

After saying my fond farewells to the Ospree Duty Free team, and as Royston was leading me to the car TFS had kindly arranged to take me to the Trident Nariman Point hotel, I spotted a Mitti Café in the public space outside the terminal.

The Magic of Abilities: A beautifully articulated mantra for an amazing business that creates a platform for skill development, employment and social integration

As I have written extensively before on this Blog and on our main website, Mitti Café is a remarkable social enterprise founded by the extraordinary Alina Alam. It is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities by providing them with opportunities for economic independence and dignity.

The organisation (Mitti Social Services Foundation) creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities by training and hiring them in its cafés across airports and other public institutions. The first Mitti Café was opened at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, a breakthrough that has led to other airport openings, including Mumbai.

At The Moodie Davitt Report’s 2024 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards in Ontario, California Alina Alam and Bangalore International Airport Limited were awarded the FAB Humanitarian Award for their joint initiative. Alina Alam was also named one of The Moodie Davitt Report’s People of the Year for 2024.

I chatted with the team, congratulating them on what they and the organisation had achieved. As I said my goodbyes, one of the team, Vivek (pictured below), insisted I first stop for a hot Chai.

Tired after my long flight from Hong Kong and the lateness of the hour, it was the perfect pick-me up. Not that I needed it. As not for the first time, the Mitti Café team had made my spirits soar. ✈

Meet (from left) Vijay, Vivek, Dnyandeep (background) and Rohit, four delightful gentlemen and outstanding professionals.
Mitti Café serves up not only delicious hot Chai but an important lesson in humanity
Vivek (left) and Dnyandeep are both rightly proud of their wonderful hospitality and their day in, day out demonstration of the magic of abilities
I enjoy a steaming hot cup of Chai with Rohit (left) and Dnyandeep

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