BALTIC REGION. Leading travel retailer ATÜ Duty Free has launched a delivery service for the Baltic region for purchases made at its Riga Airport stores. It has done so in partnership with parcel logistics provider Omniva.
From 4 October any purchase at ATÜ Duty Free can be shipped to an Omniva parcel location in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia. It is stored there for up to seven days, and can be collected by travellers within that time. Delivery within Latvia costs €2.99 and to other Baltic states €5.34.
ATÜ Duty Free Latvia Operation Director Tamer Cigeroglu said the decision to introduce the service was made after analysing new shopping habits, the post-pandemic consumer and the increased participation of Generation Z among the shopper base.
“Today shopping is not just about the products we purchase,” he said. “In the new era, customers are buying the shopping experience and personalised services stand out. In this scope, as part of our Shop & Collect service, we offer our customers a privileged service with a partial delivery option. After shopping in our duty free stores, the products they purchase are sent to the pick-up points closest to their homes so that they do not have to carry the products with them during their travels.”
Riga Airport Member of the Board Artūrs Saveļjevs added: “Versatile and modern services are an integral part of good airport customer service which passengers appreciate and take into consideration when choosing an airport for their trips. We are pleased that Riga Airport together with its partners is once again creating new and innovative opportunities in service design, combining conventional shopping in airport shops with modern ecommerce options.
“This service will be especially convenient to travellers from the Baltic states who will be able to take advantage of the wide range of Riga Airport shops and have their purchases sent to chosen pick-up points.”
The partners said the programme was developed amid a high level of readiness among Baltic residents to use parcel machines, which are relatively new in other parts of Europe.
Parcel shipments for collection have climbed post-pandemic in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Omniva Group delivered more than 15 million parcels in the first half of this year, +10% more than in the same period last year. The Omniva network of more than 1,150 parcel machines with 150,000 lockers is the largest in the Baltic states, ensuring fast deliveries not only to people living in cities, but also to less populated areas.
Omniva Head of Sales in Latvia Māris Kuļikovskis said: “We are constantly thinking and working on the introduction of new services to provide the most convenient delivery solutions for our customers not only in the Baltic states. That is why we continue to look for and develop forms and ways of cooperation that are attractive to our customers.
“Unlike in other countries, parcel machines are the most popular delivery method in the Baltic states, and we expect this to be the case also in the future, as local residents appreciate the advantages of parcel machines – the possibility to receive the parcel when it is convenient, at reasonable cost, with a dense parcel post network.”
ATÜ Duty Free also plans to develop further services as the regional market grows. Self-checkout is among the planned options for shoppers.
“As the passenger flows are growing, we are thinking about how to further improve the shopping experience, and self-service checkouts is one such instrument,” said Cigeroglu. “It speeds up transactions and reduces waiting times. The advantage it provides in managing human resources planning correctly allows for more consultancy to be provided to customers about products or other needs. I believe that with self-checkouts will increase the customer satisfaction and make the customer experience more privileged.”
ATÜ Duty Free has invested around €300,000 in its regional stores, creating a new promotional area that highlights local brands, plus a fashion store and developing its core category store. It has done so with a focus on sustainability, repurposing, refurbishing and redesigning existing furniture.
“By salvaging and upcycling, we minimise our carbon footprint in Latvia as well,” noted Cigeroglu. 
