US. In a double business coup, Hudson Group is to open Discovery Channel airport stores in partnership with Discovery Communications and wins a 15-year contract for food & beverage/news-stand concessions at Mobile Regional Airport in Alabama.
The firm has signed an agreement with Discovery Commerce, the retail and licensing arm of leading global media company Discovery Communications, to open and operate Discovery Channel Airport Stores in airports across the US and Canada. The locations will be announced in the coming weeks.
In a statement, the company said: “The partnership leverages Hudson’s expertise as an airport retailer to build awareness for Discovery’s brands and networks, and expands the reach of Discovery’s award-winning product lines to millions of travellers who pass through North American airports every day.”
Hudson Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph DiDomizio explained the assortment: “Discovery’s programming themes have inspired a wide range of high-quality lifestyle merchandise. Their most successful lines – innovative products for kids, leading-edge technology and gadgets, health and wellness products, and compelling content for home entertainment – resonate strongly with frequent travellers. Through their merchandise and brand-focused presentation, the new airport stores will create a virtual Discovery experience and enable our customers to conveniently obtain items suggested by their favourite Discovery Channel programmes.”
Discovery Commerce President Frank Rosales commented: “Hudson’s successful track record in airport retailing speaks for itself – the company has been a driving force in changing the face of airport concessions. We are excited to partner with Hudson to help build on the success our retail business enjoyed in 2005, and give even more consumers access to our high-quality, award-winning products.”
The Discovery Channel Stores’ merchandise selection is inspired by Discovery programmes. The assortment is anchored by an award-winning line of Discovery-designed children’s products sold under the Discovery Kids, Ready Set Learn! and Discovery Grow Toys brands. Adult-oriented merchandise is offered as well, including state-of-the-art consumer electronics, health and wellness products, cycling gear inspired by the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, and an array of fan-focused merchandise from Monster Garage, Miami Ink and American Chopper.
Discovery Channel Airport Stores will present a look and feel similar to Discovery’s mall-based stores, and will feature a merchandise assortment drawn from Discovery’s existing product lines.
Mobile Airport contract
In other news, Hudson Group and its local DBE partner, Irmatean Watson, have won the contract to provide new retail operations and a new F&B programme at Mobile Regional Airport in Alabama.
In addition to the company’s current airside Hudson News operation, Hudson Group will operate several food and beverage concepts, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options to travellers and employees. The package also calls for two new Hudson News locations. The new concessions comprise:
– Pre-Security: Three concepts (Hudson News, Quiznos sub shop and Chart Room bar) will offer passengers and employees numerous dining options, plus the convenience of a Hudson News store in a single cluster. Quiznos is a nationally branded sandwich shop, featuring a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner items. The adjacent Chart Room will be a full-service bar with alcoholic beverages (draft and bottled beer, wine and mixed drinks); fountain drinks; fresh coffee and hot drinks.
– Airside: Once past security, passengers and employees may visit another “combination” location, featuring a Hudson News, Carpe Diem Café and Cruise City Bar and Grill. A small Hudson News store anchors this location. Incorporated into the newsstand will be the Carpe Diem Café, featuring Carpe Diem coffee and nationally branded Krispy Kreme donuts. The adjacent Cruise City Bar and Grill will provide self-service and quick service choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu will offer breakfast made to order, hot entrees, cold and grilled sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. A full-service bar will feature premium and domestic beer, wine and mixed drinks.
The airport awarded the concessions to Hudson Group for 15 years.
The Mobile contract signals the rapid growth of Hudson’s F&B business, as DiDomizio explained. “Hudson Group, while perhaps best known for our Hudson News brand, is rapidly expanding its portfolio of food and beverage offerings, with a strong assist from outstanding business partners like Irmatean Watson,” he said.
“Today Hudson Group operates 37 food and beverage concessions in 22 airports, with annual sales of over US$16 million. We expect this segment of our business to continue to grow rapidly throughout 2006.
“Our nationally recognised Hudson News brand is second to none with regard to our strong emphasis on reading materials and core traveller convenience items. In Mobile, as elsewhere, we will feature a comprehensive selection of gifts reflecting the local region as well as merchandise from local providers, such as Carpe Diem Coffee, Tanners Pecans & Candies and Mobile Popcorn,” he added.
The gift sections of the three news-stands will offer merchandise from Mobile attractions and cultural institutions, including the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Delta Queen steamboat, the original Mardi Gras, and two annual Mobile events – the Fishing Rodeo and the Festival of Flowers.
Mobile Airport Authority Director of Aviation Thomas Hughes said: “We are very pleased to expand Hudson Group’s presence in Mobile. We have had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship for many years. Our passengers will enjoy a dramatic improvement in food and beverage options.”
Hudson Group’s partner at Mobile, Irmatean Watson, is a pharmacist. She has been involved in the operation of concessions at Gulfport-Biloxi Airport since 1987 and in Birmingham Airport since 1990. She is Hudson’s partner in both these airports. She became involved in Mobile Regional Airport concessions in 1986, and has been its incumbent operator since 1998. Hudson Group has been associated with Watson in Mobile since 2003.
MORE STORIES ON HUDSON GROUP
Hudson wins Phoenix Airport news and gift contract – 19/01/06
Hudson Group revamps Los Angeles Airport stores – 19/01/06
Hudson Group partnership wins retail contract at Richmond International Airport – 05/10/05
