2019 overview
Balanced growth in our three business segments – travel essentials, duty free & fashion, and foodservice – confirms the underlying logic of our strategy amid the favourable tailwind of growing air traffic.
Good organic growth across all geographic areas
In France, the Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion segments continued their strong growth in airports, with the opening of new retail areas covering more than 3,200 sq.m. in the new Terminal 3 at Paris-Orly and the creation of the Aelia Duty Free Smart Traveler concept in Beauvais.
In Europe, Lagardère Travel Retail continued its organic growth, with the opening of 12 Relay stores in the Canary Islands, four restaurants at Malaga airport (Spain) and two points of sale with strong local identities (The Fashion Gallery and an Aïda restaurant) in Vienna, Austria. The division was also able to adapt its Aelia Duty Free concept in Geneva (Switzerland), with the opening of a dedicated store for diplomats. Lastly, 28 Smullers fast food restaurants have been taken over and modernised at Dutch railway stations, where they have been a resounding success.
In Africa, following an initial establishment in Senegal, development continued in Gabon, where operations in Travel Essentials (Relay), Duty Free (Aelia Duty Free) and Foodservice (Trib’s) stores were opened on more than 600 sq.m. at Léon-Mba airport in Libreville.
Many Travel Essentials stores have also been opened in the United States, notably in the airports of New Orleans, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Atlanta, and in Foodservice in Orlando, Greenville and Austin.
In China, Lagardère Travel Retail once again demonstrated its ability to meet all the needs of airport licensors with the opening of more than 30 stores covering more than 2,100 sq.m. in Beijing-Daxing, plus more than 30 stores on more than 3,000 sq.m. in Shanghai-Pudong. In addition, two fashion stores and a restaurant were opened in Hong Kong.
Strong external growth thanks to successful acquisitions
Expansion was stepped up a notch in the Duty Free activity with the acquisition of International Duty Free (IDF), Belgium's leading Travel Retail operator. IDF also has operations in Luxembourg and Kenya.
In addition, following the acquisition of Autogrill’s activities in the Czech Republic, the Foodservice segment was strengthened by the takeover of ten restaurants located in Prague’s central railway station.
Lastly, in the United States, the integration of Hojeij Branded Foods (American leader in Foodservice in airports) continued apace, with the opening of numerous restaurants, including the first Louie Bar in the airport area at Dallas-Fort Worth.
Discover store, Hong Kong airport (China).
Winning tenders to drive growth
A large number of tenders were won in 2019, including Václav-Havel airport in Prague (Czech Republic), with 18 stores in Duty Free and seven in Travel Essentials. In France, the contract for the operation of the eight Eiffel Tower souvenir shops has been renewed. In addition, in Germany, the contract for the operation of 15 Foodservice outlets at Frankfurt airport has also been renewed.
Aïda store, Vienna airport (Austria).
Leading positions
- No. 1 operator in Travel Essentials worldwide
- No. 1 operator in Fashion in travel areas in Europe
- No. 1 international Retail operator in airports in China
- No. 1 Travel Retail operator in France, Poland and the Czech Republic
- No. 4 Travel Retail operator worldwide
- No. 4 Foodservice operator in travel areas worldwide
2019 Key dates
The Daily DXB store, Dubai airport (United Arab Emirates).
- February
Launch of the Foodservice activity in the Netherlands with the takeover of 28 Smullers restaurants.
Renewal of the Duty Free & Fashion concession agreement at Adelaide airport (Australia). - March
Launch of the Aelia Duty Free Smart Traveler concept at Beauvais airport (France). - April
Opening of 3,200 sq.m. of retail space in Travel Essentials (six stores) and Duty Free & Fashion (five stores) in the new Terminal 3 at Paris-Orly airport (France).
Start of activity in Gabon with the opening of a Relay store and an Aelia Duty Free store at Léon-Mba airport in Libreville. - May
Finalisation of the acquisition of ten restaurants in the central railway station in Prague (Czech Republic). - June
Renewal and extension of the Duty Free & Fashion concession at Prague’s Václav-Havel airport (Czech Republic).
Lagardère Travel Retail comes away from the Airport Food & Beverage Awards (FAB) as the most highly awarded Airport Foodservice operator, with eight prizes. - July
Launch of the Fashion activity in Austria with the opening of The Fashion Gallery at Vienna airport. - September
Opening of 30 stores in Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Foodervice spanning more than 3,000 sq.m. at Shanghai-Pudong airport (China).
Opening of 30 stores on more than 2,100 sq.m. in the new Beijing-Daxing airport (China).
Completion of the acquisition of Belgian company International Duty Free (IDF). - October
Opening of a store for diplomats in Geneva (Switzerland). - November
Renewal of the Fashion concession agreement at Shenzhen airport (China).
Focus
Smullers store (Netherlands).
Smullers, a successful multi-segment strategy
Since 2013, Lagardère Travel Retail has operated a number of stores on a single- and multi-brand basis at Amsterdam-Schiphol airport in the Netherlands.
In 2019, the Dutch national rail company launched a call for tenders to take over 28 fast food restaurants at railway stations, with 400 employees, under the Smullers banner. Following a close collaboration between its local and central teams, Lagardère Travel Retail won the competition, allowing it to develop its presence in an additional business segment in the Netherlands: foodservice. This activity generated revenue of over €24 million in 2019.
A renowned employer
Subsidiary Lagardère Travel Retail Italy certified by the Top Employers Institute, February 2019 (Venice, Italy).
Lagardère Travel Retail aims to become the most attractive employer in its sector and has made this commitment one of its major projects with the rollout of a survey spanning the entire division. In addition, its Italian subsidiary was recognised by the prestigious Top Employers Institute in 2019.