FRANCE. Dufry has been awarded the concession for two new duty free stores at Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport. The stores are due to open in April 2018.
The airport company had called for Expressions of Interest through The Moodie Davitt Report in January.
The five-year contract includes a new walk-through duty free store and a last-minute duty free shop. The total commercial area is over 1,800sq m.
“Our project is a radical change for our airport, with a new journey for the passenger” – Toulouse-Blagnac Airport Non-Aeronautical Revenue Development Director Bruno Balerdi
The airport has pledged to offer passengers the services of a large international airport, adapted to increases in traffic. The changes include a complete refurbishment and extension of the commercial area and enlargement of the current terminal.
The main international departures walk-through store will cover more than 1,700sq m, located directly after security.
“It is an exciting project we commit to with Dufry. The challenge is to give a new dimension to the commercial offer for our passengers.” – Toulouse-Blagnac Airport CEO Jean-Michel Vernhes
The main store will be accompanied by a last-minute duty free shop of approximately 120sq m in the international departures Hall D area. This will be the terminal’s only ‘express’ store.
The commercial offer has been tailored to the Toulouse airport traveller, Dufry said, with something for each key customer profile – business and frequent travellers, low cost travellers, and families and children.
Dufry said its focus is to bring a “unique customer experience” to Toulouse Airport. That will be based, it pledged, on unrivalled customer service, by offering both a Sense of Place with a “seamless transition from the city of Toulouse to the airport” and a wide assortment of famous international brands.
As part of Dufry’s digital strategy and to enhance the store dynamic, technology developed for an easier and more enjoyable customer experience will be integrated throughout the store. This will include new screen equipment and a Contentainment area.
The main store will offer a wide assortment of local products across categories, including regional fragrance and cosmetics brands and local wines exclusive to Dufry. The ‘Terre d’Occitanie’ space will complete the offer of Toulouse local delicacies, including foie gras, cheese and local confectionery.
The beauty space will feature over 150 global brands with an additional focus on new brands.
The international liquor section housed in a dynamic space with a tasting bar will be brought to life with events and exclusive offers. The store will include a newly designed Cava corner, where travellers can find exclusive tobacco brands and competitive prices. The walk-through store will feature speciality fashion-concept corners; ‘Time Box’, with a selection of watches and jewellery and ‘Suncatcher’, dedicated to sunglasses.
Dufry has addressed the airport’s strong family profile with a Kid’s zone dedicated to children’s toy brands and confectionery. This is based on a similar concept that has proven popular in other stores around the world.
Dufry currently operates a retail space of 818sq m, spread across six individual stores at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. The group began operating in Toulouse in 2009 and the new plan doubles the company’s commercial offer and aims to give passengers a “coherent, integrated and world-class experience”, the company said.
The airport’s renovation and terminal extension plan is linked to the objective of opening new international routes, specifically to China and other Asian routes, and developing low-cost traffic.
Dufry Division CEO for Southern Europe & Africa Pedro Castro commented: “We are very pleased that Toulouse-Blagnac Airport has chosen us to form part of their development plans. We thank them for the trust they have placed in Dufry and look forward to the next installation phases and to see the fruits of our project when the stores open in April next year.”
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport CEO Jean-Michel Vernhes added: “It is an exciting project we commit to with Dufry. The challenge is to give a new dimension to the commercial offer for our passengers.”
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport Non-Aeronautical Revenue Development Director Bruno Balerdi commented: “Our project is a radical change for our airport, with a new journey for the passenger. We really rely on Dufry for a positive transformation of the retail area, in order to create a memorable experience for the passenger.”
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