ETHIOPIA. ‘Raising the bar’ was the mantra on a red-letter occasion today for Ethiopian travel retailer Alfarag Duty Free as it inaugurated its new-look, 1,000sq m flagship store at Bole International Airport Terminal 1 in Addis Ababa.
The Moodie Davitt Report is on location to report on the impressive opening, which represents a step change for African airport retail.
Following this brief preliminary report, we will bring you a full review, complete with extensive interview and pictorial coverage, later this week.
Alfarag Chairman & CEO Ayderus H.M. Farag told guests at the opening ceremony. “This is a shop that refines what is possible and a symbol of a rising Ethiopia. This is more than a retail space, it is a statement that Ethiopia is raising the bar.
{Click on the Podcast icon to hear Alfarag Chairman & CEO Ayderus H.M. Farag in conversation with Martin Moodie about the significance of today’s Grand Opening}
“For over 90 years, since 1932, Alfarag has been driven by a single guiding principle, to raise the standard in everything we do. From trade and import to retail and employment, we have always believed Ethiopia deserves the best.
“This new duty-free store stands proudly alongside the finest in the world, not just as a shopping experience, but as proof of what can be built here at home when passion and purpose come together.
“It mirrors the broader transformation happening all around us. Our government’s efforts to beautify and modernise Addis Ababa are visible everywhere. New roads, vibrant public spaces and a renewed sense of possibility.
“Our city is becoming a global destination, but government alone cannot achieve this. It takes all of us – private businesses, communities and citizens – to lift the country together.
“This shop is Alfarag’s contribution to that shared vision. It creates hundreds of jobs. It brings global standards to Ethiopia’s gateway, and it proves that Ethiopian businesses can lead, inspire and deliver.
“We hope this is just the beginning, that it inspires others to raise the bar in their own fields and that together we continue building an Ethiopia we can all be proud of.” ✈
*Look out for our interviews with Alfarag Managing Director Anwar Farag and Berkshire Design Managing Director Abdullah Al Alawy who led the impressive design of the store in our full report, coming soon.
