TURKEY. Unifree’s impressive new duty free stores at Antalya International Airport terminal two had their official inauguration last night in front of a large industry gathering, including many overseas guests.
The official ceremony was followed by a tour of the main store and then a dazzling gala evening and show at the IC Green Palace. Look out for a full report on the new retail operation in coming days. Below we show some of the images from a splendid opening occasion.
Background: Unifree, the Gebr Heinemann-controlled Turkish company, won the tender to operate duty free and other retail businesses at Antalya Airport’s new terminal two last August. Unifree also operates the duty free operation at Istanbul Atatürk International airport in partnership with airport authority Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV), trading as ATU.
INSIDE THE MAIN STORE
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| Unifree’s main duty free shop is 1,500sq m and is complemented by another 180sq m departures store, two gate shops and a 300sq m arrivals outlet as well as a destination offering called Harem’s Delight. The main store takes the customer around a loop that leads through all the categories to the cash points at the exit of the shop. The popular Turkish duty free staples of tobacco and liquor pull customers into the store before they discover the fragrances and cosmetics area, which is generating an impressive 40% of sales across all outlets. | |
CELEBRATING A PROUD MOMENT
Unifree is a powerful combination between Gebr Heinemann (the majority stakeholder) and its Turkish partners. Both were on hand to celebrate the group’s latest retail opening,
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| Cüneyt Çilingiroğlu (top left), Unifree Duty Free Board Member and Gebr Heinemann Managing Director Turkey welcomes guests to the inauguration; Önder Bilginer, (above right) who heads Gebr Heinemann’s Turkish partners in Unifree spoke of “sharing the honour and pride of this achievement” with all those present. He said the terminal had been built in nine months – making it a likely candidate for the Guinness Book of Records | ||
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| Gebr Heinemann Co-Owner Claus Heinemann: “They needed a new terminal here because tourism has developed so enormously – Antalya is booming… Turkey is now our second-largest market.”; Many suppliers from overseas attended the event including Anthon Berg’s Lotte Østerbæk and Lancaster Group’s Graeme Toole. | ||
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Peter Zottl of Swarovski talks to two key members of the Unifree buying team, Aylin Aktan (left) and Ebru Uzun; (right) Kadir Ishakoğlu, General Manager of ATÜ, the Unifree/TAV retailing partnership at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, admires the new Montblanc boutique | ||
THE FIRE OF ANATOLIA
The airport opening was topped off by a spectacular evening of Turkish hospitality. An outdoors dinner on a balmy Antalya evening was followed by a stunning performance from the world-renowned Turkish dance and music group ‘The Fire of Anatolia’.
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| (Bottom right): Swarovski’s Vice-President Travel Retail Peter Zottl, Gebr Heinemann Board Member Kay Spanger and The Moodie Report Publisher Martin Moodie were among an appreciative audience at The Fire of Anatolia’s amazing performance. | |
