USA. Avolta has confirmed an 11-year duty-free agreement at New York John. F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport Terminal 8 and revealed further details of its concepts and brand partnerships at the location.
Avolta company Dufry will manage over 18,400sq ft of space in the expanded terminal. It represents the company’s third contract award at T8 in the last year and will take its total space to nearly 48,000sq ft in total across retail and food & beverage.
As reported this week, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, American Airlines and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) announced partnerships with key brands that will feature in the duty-free zone and food hall at the terminal.
The airport operator previously struck agreements with Avolta companies Hudson and HMSHost. Alongside the duty-free contract, these represent part of a US$125 million commercial redevelopment of Terminal 8 in partnership with commercial operator URW Airports and American Airlines.
Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol said: “Our wins at JFK rank among Avolta’s biggest in the North America region in recent years. They underscore the strong growth potential across all our lines of business. Our unwavering commitment to innovation continues to set new standards in airport retail and F&B and this new contract clearly demonstrates this.”
“We have an ambitious vision to redefine the duty-free shopping experience in Terminal 8 and are proud that The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports, and American Airlines share that vision,” said Avolta President and CEO, North America Steve Johnson.
“This is a pivotal moment in JFK’s evolution, so it is an honour to be selected as the partner that will transform T8. Combined with our recently awarded contracts to bring new travel convenience, speciality retail, and food & beverage concepts to the terminal, this expanded partnership will allow us to design a world-class travel experience across all lines of Avolta’s business.”
URW Vice President, JFK Ian Carter said: “Dufry’s duty-free programme will elevate the shopping experience at the reimagined Terminal 8. Our vision was to create a dynamic retail destination that brings together distinctive local purveyors and world-renowned global brands under one roof. We’re thrilled that Dufry shares this vision, as together, we redefine the travel retail experience in the US.”
An Avolta statement said the company would introduce a programme to “revolutionise the way travellers explore, discover and shop, offering a world of beloved global brands, local makers, immersive digital and hands-on experiences”.
The retailer also pledged “indulgent product sampling and tasting events — all seamlessly integrated with self-checkout, mobile payment and exceptional customer service”, with travellers having access to Avolta’s Reserve & Collect online pre-ordering and its Club Avolta loyalty programme.
Dufry has debuted the first of its duty-free stores:
- BKLYN Shopping, which specialises in fragrances, skincare products, gourmet confectionery, wines & spirits, draws its design inspiration from Brooklyn’s famed brownstone buildings and the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Beauty on 5th – This features luxury boutiques featuring perfume & cosmetics brands like Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Kiehl’s, La Mer, YSL and Charlotte Tilbury.
- 12th St. Market – Inspired by New York City’s Meatpacking District, W. 12th St. Market aims to “capture the city’s charm” through products from local artisans, souvenirs and treats.
- The Connoisseur Collection and Blinded Tiger – Featuring a curated selection of top-tier liquor & tobacco products. The hybrid space will also be home to T8’s own speakeasy, Blinded Tiger, a nod to New York’s best hidden bars of the Roaring Twenties.
Concepts set to open soon at Terminal 8 include:
- The Park @ T8 – With a design to mirror the landscape of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, this store will offer fragrances, skincare products, confectionery and premium wines & spirits.
- Haute Parfumerie and Bubbles on 5th – A hybrid space that weaves together fragrances with Champagne and wine. Haute Parfumerie offers fragrance brands such as Le Labo, Diptyque, Kilian, Loewe and Parfums de Marly, enhanced by the Bubbles on 5th
- Luxury Boutiques – Brands represented include Longchamp, Marc Jacobs, Lacoste, BOSS, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Montblanc. Avolta’s Suncatcher store features sunglasses from Celine, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Tom Ford, Maui Jim, Ray-Ban and many more.
- The Collection and Pre-Loved Luxury – The Collection will feature fashion jewellery and watches from brands such as Swarovski, NORQAIN, Oris, Citizen and Bulova. Adjacent to The Collection, Pre-Loved Luxury will carry upcycled leather goods and fine watches.
Dufry manages the Terminal 8 duty-free stores as a joint venture with four Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partners: Kellee Communications, New York-based Sullivan-Hernandez Group, and Queens-based The Nourish Spot and Samantha Alexis Consulting. ✈
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