Only a few years ago, Iceland was Europe’s best kept secret. It was a country that only a handful of the world’s hardiest travellers had visited – however, those who did returned with stories of natural beauty, incomparable sights, friendly people and unique food and lifestyle, promptly stirring the world’s interest.
By 2004, around 360,000 people were visiting the country every year, with most of them passing through Keflavik International Airport. In 2007 the airport’s duty free store, Duty Free Iceland, underwent an extensive renovation in order to accommodate the rising influx of passengers – since then, however, growth has been exponential. Over one million visitors are expected to land on Icelandic soil in 2015 – almost triple the number seen immediately after the renovation was completed. As a result, Keflavik International Airport has since instigated further improvements in a bid to meet the needs of visitors from all over the world. These developments have seen Duty Free Iceland announced as the winner of the 2015 Business Destinations Travel Award for Best Airport Tax Free Shopping Service Provider, Europe.
Icelandic incentives
While many visitors arrive at Keflavik with hopes of experiencing some of Iceland’s world-famous natural splendour, more and more travellers are now visiting the country for some of its major business conventions or international music and design festivals, such as Icelandic Airwaves and Design March. Incentive tours are also becoming increasingly popular.
Guests can quickly and easily pick up what they need from the tax-free store before their bags have even arrived
People planning on attending events such as these in particular welcome the fact that Duty Free Iceland is tax-free and open 24 hours a day, available to all arriving and departing passengers regardless of their origin or destination. Another appealing factor is that, besides the international brands and products commonly found in many other cities’ duty free stores, Duty Free Iceland offers a growing range of unique Icelandic products that are perfect as a one of a kind gift or personal souvenir.
Icelanders have discovered many ways to use the country’s natural resources and harsh winters to their advantage: the lack of pollution and pesticides, the pristine quality of the water and even the country’s notoriously short summers all contribute to the purity and strength of the ingredients found in Icelandic products. Food and drink play a central role in Icelandic culture, with small breweries competing side by side with their larger counterparts to supply the market with a wide range of whiskey, gin, vodka, liqueurs and beers, as well as the legendary brennivín schnapps, which has won an string of international awards.
Duty Free Iceland stocks some of the very best examples of the young industry’s greatest achievements – green Flóki whiskey, for example, which is brewed using pollution-free ingredients and is distilled through the use of geothermal energy. It is the work of the pioneering family-run Eimverk Distillery, which was the first in the world to produce a quality, 100 percent Icelandic whiskey. From the same company comes Vor gin, which won the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Double Gold Award. Created from purely Icelandic botanicals, Vor is an indication of the high-quality products that can be produced from the country’s own first-rate natural resources.
Toasting success
At Dill restaurant – one of the most renowned establishments in Iceland – chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason and his sommelier, Ólafur Örn Ólafsson, promise to provide an entirely new experience for diners. With the intention of capturing a bright Icelandic summer night in a bottle, the pair collected birch sap and trimmings from an unspoiled forest in the East Fjords, and consequently produced a drink known as Birkir; a kind of schnapps with a distinctive fresh, woody flavour. From the birch syrup, they produced a fragrant liqueur known as Björk, which is best enjoyed before or after dinner with tonic water or club soda.
Katla, one of Iceland’s most ferocious volcanoes, has an award-winning vodka named after it: Katla Vodka is produced by 64° Reykjavík Distillery, Iceland’s first micro-distillery, which also brews the potent 64° brennivín, juniper gin and a range of liqueurs made from blueberries, rhubarb and crowberries, all from organic highland farms. The distillery has won many international awards, including the Grand Gold Quality Award in the Belgian Monde Selection, the Silver Award in the British International Spirit Challenge, and the Red Dot Award for Best Product Design. 64° Reykjavík Distillery’s range of drinks is one of the most popular lines stocked by Duty Free Iceland.
Besides spirits, Duty Free Iceland also has a large selection of local and international beers. Domestic ale brands have also secured a string of accolades for their products, drawing international attention to Iceland’s largest breweries and, more recently, some of its smaller ones: Snorri No. 10 ale, brewed by Ölvisholt Brugghús, has won gold medals in some of the world’s most renowned beer competitions, including the World Beer Cup, World Beer Awards and the European Beer Star. Brewed with barley and seasoned with organic wild thyme from Aðaldalur, it is one of several Icelandic beers with a unique flavour, colour and texture. The brewery is a perfect example of what even the smallest companies on the island can produce. Its Lava stout is a 9.4 percent full-bodied beer, with a brown head and a sweet chocolate and malt flavour.
Omnom is one of the most popular confectionery brands in Iceland
Natural cosmetics
Companies across Iceland have taken advantage of the country’s pure water and pesticide-free plants by specialising in the production of high-quality, locally produced cosmetics and skin care products. Brands including Sóley Organics, Villimey, Purity Herbs, Blue Lagoon and Zopure, which are becoming internationally known for their effectiveness, superior ingredients and lack of harmful chemicals, are all on sale at Duty Free Iceland.
Sóley Organics’ signature product, Græðir, is based on a traditional family recipe. Its incredible healing effects on various skin conditions including eczema, burn wounds and psoriasis led to it becoming an overnight success both locally and internationally. Additionally, Eyglo facial cream and Birta, a range of anti-ageing creams, have since been added to the brand’s repertoire, creating a comprehensive skincare programme.
However, not content with using solely traditional methods, a group of biotechnology scientists have also created a range of revolutionary biotech skincare products. The creation of Bioeffect in 1986 won this team the Nobel Prize for Medicine, and the brand has since expanded to include an EGF day serum that improves skin tone, firms and rejuvenates the skin, and minimises the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Day and night shopping
Iceland’s renowned confectionery brands include the works of chocolatiers Omnom and Haflidi, whose sweet treats are so popular across the country that they fly off Duty Free Iceland’s shelves daily – and only the most disciplined gourmands can resist a taste before they head home. The store stocks famous international brands alongside some of Iceland’s most popular homemade treats, such as its unique Puffin Eggs and a wide variety of liquorice. Culinary delights aside, Duty Free Iceland also stocks a range of toys, games and puzzles for its younger visitors.
Travellers don’t have to wait until they are departing from Iceland’s shores to enjoy the delights that Duty Free Iceland has to offer. With an additional store in the Arrivals section of the airport, visitors are able to stock up on Icelandic essentials for the entirety of their trip at prices that are up to 50 percent cheaper than in the city. Situated in the luggage hall, guests can quickly and easily pick up what they need before their bags have even arrived – for late night flights, this is an especially popular option.