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ATÜ Duty Free opens a third major store airside as demand surges |
TURKEY. Leading Turkish travel retailer ATÜ Duty Free is making some major investments in retail space at its biggest operation, Istanbul Atatürk International Airport. This includes the creation of 700sq m of new duty free space and the refurbishment of its second biggest airside store, both projects that were recently completed.
Next it plans to embark on a complete overhaul – including repositioning of the big product categories – of its 2,500sq m main Departures store and is considering a project to re-design its acclaimed Old Bazaar destination outlet.
ATÜ Duty Free is a joint venture between TAV Airports and Unifree, in which Gebr Heinemann is principal shareholder.
General Manager Ersan Arcan told The Moodie Report this week in Istanbul that the retailer was “redesigning the entire offer in Departures”. This is driven by the surging increases in transit traffic in particular generated by fast-growing Turkish Airlines, which is altering passenger profiles at the location. Until now, the company says it has not fully tapped into this new customer base.
“We have created a new zone close to Turkish Airlines’ CIP lounge, matching their premium service with a premium duty free concept and design,” said Arcan.
In total there is 700sq m of retail, including a 100sq m Victoria’s Secret store, an Atasay jewellery outlet, a fashion store under the Mavi brand name, a D&R books outlet, with a Montblanc boutique to come. Within the main ATÜ store (named “˜Main 3′), there are also shop-in-shops for Paul & Shark and Desigual, as well as the core duty free offer.
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The zone also features F&B plus boutiques from brands such as Atasay jewellery |
The new retail arena is complemented by additional food & beverage space, featuring Starbucks Coffee and popular Turkish F&B brand Simit Sarayi.
In addition, on the other side of the terminal, ATÜ Duty Free has remodelled its second main store (Main 2) to allow for better access, more open entrances, better visibility, plus room for new brands. It features a strong tobacco zone (a staple purchase at Atatürk) and a new cash till system.
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Victoria’s Secret: First store in Istanbul Atatürk Departures |
The work continues later in the year with the scheduled overhaul of the main Departures store (Main 1) – with a new “˜brand before category’ approach. This is a departure from the previous strategy, noted Arcan. Tobacco, which until now has featured at the store front, will be moved to a new location, with fragrances becoming more prominent.
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Inside the ATÜ Duty Free store are shop-in-shops for Desigual and Paul & Shark |
In other ATÜ Duty Free news, the retailer has opened its first diplomatic store outside Turkey, in Batumi, Georgia. It already operates the airport duty free business in Batumi, where TAV manages the airport. Until now its only diplomatic store was in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Note: A full report on ATÜ Duty Free’s activities, and on the wider Turkish duty free market, will appear in the September Print Edition of The Moodie Report.
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The retailer’s ‘Main 2’ store in Departures has undergone a re-fit, and now features wider walkways and entrances, plus better sightlines |
